Your TR Source
President Roosevelt apologizes for disturbing Attorney General Bonaparte while on vacation but asks him to review the enclosed letter from former Minnesota governor and representative John Lind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte that District Attorney of Wyoming Timothy F. Burke cannot be reappointed due to his lack of enthusiasm regarding laws against the illegal enclosure of public lands, and informs Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock of the situation. Roosevelt has contacted the senators of Wyoming to let them know that Burke will not be reappointed. Roosevelt feels there has been a breakdown within the Department of the Interior in making a successful case against Senator Francis E. Warren, which Roosevelt feels is a more serious case than Burke’s. Edward B. Linnen’s report can be completely discredited and therefore no action can be taken. Roosevelt suggests that a new examination be undertaken by another group of men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-26
President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Bonaparte that Wyoming District Attorney Timothy F. Burke cannot be considered for reappointment based on reports from Milton Dwight Purdy and Alford Warriner Cooley. Burke’s term is almost up and Roosevelt feels that replacing him as soon as possible would be appropriate, but he would like Bonaparte’s advice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich’s statements regarding Marshal Ruel Rounds, and on the situation in Idaho. Bonaparte thinks the lumber men could appeal to the Interstate Commerce Commission about the railroad rates, but he will have to look into the matter further. Many of the employees involved in the land fraud cases think highly of District Attorney N. M. Ruick and feel Senator William Edgar Borah is guilty, but the secret service men dislike Ruick. In Oklahoma, Bonaparte is still waiting for the election and the results of the census, and will give Roosevelt his feedback on the constitution after he has more information. William Randolph Hearst and the financiers have taken up rumors of Bonaparte’s resignation in the press again, perhaps because of Republican National Committee member Frank B. Kellogg’s visit to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-01
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on matters regarding United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick, the prosecution of the International Harvester Company, and affairs in Oklahoma. He is greatly concerned about reports of Secretary of State Elihu Root’s health. Territorial Governor of New Mexico George Curry intends to appoint David J. Leahy as assistant attorney general of the territory. Bonaparte feels obligated to inform Roosevelt of this appointment as Leahy is possibly “one of the persons about whom there has been complaint by the Interior Department.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
Attorney General Bonaparte sent President Roosevelt a draft of the telegram to United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick. Bonaparte shares his thoughts about the intentions of the press in attacking him and gives an update on the International Harvester Company trust prosecution. Additionally, Bonaparte comments on Special Assistant Attorney General Ormsby McHarg and the conference of attorneys general.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-26
Attorney General Bonaparte shares with President Roosevelt his thoughts about what to do with United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick. He sends a copy of the telegram he sent to Ruick, and notes the reasoning for his approach. The remaining question is that of the special counsel for the trial. Bonaparte will contact Francis J. Heney and provides several alternatives if Heney is unavailable. He asks Roosevelt for further suggestions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-25
Attorney General Moody intends to fully prosecute cases involving naturalization fraud and will discuss the matter with Assistant Attorney General Purdy when Purdy returns to work. Moody also stresses the importance of the Southern District of New York Office and encourages the President to appoint a top lawyer to administer that office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-19
Theodore Roosevelt is glad to get a letter with news from Walter H. Newton about Minnesota. Roosevelt wishes that he could see Newton and other Minnesota Progressives.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-16
President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Bonaparte that he thinks the prosecution against Standard Oil should go on “as hard as possible,” no matter what happens in the campaign. Roosevelt has told William H. Taft that he should announce that he will not take any campaign contributions from Standard Oil. Roosevelt returns a letter from Assistant District Attorney Charles Albert Boynton and agrees with Bonaparte about Alabama Governor B. B. Comer. Roosevelt is not pleased with the situation surrounding Lycurgus H. Lingenfelder. Roosevelt makes recommendations for appointments to the Department of Justice in the wake of resignations by Milton Dwight Purdy and Alford Warriner Cooley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-31
President Roosevelt believes that he should not appoint any more people from New York at the moment. Roosevelt already has a long list of people from New York he would like to appoint, but believes that if he can get someone just as good from another state, he should appoint that person.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-13
President Roosevelt forwards Attorney General Bonaparte a telegram from former Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock, and admits that his prejudice against Pliny L. Soper may have been a holdover from Hitchcock’s time in office. Roosevelt also encloses an unsigned letter that Secretary of War William H. Taft and Frank B. Kellogg discussed, and asks that Bonaparte discuss it with Milton Dwight Purdy and Kellogg. Roosevelt has heard of the matter, but thinks that little good would come from pursuing the matter currently, as it would get twisted to political purposes. Roosevelt will tell Senator Jonathan Bourne and John D. Archbold that they have to stop wasting time trying to negotiate through Roosevelt and comply with the opinion of Bonaparte and Kellogg.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-29
President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte, and says that they should appoint Milton Dwight Purdy at once. Roosevelt does not want to be dictated to by Senator Knute Nelson as to who he is able to appoint. He is unsure about the wisdom of putting another Tennessee Democrat in the administration when there are already several people from the area in the administration. Roosevelt asks Bonaparte’s opinions about several people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-23
Should Judge William Lochren remain in his judgeship for another few weeks, President Roosevelt will make a recess appointment to fill the seat, potentially with Milton Dwight Purdy. Roosevelt reminds Senator Clapp that he asked Clapp and Senator Knute Nelson for names of men to appoint, and Nelson did not care to make a suggestion. Roosevelt reminds Clapp of his power as President to make nominations, and suggests that the Senate vote on his nomination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-25
President Roosevelt sends an enclosure from Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to Senator Clark, which arrived before their conversation. He asks Clark to consider what is said about Milton Dwight Purdy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-19
President Roosevelt instructs Attorney General Bonaparte to tell the proper people in the Justice Department to prepare to answer the inquiry about the wood pulp issue. Roosevelt would like the answer to include Milton Dwight Purdy’s statement, and to show what action the administration has taken.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-03
President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Bonaparte that he has directed the Department of Commerce and Labor to make the census of Oklahoma Territory that Bonaparte suggested. Roosevelt trusts Bonaparte’s judgement regarding a novel way to deal with the illegal tobacco trusts that had recently been proposed. Roosevelt would prefer to see the trust offenders put in prison, but thinks the seizure of businesses acquired against the law will be almost as effective.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-20
President Roosevelt asks Judge Amidon for his opinion of John C. Pollock’s suitability for a position in Washington, to which Senator Henry Clay Hansbrough would like to appoint him. Roosevelt wants someone who will work to disrupt, not avoid, wrongdoing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-13
President Roosevelt briefly follows up with Attorney General Moody on several issues, including an ice matter, acting against Standard Oil, and guidance on spelling reform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-13
Edmond H. Madison believes that Representative Thomas W. Hardwick, chairman of the special committee investigating the sugar trust, is more concerned with injuring Roosevelt’s reputation than in conducting his investigation. A recent interview of George H. Earle saw many attacks on Roosevelt which were subsequently reprinted in newspapers. Madison now worries that an upcoming interview with Milton Dwight Purdy may have the same aim, and asks Roosevelt for any information he should be aware or forewarned of for the upcoming hearing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-07