Your TR Source
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
President Roosevelt reports that he had not heard any story about Senator Foraker’s argument. He did, however, hear it alleged by political leaders who supported Judge Adams for the position. Roosevelt paid these rumors no mind and is focusing instead on candidates in Ohio, Idaho, and Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-28
President Roosevelt thanks William Allen White for the letter and copy of the Leavenworth Daily Times, edited by Daniel Read Anthony. Based on what Anthony says about General Leonard Wood, Roosevelt believes Anthony to be “a scoundrel and a liar.” Some of the stories Anthony mentions were previously leveled by corrupt post office officials against Wood while he was military governor of Cuba, and Roosevelt has no reason to believe the others without some sort of proof. Roosevelt remarks that he wishes it was possible to bring men like Anthony in front of a court where they would either need to present proof to back up the charges or suffer a punishment “equivalent to what Wood would suffer if his charges were true.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-04
President Roosevelt has heard rumors that a disastrous earthquake hit San Francisco, but dos not know the facts. He tells Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz of San Francisco to call upon him for any assistance that may be required.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-18
President Roosevelt shares a humorous incident from the campaign with Governor Wood; a rumor that Roosevelt was not at the battle of San Juan. Roosevelt thinks he has good chance in the election. The Democratic platform calls for the immediate independence of the Philippines, but Alton B. Parker has been non-committal on that subject.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-22
President Roosevelt wants John A. Sleicher to communicate with Chauncey M. Depew on the Bennett matter. Roosevelt does not know where all of the information in the Sun clippings came from, because he has not thought of or spoken of the matter with anybody recently.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-10
President Roosevelt has always known of William C. Van Fleet’s support and asks that he dismiss the rumor from his mind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-31
President Roosevelt encourages Judge Jones to treat the “rumors with absolute contempt.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-07
President Roosevelt never thought that such a statement would be made in George F. Becker’s presence, but if it were to be so, he would like to have heard the response. Becker had written Roosevelt to apologize for his name being associated with a rumor about Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-24
President Roosevelt regrets that there is no foundation for the story.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-22
J. Alden Loring sends Theodore Roosevelt samples of the letters and questions characteristic of those he receives after a lecture. Loring would like to know if he should continue to deny the reports of Roosevelt being a “heavy drinker, profane to the limit, selfish, egotistical,” who is known to use “exceptional language” against his “enemies.” If Roosevelt approves, Loring will write a statement, and forward it to Roosevelt for his approval.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-07
Governor Hadley was closely associated with Theodore Roosevelt throughout the Republican National Convention and saw nothing to substantiate the rumors that Roosevelt was drunk or even consumed any alcohol. While Hadley does not intend to join Roosevelt’s third party movement he will defend Roosevelt from unjust personal or political attacks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-25
Before the Republican National Convention there was a rumor being circulated by those opposed to Theodore Roosevelt in Independence, Kansas, that Roosevelt was a “very intemperate man.” At the convention, there were further rumors that Roosevelt was drunk during during most of the convention. H. O. Williams would like to know the truth of this matter and requests a statement from Governor Hadley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-24
President Taft’s supporters have been fostering a rumor that Theodore Roosevelt has stated he would never accept the Republican nomination. Governor Hadley has heard of other underhanded political techniques being used by the Taft campaign in Missouri, and he encourages Roosevelt to declare his candidacy. He further suggests that Roosevelt put William Loeb in charge of his campaign. In Hadley’s judgment, this is Roosevelt’s greatest opportunity to serve the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-15
Governor Hadley is pleased that Theodore Roosevelt agrees that a public statement regarding his views on potentially accepting the Republican presidential nomination is needed. Supporters of President Taft are using the confusion surrounding Roosevelt’s position to spread misinformation. Only a statement from Roosevelt can clear up the confusion. Hadley will discuss at the Chicago meeting whether the statement should be made before or after Roosevelt’s address at the Ohio Constitutional Convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-09
Governor Hadley encloses a letter from Governor Vessey as it is Hadley’s understanding that Vessey has not communicated directly with Theodore Roosevelt. Hadley suggests that Roosevelt’s requests for advice from his friends regarding the Republican presidential nomination are being “indefinitely enlarged” as these correspondents confidentially show their friends and so on. This is creating a semi-authoritative statement of Roosevelt’s position that may be different from Roosevelt’s intentions. The confusion is also allowing letters to circulate from Roosevelt’s former friends that Roosevelt will not accept the nomination even if it were offered.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-01
Gifford Pinchot will end the presidential nomination talk in Ohio and would like to meet with Theodore Roosevelt soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-28
William Bayard Cutting assures Theodore Roosevelt that, despite the rumors, he will not be running for senator.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-22
Gifford Pinchot thanks Theodore Roosevelt for sending copies of letters from Meyer Lissner and to President Benjamin Ide Wheeler of the University of California. Pinchot concurs with Lissner that Roosevelt did not hurt the election chances of California politicians Hiram Johnson and William Kent. Some press outlets have reported a falling out between Roosevelt and Pinchot, a rumor which Pinchot thinks needs no answer but would be happy to answer with “the utmost vigor” if Roosevelt desires.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-02
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge has written to Ambassador Reid that Reid will remain at his post until August, at which point a successor will replace him. Reid recommends that President-Elect Taft wait to replace him, both because of Reid’s family’s needs and because if a successor came instead in June he would arrive when the King, Court, Ministers, and Parliament were all in session. The rumor that Reid announced he would remain at his post under Taft’s administration is false and Reid published a contradictory statement when it was brought to his attention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22