Your TR Source
President Roosevelt was pleased by Gustavus A. Gessner’s letter, and is glad that he reappointed Gessner as postmaster in Fremont, Ohio.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-14
President Roosevelt wishes that Harry Stillwell Edwards had written to him sooner. At Clark Howell’s request, he has already reappointed James L. Sibley, as approved by the Post Office Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-01
President Roosevelt will act according to Albert Shaw’s wishes in the matter of Gustavus A. Gessner, the man Shaw indicated should be renominated as postmaster in Foraker, Ohio. Senator Theodore E. Burton, Representative Grant E. Mouser, and Thomas J. Maxwell all oppose the renomination, because Gessner actively supported Senator Joseph Benson Foraker over president-elect William H. Taft in the past election. However, Gessner is a good postmaster, and Roosevelt had already promised Shaw to reappoint him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-02
President Roosevelt asks Postmaster General Meyer to send the appointments Representative-Elect John Motley Morehead has recommended for the postmasters in Mt. Airy and Elkin, North Carolina.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-15
President Roosevelt tells University of Virginia president Edwin Anderson Alderman that he was mistaken about his previous negative opinion of Edward W. Timberlake, and that he felt poorly towards him because he could only remember that he was connected with a “postmastership scramble.” He has looked into Iredell Meares, and now believes that both of the men whom Alderman recommended are of good quality. Roosevelt asks Alderman how the men compare between themselves, and says that while he is not sure if he will be able to appoint either of them, they deserve his serious consideration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-02
President Roosevelt informs Postmaster General Meyer that Senator Joseph Forney Johnston of Alabama has told him that service at Selma, Alabama, is very bad and the current postmaster, Mary Elizabeth Matthews Force, does not need the position any longer. Roosevelt directs Meyer to appoint David M. Scott as postmaster there, unless there is some reason not to do so that he is unaware of.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-08
President Roosevelt tells Alice Robertson that there is no reason to thank him for renominating her as postmistress of Muskogee, Oklahoma, as he did it as a matter of course. Roosevelt believes that Robertson is “just the type of good citizen whom I want in the public service.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-09
President Roosevelt thanks Thomas E. Watson for the nice letter, and invites him to come visit whenever he can. Roosevelt has taken up the postmastership at Dublin, Georgia, with Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer, and will see what he can do.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-03
President Roosevelt writes to President-elect William H. Taft about his desire to begin classifying fourth-class postmasters. Roosevelt has already taken steps to remove them from politics by ordering that their tenure will be permanent unless there is a valid reason for their removal. He expects that Congress and other politicians will be angry and oppose this action, and so he would like to do it in December so that he, and not Taft, will bear the brunt of their anger.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-16
President Roosevelt outlines and refutes the falsehoods in Alfred Holt Stone’s Studies in the American Race Problem. He tells John Graham Brooks that he judges a work’s reliability by seeing what it says about a subject he is familiar with, and then deciding if he can trust it on things that he does not know as much about. He explains that Stone is spreading falsehoods about the so-called “referee” system in the Southern states, especially Mississippi. Roosevelt points out that the practice was common with presidents before him, and that it is necessary in areas where the Republican party does not have a strong enough presence to provide good appointees to positions. He also discusses his handling of the case of African American postmistress Minnie M. Geddings Cox, who was forced by an angry mob to resign her position and leave town.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-13
President Roosevelt asks Kansas Senator Curtis to write to Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer directly regarding the possibility of naming A. H. Stevens as the successor of J. T. McCleary as Second Assistant Postmaster General.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-04
President Roosevelt sends a self-explanatory letter to Postmaster General Meyer. Roosevelt says it has been decided that Daniel M. Sullivan should be removed as postmaster of Cripple Creek, Colorado, and to tell Colorado Representative Warren A. Haggott that unless he telegraphs immediately, William Morton Irwin will be appointed in Sullivan’s place. Roosevelt notes that Haggott deserves no favors due to his voting record.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-04
President Roosevelt urges Postmaster General Meyer not to allow members of his department to name as advisers anyone whom they consult about possible appointees to office. Meyer and others may of course seek advice from whomever they choose, but they should not give the impression that these advisers have a right, in any official capacity, to “distribute offices” in their area.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-18
President Roosevelt thanks Bishop Earl Cranston, and promises to look into the matter of the postmastership of Newport, Kentucky.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-19
President Roosevelt tells Governor Warner that no sooner had he submitted Fred Slocum’s name to be postmaster of Caro, Michigan, than he was told by Senators Julius C. Burrows and William Alden Smith that Slocum could not be confirmed. Roosevelt does not understand the intricacies of Michigan politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-14
President Roosevelt reminds Nathaniel M. Richardson that he is only part of the appointing power, and that while he can nominate people to offices, they must be confirmed by the Senate. Even though Roosevelt believes that Fred Slocum should be reappointed as postmaster at Caro, Michigan, he was told by several senators that they would not confirm the appointment and Roosevelt had to withdraw his nomination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-15
President Roosevelt reminds A. O. Bunnell that he only has part of the power to make appointments, and that while he can nominate candidates the Senate must approve them. Roosevelt sent Jonathan B. Morey’s name to the Senate, but was told by two Senators that they would not confirm him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-16
President Roosevelt asks if Michigan Governor Warner could visit him in Washington, D.C., as it would be easier to explain the matter regarding the postmastership of Caro, Michigan, personally rather than by letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-06
President Roosevelt tells Malcolm Gillis that he was very pleased to be able to give him an appointment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-31
President Roosevelt is sure Jeremiah Malachi Sheehan would make an excellent postmaster, but can not currently promise anything, as he has to get someone the Senate will confirm.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-30