Pulitzer, Joseph, 1847-1911

President Roosevelt thanks the President of The Outlook, Lawrence F. Abbott, for the proof he sent and discusses several articles of his that will be published after he leaves the Presidency.  In anticipation of his trip to Africa, Roosevelt asks Abbott to open and classify the mail he receives at The Outlook office.  Roosevelt also criticizes Joseph Pulitzer and various colleges for accepting support from him.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-12-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt understands that the clipping William Allen White sent is funny and meant in jest, but he takes exception to the implication that, along with William Jennings Bryan, Oklahoma governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, and William Randolph Hearst, he is also a liar and a rascal. Roosevelt writes that certain “conscienceless and unscrupulous” journalists who imply that there is no difference between honest and dishonest men, are worse for public life than the worst businessmen and politicians. He believes that White is a decent journalist who does not want to confuse the public and urges him not to publish such jokes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William Jennings Bryan stands in the stirrups of his mount, a donkey labeled “Democracy,” directing the honor guard led by Adlai E. Stevenson, and including Henry R. Towne, Joseph Pulitzer, and Carl Schurz carrying a large flag with a portrait of Emilio Aguinaldo under the heading “The George Washington of the Philippines.” Also included are Oswald Ottendorfer, Edwin Lawrence Godkin, William Bourke Cockran, John Peter Altgeld, and William Sulzer.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-10-17

A huge Uncle Sam gets a new outfit made at the “McKinley and Company National Tailors” with President William McKinley taking the measurements. Carl Schurz, Joseph Pulitzer, and Oswald Ottendorfer stand inside the entrance to the shop and Schurz is offering Uncle Sam a spoonful of “Anti-Expansion Policy” medicine, a bottle of which each is carrying. On the right are bolts of cloth labeled “Enlightened Foreign Policy” and “Rational Expansion.” The strips on Uncle Sam’s trousers are labeled “Texas, Louisiana Purchase, Alaska, Florida, California, Hawaii, [and] Porto Rico.” Caption: The Antis. — Here, take a dose of this anti-fat and get slim again! Uncle Sam. — No, Sonny!, I never did take any of that stuff, and I’m too old to begin!

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-09-05

President William McKinley stands on the steps to the U.S. Capitol, holding up two flags, one labeled “Expansion” and the other labeled “Sound Money.” Tiny figures at the foot of the steps show William Jennings Bryan and his “Anti-Expansion” and “16 to 1” followers trying to dislodge the flag poles.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-08-29

Illustration showing two men escorting Admiral George Dewey down a street, on the left is a man labeled “McLean” and on the right is Joseph Pulitzer. On the left side of the street is the “Democratic Museum” and on the right of the street is the “Republican Museum,” and a sign on the left is directing them to the convention hall.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-05-02

Illustration showing a large hand labeled “LAW” holding up by the collar newspaper publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, with view of New York City in the background. Caption: Why not make a clean job of it while we’re at it?

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-04-04

Illustration showing two concerned citizens and Joseph Pulitzer imploring Uncle Sam, dressed as a U.S. policeman, to break up a fight taking place in the background labeled “South Africa” between John Bull and Paul Kruger.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-03-07

President Roosevelt tells Sir George Otto Trevelyan of his happiness regarding the recent 1904 presidential election, and remarks that he is glad people decided to support the positive message of the Republican Party, rather than the negativity of the Democratic Party. The president attributes his victory to the clear-cut message in his speeches and addresses as well as those canvassing for him. Roosevelt discusses the differences between the American president and other political leaders and believes the American president is more like the British prime minister than the French president. he additionally reflects on his intention not to run for a third term. Even without the convention of only two terms, the president believes it would be better for Secretary of War William H. Taft or Elihu Root to succeed him; they are similar in policy, but would have fresh thoughts and ways. Roosevelt concludes by discussing his recent reading. He praises a section from one of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches after his reelection and equates certain American political leaders to characters in Charles Dickens’s works.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt has thought about Joseph Pulitzer but did not write about him because he does not have Edward Sandford Martin’s ability to “tell the truth and be severe without being offensive.” He asks if Friday afternoon works for their meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Johnson for the letter. He agrees with Johnson that the people are entitled to an open primary to express their views for the presidential nomination. Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about President William H. Taft in absolute confidence. Despite his misgivings, Roosevelt will support Taft if nominated since he sees no ground for permanent hope in the Democratic Party. He comments on the other presidential candidates and considers himself a weak candidate. Roosevelt examines how the New York judges’ decisions strengthen the Socialist Party. He reviews why he disagrees with Johnson’s estimate of the public’s opinion of himself and why he does not want to be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Thomas C. Day tells Theodore Roosevelt he would never respond to an attack from Delavan Smith, publisher of the Indianapolis Daily News. Day has the “heartiest contempt” for publishing men like Smith and Joseph Pulitzer. Day plans to publish his own article about Panama in The Outlook soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt found Charles Dwight Willard’s letter interesting, and thinks it is a wonder that Willard has lived this long with his health challenges. Roosevelt reflects on their being “within range of the riflepits” and reasons that all is well should they be hit as they have “fought the good fight and accomplished something.” He found the anecdote about Harrison Gray Otis at The Outlook lunch amusing, and it is true that he found it proper to leave Lyman Abbott’s correction to his article even though he believes that The Times building was dynamited. He is pleased with the success of Edwin T. Earl’s paper and comments on the corruption of other newspapermen. Roosevelt comments on the progressive contingency having to “use the curb quite as much as the spur” in dealing with the popular movement against big corporations and men of wealth. Willard’s compliments of his article pleased him, especially as he admits to sometimes feeling dispirited about them. As an ex-president, Roosevelt must balance standing up for what he thinks is right without appearing to censor the current president. However, he is “extremely indignant” that President William H. Taft vetoed the statehood bill for Arizona and New Mexico. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates John P. Whitman’s letter but feels it inappropriate to write the letter to his brother, Russell R. Whitman, as requested. He suggests they meet at a club the next time they are both in New York to discuss the matter further. Roosevelt condemns much of William Randolph Hearst and his papers but finds him less loathsome than some of the other editors of New York newspapers. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt will tell Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte the substance of District Attorney Stimson’s letter. District Attorney Daniel W. Baker believes that the grand jury would refuse to indict anyone if he declined to present Joseph Pulitzer for indictment. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte did not agree with Henry L. Stimson’s letter. Bonaparte thinks it is particularly important to indict Joseph Pulitzer, as the lesson would be lost without this indictment. “From the standpoint of the public good,” President Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte. Even though there is less of a chance of successfully indicting Pulitzer, Roosevelt thinks this option is the greater public service than going after easier indictments of Pulitzer’s subordinates. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is pleased with Representative Small’s letter and applauds his bravery. He asks Small to convey his appreciation for the editorial in The Charlotte Observer to its editor. If it were possible, Roosevelt would include congressman Henry Thomas Rainey in the libel suit against Joseph Pulitzer. Roosevelt is “not really involved,” and is just trying to end the practice of publishing damaging attacks against Americans and their government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt shared Robert Underwood Johnson’s indignation at Columbia College’s acceptance of money “for such a purpose from such a knave,” (Joseph Pulitzer had recently proposed the creation of a school of journalism at Columbia College). Roosevelt tells Johnson that he was extremely doubtful about the Hetch Hetchy matter, but ultimately decided he had to stand behind the judgement of Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield and Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would like to press criminal libel charges against Joseph Pulitzer, and asks Henry L. Stimson if such a thing is possible. Roosevelt believes such a thing may be possible in connection with Pulitzer’s assertions regarding the Panama Canal, and asks Stimson to look into what Pulitzer has said on the topic in the preceding three or four months.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Senator Knox whether it would be worth stopping the lies of Joseph Pulitzer about the purchase of the Panama Canal once and for all. Roosevelt has received a full list of the stockholders of the Panama Canal Corporation from William Nelson Cromwell, as well as papers regarding what those companies did in connection to the purchase of the canal. While the scandal has not touched the government, Roosevelt thinks it may be good to make these documents public and explains how Cromwell obtained them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919