Puerto Rico | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Regis Henri Post and Puerto Rico school superintendents

An unknown witness relates an incident in which he reports that a likely-inebriated Governor of Puerto Rico Regis Henri Post unleashed a slew of verbal abuse on the Puerto Rico School Superintendents, with particular acrimony aimed at Assistant Commissioner of Education Everett W. Lord. One redacted section quotes Post accusing the superintendents of being the second largest cause of anti-American sentiment in Puerto Rico, behind only the missionaries. The recounting of Post’s attempts to apologize the next day does not suggest the superintendents were willing to forgive Post.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-28

Platt’s address

In his speech as temporary chairman of the Republican state convention in Connecticut, Senator Orville Hitchcock Platt reviews and praises the accomplishments of the Republican party during the last three terms. Platt also praises President Roosevelt, and vice-presidential nominee Charles W. Fairbanks, and believes that the Democrats’ attempts to make personal attacks on Roosevelt’s character will not be effective, as Roosevelt is a good, strong leader who was nominated by acclamation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Benson Foraker

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Benson Foraker, Chairman of the Senate Committee, regarding the nomination of Regis H. Post as Governor of Porto Rico, and sends a related editorial from The Congregationalist. He has been called upon by Bishop James H. Van Buren, who emphatically supports Post. It has become clear that both Americans and natives are largely in support of Post, and to refrain from appointing him would be a calamity. He asks Foraker to submit the letter with the previous communications.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-21

Letter from Regis Henri Post to Beekman Winthrop

Puerto Rico Governor Post informs previous governor Beekman Winthrop he received notice of his confirmation the day before writing and says Winthrop has put him under more obligations than before.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-18

Taft speaks to the South

The Lexington Leader prints Secretary of War William H. Taft’s speech at the Lexington, Kentucky auditorium in its entirety. He discusses at length the question of race and its relation to political participation. Taft details the differences between President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan and appeals to Kentuckian Democrats to evaluate their party alliance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt congratulates Senator Lodge on the birth of his grandson, Henry Cabot Lodge, and is glad that Lodge’s daughter-in-law Bessie is in good health. Roosevelt lays out the cases both in favor of, and against, Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes as a Supreme Court Justice. Roosevelt is concerned about Holmes’s speech about former Chief Justice John Marshall and hopes that Holmes understands that Supreme Court justices should be neither partisan nor politicians. Roosevelt has been happy with the majority of the Supreme Court but is concerned with the “reactionary folly” of the minority. Roosevelt wants to ensure that the replacement for Justice Gray upholds his legacy.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1902-07-10

Translation of cablegram from William H. Taft to Luke E. Wright

Secretary of War Taft notifies Governor-General of the Philippines Wright that President Roosevelt wants to appoint Beekman Winthrop as Governor of Puerto Rico. Taft wishes to know if Winthrop will accept and when Winthrop can take up the office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-17

Telegram from Beekman Winthrop to William H. Taft

Beekman Winthrop accepts his appointment by President Roosevelt as Governor of Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-20

Letter from Thomas Collier Platt to Theodore Roosevelt

Thomas Collier Platt confirms appointment of Beekman Winthrop as Governor of Puerto Rico and commits to seeing that the nomination is confirmed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-23

Letter from Regis H. Post to Theodore Roosevelt

Regis H. Post recommends the current assistant secretary in Puerto Rico as the best choice to succeed Secretary of Puerto Rico Charles Hartzell, if he resigns.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-24

Letter from Robert H. Todd to Theodore Roosevelt

Robert H. Todd states he spoke with United States Army chaplain Edward J. Vattmann on issues concerning Puerto Rico as requested by President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-23

Letter from Regis Henri Post to Theodore Roosevelt

Regis Henri Post praises Father Edward J. Vattmann for his service in Puerto Rico and hopes he will return next year. Post will travel to Washington, D.C., and hopes to meet with President Roosevelt to talk about matters relating to Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-07

Letter from William H. Hunt to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor Hunt responds to President Roosevelt’s letter announcing his possible appointment as a federal judge in Montana. Hunt says that at present he should stay in Puerto Rico to complete several tasks he has started as governor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-16

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft shares his plans regarding Cuba. He suggests President Roosevelt appoint Beekman Winthrop as provisional governor given his previous experience in Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Letter from Charles R. Greenleaf to Alice White Greenway

Charles R. Greenleaf was briefly in Cuba checking on the spread of yellow fever and seeing many Rough Riders, but not learning their names. He will write if he hears anything about John Campbell Greenway. The Greenway name brought back memories of Greenleaf’s “pleasantest years” spent in Huntsville, Alabama.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1898-08-12

Letter from Walter F. Carter to John Campbell Greenway

Walter F. Carter admires John Campbell Greenway’s military service. He reminisces about their college days, updates Greenway on their friends, and offers to send a care package. Carter is very eager to see Greenway when he is back on American soil.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1898-07-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Harry Munro Ferguson

President Roosevelt is concerned about Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s hospitalization. He advises Ferguson to take a holiday for his health. Roosevelt recently appointed Laurence Grahame as Secretary of the Interior of Puerto Rico. Grahame is a Canadian of Scotch parentage and is an “awfully good fellow.”

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1906-12-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John T. McCutcheon

Theodore Roosevelt loved the cartoon from Gaar Williams. He has always wanted a Williams cartoon because he gave the last one to Kermit Roosevelt. Roosevelt invites John T. McCutcheon to visit Puerto Rico.