Your TR Source
President Roosevelt was pleased by the enclosure sent by John J. Joyce, and says he has tried to do everything in his power for the “plain people” during his administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-27
President Roosevelt praises Senator Lodge’s speech to the Republican National Convention as one that will certainly go down in history, noting humorously that attacks from the Sun should be considered as the highest praise. What Lodge said was “exactly right,” and “exactly as [Roosevelt] should have wished it.” Roosevelt believes that Presidency is a very powerful office and that power should be used without hesitation, but this requires strict accountability to the people and no one should keep the office too long. After leaving office, Roosevelt is planning a trip to East Africa for a year to hunt and gather scientific specimens for the National Museum at Washington. Scribner’s has offered Roosevelt $50,000 for the serial rights to articles Roosevelt writes during the trip, and while Collier’s offered $100,000, Roosevelt prefers to have the trip sponsored by Scribner’s, as “there is such a thing as making too much money out of a given feat,” even if earned honestly. Roosevelt thinks William H. Taft will win the coming election, unless he makes some kind of hopeless mistake.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-19
President Roosevelt writes to George Otto Trevelyan, reflecting on his time as President and his decision to not seek reelection. Roosevelt admits that there are arguments for him to run for another term as president, but believes that the arguments against are stronger. Roosevelt is proud that while in the presidency he has fully used the powers available to him and acted as a strong central executive, and is gratified by the love that the population has for him. Once he leaves the presidency, Roosevelt plans to go on safari in Africa. He would like to visit England and see his friends there if he could do so as a private citizen without being forced to attend to diplomatic affairs, but if this is not possible he might just return to the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-19
President Roosevelt received Colonel Lyon’s letter and assures him that the enclosed article it is mostly untrue and irrelevant. Lyon does not need to worry about any negative claims against him because Roosevelt is aware of, and touched by, his devotion. Roosevelt hopes they can meet and discuss the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-18
President Roosevelt regrets to tell Harry Persons Taber that he cannot allow Taber to dedicate his newest book to him, as Roosevelt has found that agreeing to be the subject of a book dedication leads to the public interpreting any message within the book as reflecting his own beliefs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-19
President Roosevelt thanks newspaper editor, Thomas E. Watson, for his letter and assures he will not surrender to or have “secret midnight conferences” with anyone. Like Samuel Gompers, J. P. Morgan will openly call at the White House, which is receptive to all for a fair hearing. Roosevelt is unsure of his response to the financial situation and will confer with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou. He wishes to speak with Watson in-person and asks if he is visiting Washington D.C., soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-12
President Roosevelt is in support of sending Herman Henry Kohlsaat going as a delegate. Roosevelt cannot promise the consequences of the Department of Justice’s investigation one way or the other, despite his personal feelings for the people involved, because “the action of the Government must be impersonal in these matters.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-03
President Roosevelt explains to architect C. Grant La Farge that it is difficult to keep his private life and public acts separate. To avoid impropriety, Roosevelt will give La Farge’s letter to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou and let him decide if the project will be open to competition or to give it to La Farge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-08
President Roosevelt is glad to hear from Rough Rider Herman H. Wynkoop, but is unable to write an article for Wynkoop’s newspaper the Coyote.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-30
President Roosevelt warns Mayor Weaver that statements made privately by the President should not be repeated publicly, with the possibility of publication of such statements to be greatly avoided. Although Roosevelt agrees with Weaver about William Randolph Hearst, he fears his words would be taken out of context.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
While President Roosevelt appreciates Lucien Hugh Alexander’s courtesy and the issue of legal ethics, he regretfully informs him that he is unable to write the requested letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
President Roosevelt does not think it would be wise for him to attend a meeting such as the one that Francis B. Loomis suggested. Roosevelt believes that presidents should be careful to not take any positions “which may cause ill will and jealousy at home unless it is absolutely essential to the accomplishment of some great cause for the good of the people.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-14
President Roosevelt tells Commissioner of Corporations Garfield that “it is not possible for me as a usual thing to reappoint a boy who fails.” While Roosevelt occasionally did it in the past, when he had committed himself by a promise, he realizes that to do so “is to work a hardship to some other boy,” and has committed to only do it in exceptional cases.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-07
President Roosevelt would like to be able to “get off into the woods somewhere for a holiday,” but does not think it will be possible for him to do so for a variety of reasons. Among other reasons, Roosevelt is cognizant of his time in the presidency growing shorter, and wants to make sure he is able to accomplish what he wants to. He believes Lyman Abbott is correct in his view of the Allison amendment, and says that it simply lists what Roosevelt has always maintained that the Hepburn bill contained. Recent discussion of the inheritance tax has amused Roosevelt, as there is already a law on the books which had been deemed constitutional by the Supreme Court several years ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-09
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-20
President Roosevelt tells his cousin Emlen Roosevelt that he wrote to him what he did to try to head off possible accusations that he was “acting for a go-between for a company in which my cousin was interested and the War Department.” He tells Roosevelt that he is working on the post office matter that Dr. McLane is concerned with, but wishes that McLane would contact Congressman Hill himself. Roosevelt wishes he could hear about Roosevelt’s sons, and comments on how his own family is doing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-27
Although President Roosevelt appreciates Katie Saddler Ford’s kindness, he cannot accept the gift she sent, because it is too valuable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-14
President Roosevelt requests more information from Senator Proctor about the alleged promise he made with General Francis Safford Dodge to appoint Hugh J. Gallagher.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-27
President Roosevelt comments on false stories that have appeared in the press regarding executive spending. He defends the expansion of the White House as being necessary and the cost of the tennis court as trivial. There was no “personal naval review” that used public money and Roosevelt has used the government yachts, Mayflower and Sylph, sparingly. The yachts are also not exclusive to the president and are used by other government officials. Finally, entertainment at the White House is paid personally by Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-14
President Roosevelt believes an editorial from William Allen White would be very useful. He suggests that William Loeb and Nicholas Murray Butler can provide information. Roosevelt was touched by what White and Jacob A. Riis wrote about him. He simply wants to make things better and treat everyone according to their merits.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-15