Your TR Source
When referring to President Roosevelt’s Southern policy, it should be made clear that his intention “is in every case of appointment to get the best men, black or white.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-09
Theodore Roosevelt quotes a letter from Henry Wallace regarding his opinion of President Taft as an “upright man.” Roosevelt wants to make sure that he did not misrepresent what Wallace had said. He also includes a quote regarding Pinchot’s influence with the administration of the Gila National Forest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-17
Theodore Roosevelt was deeply touched by Gustavus D. Pope’s letter. Roosevelt hopes than in the next six months some man may come forward who “aggressively stands for these things as I do.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-15
Theodore Roosevelt is sorry that Meyer Lissner and California Governor Hiram Johnson are disappointed with him but Roosevelt did not want to interfere by offering advice. Roosevelt discusses his grandchildren and a blanket that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is knitting for the Governor’s grandchild. Roosevelt asks if Lissner and his wife Ermine Greenhood Lissner might visit this winter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-06
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with James H. Pound that political and legal arguments should be kept to one or two key issues. As federalists, Roosevelt and Pound believe in “national efficiency” unlike Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt believes in the extension of the Monroe Doctrine and agrees with what Pound said about the Money Bill, even though he is not well versed on the topic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-16
President Roosevelt thanks France’s President Raymond Poincaré for the letter. French ambassador and Roosevelt’s friend, J. J. Jusserand, can provide Poincaré with Roosevelt’s writings on the subject of the war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-29
Theodore Roosevelt writes that Senator Lodge acted rightly in the Taft matter and he should not worry. Roosevelt did not want his friend Cal (probably John Callan O’Laughlin) to promote something Roosevelt would have to deny. Roosevelt thinks Lodge will like his article the following month in which he “goes for the German-Americans.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-26
Theodore Roosevelt expresses his pride in Arthur Lee, Viscount of Fareham, who is at the front. He remembers the time Arthur was with him during the Spanish-American War, and expresses his sympathy for Mrs. Lee, though he knows she supports her husband in what he is doing. He promises to send recent writings of his on political events and the conduct of the war. He criticizes the leadership and lack of foreign policy experience of President Wilson and William Jennings Bryan. He concludes his letter by discussing the service of his daughter Ethel, as well as her husband, Richard Derby.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-30
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on recent happenings as he concludes his presidency. Irritated by the negative reaction to his “moderate” physical exercise order, Roosevelt recounts his recent, one-day ninety mile ride out to Warrenton, Virginia, which he hoped “would put a stop to any grumbling.” He also discusses the state of his relationship with Congress, which has soured as he nears the end of his term. Roosevelt does not expect to pass any legislation this winter, and, as such, feels that Congress cannot do him much harm. To conclude, Roosevelt fondly reflects on his presidency, noting that he and his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, have enjoyed the White House “more than any President and his wife,” but are content and willing to leave it for a life of happiness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-14
President Roosevelt disagrees with Representative Alexander, but will communicate about it later.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08
President Roosevelt regrets to tell James Keteltas Hackett that he cannot write a telegram to his dinner, because he receives far too many requests like these to fill them all. Hackett is a well-known actor, as was his father James Henry Hackett, and even though Roosevelt regards him as a “the son of a great man, it is not always wise to do what one would have been glad to do for the great man himself.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-06
President Roosevelt recently received a copy of French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau’s recent speech, responding to Jean Jaurès, and asks French Ambassador Jusserand to tell Clemenceau of Roosevelt’s admiration of the speech. Roosevelt agrees with nearly everything Clemenceau said, and was interested to see that Clemenceau’s policies are very similar to Roosevelt’s own. He comments that if anything he would have been more extreme in his insistence of putting down mob violence, and reflects on situations in France and Russia, believing the Russian Duma is acting improperly by currently working to abolish the death penalty while at the same time assassination is rife in Russia. Congressman Nicholas Longworth is having Clemenceau’s speech translation and printed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-16
President Roosevelt asks Judge William P. Potter if he truly believes that it will require a constitutional amendment in order to institute an inheritance tax, and points out that there was a statute for a federal inheritance tax shortly after the adoption of the Constitution. Roosevelt does not believe that much can be done by the individual states in matters concerning the entire nation, and says that “while I am a Jeffersonian in my genuine faith in democracy and popular government, I am a Hamiltonian in my governmental views, especially with reference to the need of the exercise of broad powers by the National Government.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23
President Roosevelt tells William Belmont Parker that “under no circumstance should it be said that I was responsible for that article.” While Arthur Wallace Dunn has been associated with Roosevelt and can substantially express his feelings, it is out of the question for Roosevelt to accept any responsibility for the article. It must not be said that the article is authoritative, and Roosevelt requests that it not be published if he is said to be connected with it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-19
President Roosevelt asks that editor and publisher Robert J. Collier treat this letter with confidentiality. Roosevelt thinks Cyrus Packard Walbridge is the better candidate for Missouri Governor than Joseph Wingate Folk, although he has never said so publicly. Any comments made by William Allen White about Roosevelt changing his opinion of Folk are “arrant nonsense.” Folk had compromised his potential by appearing on the ticket with “boodlers” (those who obtain money dishonestly). It should be assumed that the president does not intervene in state matters, but if he did, he would support his party, not a Democratic candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-20
President Roosevelt will have Joseph L. Bristow send William Allen White the information he requested. Roosevelt is not melancholy, but sometimes “a little cast down” by people he thinks should support him but do not. However, he is very much enjoying “a job worth doing” as best as he can.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-18
President Roosevelt responds to an offer, transmitted by John Ellerton Lodge, to have the Russian author and political activist Maksim Gorky visit during his trip to the United States. If Gorky were only an author, Roosevelt would have no objection to seeing him, but because of Gorky’s involvement with revolutionary movements, “which in governmental matters is a revolt against order as well as against tyranny, and in domestic matters is a revolt against the ordinary decencies and moralities even more than against conventional hypocrisies and cruelties,” Roosevelt is not interested in receiving him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23
President Roosevelt wants Senator Berry to understand that it is Berry’s right and duty to speak frankly, even when addressing the President.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-03
President Roosevelt assures William Allen White his disagreement over Cyrus Leland’s appointment is not a reflection of his faith in White. Roosevelt responded to James Hulme Canfield’s objections to his appointments by reiterating he is not averse to a fight with Senator Burton, but wants to be certain he enters such a fight “morally justified in doing so.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-14
President Roosevelt has never taken a definite position and wants to find out how, and if, the opposing views can be “harmonized” before taking a stance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-07