Presidents--Professional ethics

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jonathan Bourne

President Roosevelt tells Senator Bourne that any statements that have been made about agreements with Senator Charles William Fulton toward a delegation in Oregon, or attempts from the administration to affect the Oregon legislature, are untrue. Instead of sending a confidential accusatory letter, Roosevelt asserts that Bourne should have openly stated his confidence that the statements were false.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles F. Mellish

President Roosevelt would write for Representative Edwin Denby if he were to write for anyone, as Denby was a productive member of Congress. Unfortunately, Roosevelt can not make any exceptions without causing jealousy among other candidates for Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred Eastman Lunt

President Roosevelt can not respond as Alfred E. Lunt, head of the National Republican College League, requests. Anything Roosevelt says must be public. He encloses a signed photograph.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert J. Beveridge

President Roosevelt writes to Senator Beveridge to say that he cannot write a letter for one congressman without writing for others. A congressman from New York has already made such a request, which he declined, so he cannot agree in the case of Mr. Miller.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Abbott Lyman

President Roosevelt writes to Lyman Abbott that while they should not be aristocrats, they should be “gentleman democrats.” Roosevelt occasionally gets frustrated with the William H. Taft campaign, and argues for a more aggressive fight, especially against Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt discusses Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon’s error in requesting a contribution from John D. Archbold. The China article will count towards what Roosevelt has agreed to write for the Outlook, and so he returns the check.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Rumsey Sheldon

President Roosevelt writes to Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign funds solicited from John D. Archbold and Edward Henry Harriman. As the head of the Republican Administration, Roosevelt expresses his disagreement with collecting money from anyone currently being prosecuted. He sends two letters that he wrote four years ago to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou, who was then chairman of the Republican National Committee, when money was contributed by Standard Oil. The first outlines the reasons that no contributions should be accepted which could be viewed as creating obligation to corporations. The second reiterates that the money should be returned especially in light of the public statements from Standard Oil about the company’s “political attitude.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James W. Cool

President Roosevelt thanks Reverend James W. Cool for his letter. Although Roosevelt was hesitant to step in and involve himself with the renomination of New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, he felt that in light of his feelings on the matter it was his duty to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles H. Young

President Roosevelt does not know how to handle Charles H. Young’s suggestion. Although he recently interfered to help renominate New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, he really should not have, and he cannot keep bringing things up to the State or National Republican Committees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel S. Slater

President Roosevelt has Samuel S. Slater’s letter and awaits the affidavit. Roosevelt clarifies that concerning Panama, and his administration, he strives for transparency and public disclosure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Regis Henri Post

President Roosevelt assures Governor of Puerto Rico Post that he would not stand in the way of a good officer who has served satisfactorily in a difficult position from taking a more beneficial position after the officer has considered both his own interests and those of the government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Editor of Puck

In a private letter, President Roosevelt thanks the editor of Puck magazine for the editorial discussing the unfortunate suffering of some who are innocent in any movement to punish the guilty. Roosevelt disdains the belief that businesses must be protected at the expense of honest politics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lillian Capron

President Roosevelt informs Lillian Capron that he cannot attend the fund raising event and that he always declines these requests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from C. Grant La Farge to Theodore Roosevelt

C. Grant La Farge is grateful for President Roosevelt responding to his letter about the contract. He realized that he worded his letter awkwardly about not wanting competition. He is distressed that Roosevelt felt uncomfortable and assures Roosevelt that their friendship will not be affected by the outcome. He had not known about the severity of Roosevelt’s son’s illness at the time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-09

Creator(s)

La Farge, C. Grant (Christopher Grant), 1862-1938

Draft of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Dunn

President Roosevelt informs Colonel Dunn that he does not feel it appropriate to intervene on behalf of individual candidates. Roosevelt feels he cannot intervene even though he takes a particular interest in the State of New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Enos S. Costa

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary does not remember receiving Enos S. Costa’s letter of July 28, explaining Costa’s previous letter in which he offered his help in Roosevelt’s campaign in return for a government position should Roosevelt be elected. The secretary once again states that Roosevelt cannot promise positions to any of his supporters, but Roosevelt would be very grateful if Costa did help in the campaign especially among other Americans of foreign extraction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-05

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Neltje Blanchan

While Theodore Roosevelt sympathizes with the meeting’s purpose, he cannot attend social functions as he gets so many invitations he does not want to offend those he refuses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Dehon Hill

Theodore Roosevelt tells Arthur Dehon Hill that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is on the mend after being ill for a number of months. Roosevelt is not confident in the upcoming verdict but believes the general public will see his commitment to decency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James E. Weld

President Roosevelt informs James E. Weld that he is not taking part in making any appointments under the new administration, and believes it would be improper to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Rumsey Sheldon

President Roosevelt sends George Rumsey Sheldon an alleged report of a speech that Sheldon made. No one has suggested that Roosevelt was indebted to any groups, or had taken on any obligations before he assumed office. Roosevelt is sure that this is a misreport of Sheldon’s words, which is why he wanted to call his attention to it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

President Roosevelt informs Eugene A. Philbin that he does not think it would be appropriate for him to congratulate Pope Pius X on the anniversary of his becoming a priest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919