Religious discrimination

Charles R. Dewing writes the United States Civil Service Commission regarding an investigation into the dismissal of Dewing due to religious discrimination. Dewing states Mr. Stockman, a Jesuit, targeted Dewing because he was part of the Central Union Church and participated in activities. Dewing also states Mr. Stockman pressured him to send letters, work long hours, and never take time off. Dewing requests the Commission continue to investigate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Herman Bernstein writes to Theodore Roosevelt after having read Roosevelt’s article “Peace of Righteousness.” Bernstein recalls having an agreeable meeting with Roosevelt, during which Roosevelt informed Bernstein he cannot, as a former President, write publicly on foreign matters. Bernstein urges him to reconsider.

Bernstein states that he understands foreign nations have no international legal standing to interfere with “Jewish massacres”, and that foreign nations cannot criticize the lack of reforms that had been codified in the Manifesto of October 17, 1905. However, Bernstein claims that Russia violated the Russo-America treaty of 1832 due to their treatment of Jewish Americans and states that by allowing in to continue, “Uncle Sam… should permit his ‘face to be slapped’ ” – quoting Roosevelt’s own words.

Theodore Roosevelt informs Ernest Harvier that he tried to nominate a Catholic Irish American against Cohalan. He feels strongly about religious discrimination and any attempts to bring religion into politics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-14

Theodore Roosevelt responds to Miss Stevenson’s letter by defending his stance on religion. Stevenson expects Roosevelt to disparage Catholicism because Pope Pius X prevented him from meeting with the Methodist church in Rome. In the second part of the letter, Roosevelt does not approve of the suffrage movement, and he has “nothing but contemptuous dislike with many of the so-called leaders of the suffrage movement.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-22

Theodore Roosevelt declines to contribute to the symposium and corrects the published text of a speech he delivered to the Knights of Columbus in New York. The published text left out a paragraph about the separation of church and state. Roosevelt requests that D. P. Toomey publish a correction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-08

Theodore Roosevelt invites Thomas E. Watson to Oyster Bay, New York, to discuss their shared Georgian ancestry and view some heirlooms Roosevelt has collected. Roosevelt defends the “countless good Americans who are Catholic” and supports the legality and legitimacy of marriages between people of different religious creeds. He denounces any “general assault on Catholics.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-16

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Father Shannon for his statements, which show what the Mexicans, helped to power by President Woodrow Wilson, have done “in the way of inexcusable persecution of ecclesiastics.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-07

President Roosevelt responds to James C. Martin’s letter expressing concerns about William H. Taft’s religious views. First, Roosevelt refutes Martin’s concern about Taft being a Unitarian by pointing out that Americans should not vote for a man based solely on his religious beliefs. Second, Roosevelt addresses concerns that Taft’s wife and brother are Catholics by pointing out that they are not. Roosevelt believes that if America is to last, people of different religious creeds will have to work together in government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-06

President Roosevelt argues that he does not favor Catholics any more than he favors Protestants, and tries to treat every person alike in public office as he does in his personal life. The United States will last for many centuries, and he hopes that Catholics elected president in the future will appreciate his actions. He supported the nomination of General Philip Henry Sheridan, a Catholic, for president in 1884. Roosevelt would like Eugene A. Philbin to read a letter written by John Henry Hammond about Roosevelt’s removal of Asa Bird Gardiner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-10

President Roosevelt sends to Maurice Francis Egan a copy of a letter that he wrote as Police Commissioner of New York. In the letter, Roosevelt rejects the suggestion that he practiced religious discrimination in organizing the police force. Roosevelt also sends to Egan a copy of an article about the “ethnic side” of the New York police force.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-03

Theodore Roosevelt lists various religious groups that have visited the White House. Roosevelt would like John B. Worrall to know that he does not discriminate for or against anyone because they are Catholic or Protestant.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-01

James Andrew Drain believes that Colonel Gerard overstepped in his evaluation of Mr. Bloom’s commission application. Gerard did not find Bloom suitable as an officer but then went on to state that he has found Jews “not well received socially.” Drain agrees that Jewish Americans can be good American citizens and should be treated equally. However, he also states that Jews are not “desirable social companions.” Drain hopes to meet with Theodore Roosevelt for lunch soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-28

B. G. Tieger sends Theodore Roosevelt their poem petitioning Americans to read Jewish history and “see how much utility and advantage this people has brought.” They hope Roosevelt will publish it in The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-18

Helen Thomas Flint applauds Theodore Roosevelt’s decrial of the Young Men’s Christian Association for denying Jews and Catholics the ability to hold office. She reports that the ban also includes Unitarians. As a Unitarian, she hopes Roosevelt’s influence will bring much-needed change to the organization.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-06

S. Hartman discusses the worldwide oppression of Jews, which is especially prevalent in Romania and Russia in a letter to Theodore Roosevelt. Believing in Roosevelt wide-reaching influence, Hartman pleads with him to “interest yourself in behalf of these deeply afflicted people.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-30

Charles Phillips thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter and the copy of his letter to Cleveland Doge of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). He is not surprised by what Roosevelt writes, and it confirms his high regard for him. Archbishop John Ireland recently withdrew his letter endorsing the YMCA since the restrictions against Catholics have not been removed. Ireland encouraged Phillips to continue writing about the good work that can be accomplished through ecumenical cooperation. Phillips agrees with Roosevelt that “it is of the utmost importance…that our people who are straight and decent shall associate together as much as possible without regard to theological differences.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-20

Cleveland H. Dodge agrees with Theodore Roosevelt’s position on the Young Men’s Christian Association but cautions it will take time for the organization’s majority to recognize the need for a change. Although, the YMCA recently appointed a committee for this purpose, from which Dodge hopes some action will be taken. He wishes Roosevelt a “delightful and profitable trip” and wants to talk when they both return from the West.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-20

Simon Wolf is grateful Theodore Roosevelt is speaking at the banquet for the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. He reaffirms his support of Roosevelt’s non-visit to Russia and hopes he will use his speech to denounce Russia’s unjust treatment of Jews.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-07

Ambassador Meyer updates Theodore Roosevelt on the socioeconomic conditions in Russia. Meyer discusses the problems of working with the Russian government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-11

Brigadier General Smith discusses issues with education in the Philippines including: conflict between Protestants and Catholics; accusations made against education officials and staff; religious discrimination in the schools; evaluation of textbooks; and accusations of immorality in the schools.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-13