Presidents--Influence

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

President Roosevelt tells New York Representative Parsons that it “would be worse than mere folly” for him to get involved in New York gubernatorial elections. Roosevelt had previously tried to move Governor Frank Wayland Higgins to action, but was told that this had a negative effect and seemed as though Roosevelt was trying to dictate matters within the state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James E. Watson

President Roosevelt tells Representative Watson that he will gladly write the letter that Watson asked for, but recommends that he collaborate with Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and Representative J. S. Sherman to determine when the letter would be most beneficial. He wonders if it would be better to write the letter as a response to a letter from Watson, rather than appearing to be of his own initiative, which Roosevelt worries may make it appear like he is attempting to interfere.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to L. V. McKesson

President Roosevelt thanks L. V. McKesson for the nice letter he sent to Secretary of War William H. Taft, and was impressed by what he wrote. He reminds McKesson, however, that he as president only controls the nominating portion of the process appointing people to government positions, and that it is the Senate who confirms them. If he is notified by senators that they will reject a candidate, it is a waste of time for him to nominate them. For local positions, this places a great deal of power in the hands of the senators from the state affected, as most of the senate follow their wishes. Much of Roosevelt’s power, therefore, is that he can “refuse to appoint any unworthy man, and to remove any man of proved unworthiness.” While Roosevelt would not now appoint George P. Waldorf, Internal Revenue Collector for Toledo, Ohio, to his position, the Treasury Department investigated him and did not find anything warranting his removal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-07

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Brandegee

President Roosevelt has received Edward Brandegee’s letter, and while he is not certain what power he has to assist, he promises to do everything he can.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Wingate Sewall

President Roosevelt regrets that his son, Kermit Roosevelt, will not be able to come visit William Wingate Sewall in Maine, and wishes that he could come up himself with all his family. He is glad Sewall approves of what he has been doing as president, and remarks that he has tried to be the representative of the “plain people,” just like his hero Abraham Lincoln. Roosevelt was sorry to hear about the death of Sewall’s brother, David A. Sewall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel Douglas McEnery

President Roosevelt is sorry he is not able to be of assistance about a bill, and will tell Senator McEnery why he does not believe he can do anything about the two senators McEnery mentioned when he sees him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Appleton Morgan

President Roosevelt thanks Appleton Morgan for the nice note and wishes that more people who ask for things that Roosevelt is not able to provide would be as understanding. It is especially difficult when the people are from New York, as New York “is away ahead in its quota of appointments.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Edmund Foss

President Roosevelt sends an enclosed draft of a bill to Representative Foss and asks if it would be possible to pass this version instead of naming the particular midshipmen concerned by the legislation. Roosevelt is willing to take responsibility for the bill if it would make it less trouble.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hale

President Roosevelt sends an enclosed draft of a bill to Senator Hale and asks if it would be possible to pass this version instead of naming the particular midshipmen concerned by the legislation. Roosevelt is willing to take responsibility for the bill if it would make it less trouble.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

President Roosevelt tells his sister, Corinne Robinson, that he is frequently asked to intercede in appointments and legislation in New York. Even when he would like to offer his support, as in the case of Maria Louisa Schieffelin, if he assists in once case he is bound to assist in every case and must therefore decline to do so. He enjoyed seeing some members of Robinson’s family recently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fairfax Henry Wheelan

President Roosevelt informs Fairfax Henry Wheelan that Collectors of Internal Revenue have an indefinite term, so if Roosevelt wished to get John C. Lynch out of office, he would have to remove him rather than simply not reappoint him. Roosevelt promises to take up the post office matter that Wheelan mentioned, and hopes that something can be done about it, although he does not like interfering in post office contests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-27

Letter from William Loeb to Marie L. DeComps

William Loeb acknowledges receipt of the letter Marie L. DeComps wrote to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, and returns the enclosures, as requested. While President Roosevelt sympathizes with the work DeComps is doing, Loeb notes that “it is contrary to his invariable practice to consent to the use of his name in connection with affairs in which he cannot take an active part.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt tells John St. Loe Strachey that if he were not in office, he would write the letter endorsing Strachey’s plan without hesitation. Because he is president, however, he cannot write a letter endorsing a single cause without being obligated to endorse hundreds. He looks forward to seeing Strachey and his wife next year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Raymond H. Oveson

President Roosevelt informs Raymond H. Oveson that he cannot make appeals for local missions or efforts, and that he has issued an appeal for the Red Cross fund in its entirety.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard A. Anthony

President Roosevelt outlines the facts concerning a case against the Kodak Company for Richard A. Anthony. Roosevelt brought Anthony’s concerns to Attorney General Philander C. Knox, who wanted to wait to bring the case based on the outcome of ongoing litigation; when Attorney General William H. Moody came into office, Roosevelt brought it to his attention as well, but Moody felt the case was not strong enough to prosecute. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert W. De Forest

President Roosevelt explains to Robert W. De Forest that while he can recommend legislation to Congress, he cannot lobby for bills, and in fact is attacked in the press for the perception that he encroaches on Congress. Roosevelt asks De Forest to pass this along to Mr. Ward.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf a letter from a “colored man” worthy of a position and asks, if appropriate, to transfer him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William O’Connell Bradley

President Roosevelt has recently overridden the local organization to appoint Governor Bradley’s secretary, J. L. Earlywine, as a postmaster. He warns, however, that he cannot keep making such exceptions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Murat Halstead

President Roosevelt asks Murat Halstead to look into a matter in which a letter sent by Roosevelt to O. O. Stealey, the editor of the American Newsboy’s Magazine, is being used to exploit the company. The president does not want his name in connection with the enterprise, if it is being used in this way.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mary Emily Donelson Wilcox

President Roosevelt thanks Mary Emily Donelson Wilcox for the holly from the Hermitage and tells her the longer he spends in public life, the more he appreciates her great-uncle, Andrew Jackson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-30