Your TR Source
President Roosevelt comments on the work of several diplomats, including Maurice Francis Egan, David Jayne Hill, and John Wallace Riddle. Roosevelt writes that he looks forward to talking with Egan about various social and political issues in Denmark. Roosevelt also provides his opinions on the value of farming populations and agricultural states in the United States.
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt has received praise for Minister to Denmark Maurice Francis Egan, along with John Wallace Riddle and David Jayne Hill, from Nicholas Butler Murray. Roosevelt is confused by the rates of depression and tendency toward socialism in Denmark, a country of farmers. Mississippi is the most agricultural state in the United States, and Roosevelt concludes that although there are many great Mississippians, a mixture of farmers and townsfolk is the best population to have.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt tells Montgomery Schuyler that his son Montgomery Schuyler Jr. won his promotion on his own merits, just like Ambassador John Wallace Riddle has recently done. Roosevelt notes that they wanted the best men possible serving in Russia. He also notes that Schuyler’s book has not yet arrived, but that he is looking forward to reading it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-22
President Roosevelt tells University of Michigan President James Burrill Angell he agrees with the sentiment of his recent letter, and offers to help in any way possible related to the matter. Roosevelt is also glad that Angell is pleased with John Wallace Riddle’s promotion to United States Ambassador to Russia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-13
Robert Bacon asks William Loeb if there is some time when the “gentleman with the unpronounceable name” can visit with President Roosevelt. Bacon encloses a letter from the United States ambassador to Russia John Wallace Riddle, describing the person, but Russian Ambassador Baron Rosen has distanced himself from the gentleman. Bacon has told the gentleman that Roosevelt is unable to join the gentleman’s society, but may be willing to accept the token the gentleman wishes to present.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-14
President Roosevelt provides Secretary of State Hay with a list of appointments in the diplomatic and consular service after March 4, 1905. Roosevelt includes a handwritten note, “All this is tentative.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-17
President Roosevelt is willing to appoint Jay to the First Secretaryship. In light of what Assistant Secretary of State Loomis says, Smith should not be sent to Cairo but Roosevelt approves of sending Spencer Eddy or John Riddle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-02
President Roosevelt returns some letters to his sister, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, and remarks that the one from John Wallace Riddle was “as interesting as any I have read this year.” Roosevelt believes Clara Root, wife of Secretary of State Elihu Root, is going on her trip “in just the right spirit.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt tells Francis C. Lowell that except in rare cases, it is better for ambassadors and ministers to be chosen from American political, literary, and business life, rather than promoted from secretaries of legations. However, Roosevelt believes that the best consuls are those who have spent a long time in the diplomatic and consular service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-08
President Roosevelt apologizes to Judge Holt that he is replacing diplomat Arthur Sherburne Hardy with Francis B. Loomis, whom he feels has earned a promotion and reward, whereas Hardy expects it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-28
President Roosevelt explains he is trying to get a legation for Romania and Serbia established. If he is successful, the post will go to Consul General at Cairo, Egypt, John Wallace Riddle. Roosevelt tells Endicott Peabody he might be able to make Thomas Ewing Moore Secretary of Legation under Riddle, but he is not sure.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-27
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Hay if Thomas Ewing Moore, consul at Weimar, Germany, can be made secretary of legation under John Wallace Riddle as minister if the United States gets an embassy in Romania. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Endicott Peabody recommending Moore.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-27
President Roosevelt encloses a letter of introduction to Consul General John Wallace Riddle for James Speyer, and thanks Speyer for everything he has done during the last three years.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-20
President Roosevelt tells William Bayard Cutting to go ahead with his application for a position in the diplomatic service, although he wishes that Cutting was a convinced Republican. He will be pleased to appoint Cutting if there is an opportunity to do so, but he cannot promise anything because there are many other people with whom he has ties that must be considered. Roosevelt asks whether Cutting has seen James Rudolph Garfield, as he would prefer if Cutting was able to work under Garfield rather than going abroad.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-13
President Roosevelt shares his concerns about some of the members of the American diplomatic and consular service with Richard Harding Davis. Minister to Belgium Lawrence Townsend and Minister to Spain Arthur Sherburne Hardy are two examples of men who are the “pink-tea type,” hosting dinners instead of doing “hard work.” By contrast, Roosevelt admires Ambassador to Japan Lloyd Carpenter Griscom, Consul General to Egypt John Wallace Riddle, and Henry White. Roosevelt wants Davis to tell him about any men who are not doing their job, as the president wants to remove them when he makes changes on March 4.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-03
President Roosevelt assures Rebecca Blair Flandrau that his appointment of her son, John Wallace Riddle, was made “strictly on its merits,” and that he was glad the opportunity to help a friend coincided with the hopes of that friend.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-09
Carl C. Young reminds Frank Harper of their conversation about the Karakul sheep that Theodore Roosevelt helped him import two years ago. He requests Harper ask Roosevelt if he wants a taxidermy lamb or a live one if he prefers. Young shares that Roosevelt’s defeat in the New York elections did not hurt him in the Southwestern States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-08
Anna Roosevelt Cowles takes President Roosevelt’s correspondence for granted because he is so wonderful. Cowles hopes the portrait by Ellen Emmet Rand for which Roosevelt is sitting is a success and wants a black and white sketch from the sittings as well. Many ambassadors are visiting, led by Lloyd Carpenter Griscom and John Wallace Riddle. Cowles enjoyed Herbert Knox Smith’s description of Roosevelt’s trip down the Mississippi River. Cowles does not want to write more so as not to overburden Roosevelt, but he is always in her thoughts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-31
Ambassador Reid tells President Roosevelt about a recent meeting between William Jennings Bryan and King Edward VII, as well as the general attitude toward Bryan among Englishmen after a series of speeches he gave in London. Reid also mentions that he will be sending a report on a conversation he had with Sir Edward Grey about a notice sent to Russia of England’s desire to have “a reduction of armaments made a subject for the next Hague Conference.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-27
Anna Roosevelt Cowles sends her brother Theodore a letter written by John Riddle. Anna says that Mrs. Root does not feel as if she is doing enough to support Roosevelt’s administration. She is following the news of the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-27