Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary dispels the rumor that Roosevelt is going abroad to John E. Kauffman. They mention Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is going on a trip to Jamaica and Colón, Panama and thank Kauffman for his note.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-01
A woman holds up a newspaper with a picture of President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan sitting at desks facing one another with papers of “our policies” in between their two desks. Roosevelt holds his big stick. The headline reads, “Dame Rumor’s Daily: Extra!!! Mr. Roosevelt to be Associate Editor of the ‘Commoner.'”
Nelson Harding joined his peers’ humorous speculation about Theodore Roosevelt’s post-presidential life. He had been offered university presidencies, management of major newspapers, and was pushed to run for governor or senator from New York State.
Roosevelt, carrying his big stick, exits the White House and approaches a figure on the porch who is wearing a shirt emblazoned with “third term rumor.” Roosevelt rolls up his sleeve to fight, surprising the figure, who says “Eh, what? Your dearest friend too!” The commentary here is on whether or not Roosevelt will knock out rumors that he would seek a third term.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1907
An old hag sits on a large ticker tape machine, on Wall Street, spewing “Inside Information,” “False Financial News,” and rumors that ensnare large groups of investors. Caption: The witch of Wall Street.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-09-08
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) C. Seymour Dougherty for her support in the California primary. Roosevelt denies the stories that are circulating regarding his drinking habits. He does not know how to confront this type of enemy and is glad that Dougherty was not “misled by such false and malicious rumors.”
1912-05-28
Uncle Sam uses a magnifying glass to see in his left hand a diminutive man labeled “Rumor Monger” yelling “Panic, National Disaster, Failures, [and] Ruin” into a megaphone labeled “Wall Str.” Caption: Uncle Sam — Well! Will this nuisance ever learn that the country governs Wall Street; not Wall Street, the country.
Even Puck, whose cartoons can be seen as a weekly diary of current events and prevailing opinions, occasionally in the early Roosevelt years reflected unease on Wall Street, insecurity about labor peace, and such public feelings. However — and far more frequently, as in this cartoon — cartoonists and commentators like Joseph Keppler Junior depicted the second American “Era of Good Feelings” and the solid prosperity of the Roosevelt years.
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary denies rumors that Roosevelt has “taken to drink,” and directs Mrs. James Cokley to several articles in The Outlook debunking these rumors.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-14
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Jacob A. Riis for sending Paul Underwood Kellogg’s letter. He has heard several absurd rumors similar to the one related by Kellogg. Roosevelt is not in favor of criminal libel charges unless the accusation is made by a prominent individual.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-03
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Hadley for countering rumors regarding Roosevelt’s consumption of alcohol. Roosevelt appreciates Hadley’s work during the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and regrets that Hadley will not be joining the new third party movement. Roosevelt does not see a usefulness for the Republican Party under its current leadership but would never question Hadley’s “conscientiousness.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-28
On Theodore Roosevelt’s behalf, Roosevelt’s Secretary thanks Charles M. Harrington for his letter and states that there is no truth in reports that Roosevelt “has taken to drinking and us[ing] whiskey immoderately” since Roosevelt “as a rule [] drinks tea and milk.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-08
Theodore Roosevelt denies any truth to the rumor and believes that William H. Taft supporters were trying to steal the convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-04
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary explains to Glenna M. Bell that the government does not offer rewards for women who have more than seven sons.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-01-31
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Elizabeth B. Knapp McClellan that there is no truth to the rumor of Jacob A. Riis’s death. He suggests McClellan read this month’s Scribner’s Magazine and write to the Jacob A. Riis Settlement to get more information.
Theodore Roosevelt informs Garrett J. Benson that the rumors laid out in the newspaper clip Benson sent are fabrications, including the fact that Roosevelt said anything about Mr. Barnes printing bills.
Theodore Roosevelt corrects the rumor that Horatio C. King heard that he was about to join the Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction, as he does not have the time. He thanks King for the information about his organization.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-19
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Albert Friedrich for his letter to Roosevelt. The report that Roosevelt is going hunting in Mexico is untrue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-01
Theodore Roosevelt addresses the rumors in Dennis A. Hayes’s letter that the United States ignored atrocities in the Belgian Congo to appease the Pope. Roosevelt calls it an “absolute falsehood” and “sensationalism.” Roosevelt does not deny that racial hatred exists, but says that no man who experiences such feelings should call themselves American.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-03
President Roosevelt answers accusations, supposedly from a Episcopal clergyman and school teacher from New York, that he is a drunkard. After fervently denying this, and providing details on his regular alcohol consumption, Roosevelt asks the letter be kept private from all except the accuser.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-25
President Roosevelt has recently spoken with John Callan O’Laughlin about possibly appointing him Assistant Secretary of State, and that O’Laughlin believed that when William H. Taft was inaugurated as president he “would ‘see what could be done about retaining him.'” Roosevelt informed O’Laughlin that he was mistaken, and that while he would be pleased to appoint him, it would be with the understanding that it would only be until March 4, 1909. Roosevelt has spoken with Philander C. Knox, and is confident that he will accept the position of Secretary of State in Taft’s cabinet. Roosevelt additionally discusses a possible appointment of Beekman Winthrop. In a postscript, Roosevelt mentions a rumor that Taft is considering appointing John W. Weeks instead of George von Lengerke Meyer to a cabinet position, which Roosevelt advises Taft against doing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-15
President Roosevelt sends Lieutenant Commander Key a copy of a letter he had sent to Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf. He tells Key not to worry about any reports being circulated, as they will not affect Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-24