Public officers--Selection and appointment

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nevada N. Stranahan

President Roosevelt shares with Nevada N. Stranahan, Collector of Customs in New York, that he feels Governor Frank Wayland Higgins is correct about suggesting John T. Mott as chairman of the New York Republican State Committee. He would have accepted several other candidates, but there would be too much opposition. Roosevelt will gladly back Mott and considers him ideal for the situation. He wants Higgins to take care of the matter immediately and asks Stranahan to contact William L. Ward and George W. Dunn. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederic Remington

President Roosevelt is pleased to have an inscribed volume of Frederic Remington’s The Way of an Indian. He does not usually follow serial stories, but he read every chapter of it as it was released. Roosevelt comments on the types of men, like Ben Daniels and Bat Masterson, who he has appointed to office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Collier Platt

President Roosevelt tells Senator Platt that he would like to do what he can for Mr. Skinner, but there are very few appointment opportunities at present.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George E. Matthews

President Roosevelt informs George E. Matthews that Henry W. Brendel has held his position as collector for two terms. Except in exceptional cases, it is customary after two terms to nominate someone else to the position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jefferson D. Dunwody

President Roosevelt says that there is no chance that the person Jefferson D. Dunwody referred to him will receive an appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Andrew Lyon

President Roosevelt asks Colonel Lyon to write him about the enclosed matter. A former Rough Rider, Elijah Pennington, would like to be appointed collector, and it appears to Roosevelt that the present party leaders in Galveston have done “mighty little.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Swett Black

President Roosevelt tells Frank Swett Black that he has been having trouble making appointments in Kentucky. The Kentucky Congressmen, the State Committee Chairman, and the National Committeemen all agree that Samuel J. Roberts is one of the best Republican supporters in the state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Appleton Morgan

President Roosevelt remembers Appleton Morgan’s attitude and wishes that he could hold out hope that he could appoint him to some position. He would be happy to do so if the chance arises.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

Senator James P. Clarke believes that Judge Uriah M. Rose would be an ideal man for either The Hague Conference or the Pan-American Conference. Rose impressed President Roosevelt when he visited Little Rock, Arkansas, and unless Secretary of State Root objects, Roosevelt would like Rose to attend the Hague Conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Benson Foraker

President Roosevelt has received Senator Foraker’s letter and will take no action on future appointments in Puerto Rico without consulting him first. He asks if Foraker saw Puerto Rico Governor Beekman Winthrop when he was in Washington.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Horatio C. King

President Roosevelt would be pleased to appoint Horatio C. King, but is not sure yet how the situation will play out. He has to make each appointment based not solely on its own merits, but in relation to other appointments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Schieren

President Roosevelt tells Charles A. Schieren that a number of good men have been suggested, and he believes that they will be able to get someone good for the position in question.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James McKeen

President Roosevelt tells James McKeen that he believes he will get a good man for the position in question, because he has received a number of excellent recommendations. He does not currently know whom he will choose. He congratulates McKeen on his work in connection with the insurance investigation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elijah Pennington

President Roosevelt tells former Rough Rider Elijah Pennington that he cannot appoint more than a certain number of men from the regiment to government positions. He does not like Pennington’s allusions to Cecil Andrew Lyon, as he believes that Lyon has always been “square and straight.” Lyon is not seeking office, but is an interested Republican. In an appointment as important as the one in question, Roosevelt does not want to “go back on him.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert J. Beveridge

President Roosevelt informs Senator Beveridge that he has spoken with Representative Jesse Overstreet to inform him that Leopold G. Rothschild will be named Surveyor of Customs in Indianapolis. Overstreet is disappointed with the decision, because ordinarily he would have the right to choose the appointee to that position. Roosevelt hopes that in the future they can find a way to give Overstreet some recognition. Roosevelt will send Rothschild’s name in for approval when there is just enough time for him to be confirmed before February 15.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jesse Overstreet

President Roosevelt acknowledges that Representative Overstreet recommended Frank D. Stalnaker for Collector of Customs at the Port of Indianapolis. Although Stalnaker is a man of good character and is qualified for the position, Roosevelt had already promised Senator Albert J. Beveridge that he would nominate Leopold G. Rothschild to the position. Roosevelt includes a list of firms and businessmen who have endorsed Rothschild.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of State Root that Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou would like Louis A. Coolidge to be made comptroller of the currency. The current comptroller, William Barret Ridgely, would have to be put in the diplomatic service to free the space for Coolidge. The next two vacancies in the diplomatic service are spoken for, but Roosevelt would give Ridgely the third vacancy to open his place for Coolidge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Wayland Higgins

President Roosevelt tells New York Governor Higgins that he cannot find a place for “poor” Charles Rufus Skinner. He asks if there is a minor state government position he could be appointed to. In a postscript, Roosevelt encourages Higgins to keep up his leadership.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Peter Moerdyke

President Roosevelt tells Reverend Moerdyke that he does not generally believe in taking men’s denominations into account when he is appointing them. Although in certain circumstances it is sound governmental policy to take them into account, he does not think it is appropriate to do so under ordinary circumstances.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Dick

President Roosevelt thinks that the enclosed letter from Howard D. Mannington is “as manly and direct” as any letter he has received from someone in similar circumstances. Senator Dick had previously said that he would have supported Mannington in other circumstances and now would be glad to try to get him a proper appointment. Roosevelt asks Dick to keep this in mind and give Mannington a position that is as good as the position to which they were unable to appoint him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-06