Reciprocity

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt affirms his strong support for the Massachusetts Republican ticket, and advises Senator Lodge on how to respond to a statement from Henry Melville Whitney that misrepresents Roosevelt’s feelings on trade reciprocity with Canada. Roosevelt believes that it will do no good for him personally to make a statement, but approves of Lodge’s plan of publicly affirming Roosevelt’s support of the Republican ticket and stating that the Senators from Massachusetts have always agreed with him on reciprocity and that Roosevelt’s views on the matter have never changed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Gurney Cannon

President Roosevelt lays out his thoughts about the tariff to Speaker of the House Cannon, suggesting that Congress ought to take up the tariff law because it has been eight years since it was passed. Roosevelt proposes that the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means put together a joint commission to discuss the tariff question and report at a special session of Congress as soon as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt discusses his frustrations about the tariff revision and reciprocity with Nicholas Murray Butler. The president does not intend to divide the Republican Party, but is going to do his best to amend the present tariff law in order to meet expectations of the people that the government consider the tariff, and show “that the Republican party is not powerless to take up the subject.” He emphasizes that the contents of the letter to Butler are personal and are only for Butler and members of the “kitchen cabinet.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles W. Fairbanks

President Roosevelt is delighted Senator Fairbanks is going to take up the matter of the Canadian reciprocity treaty and encourages him to do it as soon as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Haven Putnam

President Roosevelt thanks George Haven Putnam for his letter, but wants to correct him on one point. Roosevelt explains he has dealt with senators like Matthew Stanley Quay not because they made him president but because he wanted to succeed in his policies by working with prominent men in the Republican Party. The president says that the results of the presidential election will not make any real change in his attitude toward them. Roosevelt also explains confidentially he is trying to do all he can regarding the tariff revision and reciprocity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Winthrop Murray Crane

President Roosevelt shares his feelings about the recent election with Senator Crane, mentioning that he was pleased to have carried Missouri, but was saddened to learn of Massachusetts Governor John Lewis Bates’s defeat. Having secured victory, Roosevelt notes that he followed the decision he and Crane had come to by announcing immediately he would not be running for a third term. The president explains to Senator Crane he has written to Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge about the Newfoundland reciprocity treaty, which Roosevelt believes needs an honest effort even though he does not think the United States will succeed with Canada.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles W. Fairbanks

President Roosevelt asks Senator and Vice President-elect Fairbanks if he can make an effort to negotiate a reciprocity treaty with Canada. The president does not believe it is possible but wants to put forth the effort.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt discusses several matters with Senator Lodge, including his correspondence with Massachusetts Representative Augustus Peabody Gardner, his amazement at carrying Missouri in the presidential election, the Newfoundland reciprocity treaty, and visits with mutual friends. The president hopes to see Lodge and his wife, Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge, soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

President Roosevelt is struggling to convince other senators to take a broad-minded view of the Newfoundland reciprocity treaty. Roosevelt will not do anything about the Russian Jews at the moment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Gurney Cannon

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Gurney Cannon, Chairman of the Notification Committee, to formally accept his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and to approve the platform adopted by the Republican National Convention. In the letter, Roosevelt provides a comprehensive defense of his foreign and domestic policies and outlines what he believes are the major differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in the upcoming election. Roosevelt discusses, among other topics, his position on international relations, antitrust legislation, tariffs, the gold standard, pensions for Civil War veterans, the military, civil service, commerce, agriculture, taxation, and self-government in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt clarifies for Nicholas Murray Butler his position on a tariff which needs revision but hopefully will not damage protective interests in the process. Roosevelt believes the “reciprocity agitation” in New England is foolish and hopes that he can gain reciprocity from Canada.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

President Roosevelt has been working on his speech since receiving Attorney General Moody’s letter. Roosevelt is having trouble shortening it and the letter will come out six weeks after the speech. Roosevelt included what Moody said about Cuban reciprocity but is uncertain whether or not he will keep it in.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt is anxious to see Senator Lodge upon his return to Oyster Bay after August 15. Roosevelt has included the “merchant marine business” in his letter and will have a rough draft to show Lodge. Roosevelt has also adopted what Lodge said about reciprocity and has gone over his speech with Elihu Root and Senator Philander C. Knox.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Tasker Howard Bliss

President Roosevelt thanks General Bliss for the pen and for Bliss’s part in securing the adoption of Cuban reciprocity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White

President Roosevelt looks forward to discussing many things with Henry White. Roosevelt thinks that Alaska and Panama settlements in one year is a good showing and intends to pass Cuban reciprocity as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Uncle James King Gracie has passed away and President Roosevelt will attempt to attend the funeral on Friday. Roosevelt is currently busy with the Panama treaty, Cuban reciprocity, and having General Leonard Wood confirmed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

President Roosevelt was glad to see the editorial on Panama and does not believe that the Democrats deserve any praise for their actions on Cuban reciprocity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to T. E. Byrnes

President Roosevelt hopes that Thomas E. Byrnes can influence Representative James A. Tawney and Mr. Stevens towards favoring Cuban reciprocity. Roosevelt speaks of a kind letter from Mr. Mellen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Le Grand B. Cannon

President Roosevelt calls Le Grand B. Cannon’s attention to a circular produced by the American Protective Tariff League which attacks the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty. Roosevelt believes that this circular could damage the Republican Party and implies that he would be disappointed if Cannon authorized the use of his name with the circular.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Hopkins Millard

President Roosevelt is committed to holding the special session of Congress because without it the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty might not have been ratified.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-19