Your TR Source
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-20
Hanrick, Ripley A. (Ripley Arnold), 1872-1953
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
English
Benjamin R. Tillman, as “Simon Legree,” whips a black man labeled “Negro Voter.” Caption: Simon Legree Tillman — Don’t I own you, body and soul, you black dog? / Uncle Tom — Yuh may own mah body, Marse Tillman, but mah soul belongs t’ de Republican Pahty!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1906-11-07
Theodore Roosevelt writes Reverend John P. Peters that he has read the report which seems to take the same attitude as the Chicago Commission. Roosevelt agrees with Peters that a National Commission be appointed but believes that in addition to changes in federal and state laws, there must also be changes in public action. Roosevelt was informed that juries in Chicago “do not take a sufficiently serious view” to “White Slave Traffic” and impose inadequate sentences on offenders. Roosevelt was also informed that juries are becoming more sensitive.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-25
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Caroline F. Fairchild, telling her that there are many reforms that he would like to support but it is impossible for him to do so without overextending himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-14
Theodore Roosevelt does not think of Fraser Metzger as a German American any more than he thinks of himself as a Dutch American. He believes that, as a whole, German immigrants were better but compares Germany under Prussian militarism to the Southern slave-holding regime before the Civil War. Roosevelt enjoyed Agnes Repplier’s article and plans to send Metzger’s letter to her.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-09
President Roosevelt sends George Otto Trevelyan a copy of his message to Congress, and speaks of some of the accomplishments of his administration in improving the financial situation of the United States government. Roosevelt would be pleased to visit Trevelyan when he comes to England. He heartily approves of Trevelyan’s speech, and has shared it with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and Anna Cabot Mills Lodge. Roosevelt discusses his preferences for translations of classical works, and finds himself in agreement with Trevelyan in many respects. He relates a story of a recent encounter he had with Simon Bolivar Buckner at the White House, and closes by mentioning a number of other men who were named after famous historical personages.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
President Roosevelt congratulates Clarence Winthrop Bowen on the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the Independent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-24
President Roosevelt tells William H. Taft that he considers David Decamp Thompson’s position to be preposterous, and compares it with returning to the Republican platform of 1856 and 1860 regarding slavery. He says some people are all right for state level politics, but are incompetent when operating at the national level. Roosevelt sympathizes with Taft, who is not enjoying the campaign. If Taft were able to come visit, Roosevelt would invite Elihu Root and they could all discuss the party platform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-15
President Roosevelt shares his view on railroad rates, currency regulation, and reconstruction with Henry Lee Higginson. He disagrees with Higginson, believing that railroad rates should be further regulated by the federal government, but agrees with him about the need for currency regulation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-11
President Roosevelt believes it is out of the question for him, as President, to write full answers to the sorts of propositions that William D. Washburn set forth in his letter, as he must consider not only his own beliefs, but that of the party he leads. While he agreed with Washburn on some points, he disagreed on others, and protests the comparison of the tariff issue with the issue of slavery, as the tariff is not a moral issue. Roosevelt will speak more on the subject sometime when Washburn is in Washington, D.C., but will do so purely privately.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21
President Roosevelt writes to Owen Wister about a letter Roosevelt received from Judge J. M. Dickinson. Dickinson suggested that while the race question may never be settled, he believes that Roosevelt has helped quiet it for a time. Roosevelt believes that this is a common view in the South. He asserts that while many problems still remain in race relations and universal suffrage, the current situation has improved upon the past.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-03
President Roosevelt finds A. T. Mahan’s letter interesting and promises to discuss it with Secretary of State John Hay. He remarks that “there is a strong tendency to protect private property and private life on sea and land,” although there is ample evidence of nations destroying or enslaving populations they were at war with. Roosevelt will have to think over the matter before giving a definite response to Mahan’s proposition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-29
President Roosevelt fundamentally agrees with Henry S. Pritchett and James Ford Rhodes about the Southern question. Although Roosevelt believes it is unwise and impractical to repeal the Fifteenth Amendment now, he does agree it should not have been passed in the first place. The president can also agree with Pritchett and Rhodes that Congress should not press for active enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment; however, it cannot go too far with Mississippi Senator John Sharp Williams having more power than Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon. Roosevelt believes Southern states cannot enforce the laws themselves because they are trying to readopt slavery through peonage. Additionally, Southerners demand the exclusion of African Americans from offices, although Southerners have approved of Roosevelt’s choices for offices in the South on the whole even though the president has appointed some African Americans. Roosevelt insists he has tried Pritchett’s course of action, but it has not worked because the South has not met him even halfway. The president believes cooperation depends on Southerners, and the difficulty will vanish when they “quit lying.” Finally, Roosevelt says he has not observed outside criticism of the South and asks Pritchett how Congress needs to respond since it has not controlled the South. Roosevelt concludes by asking for one specific thing he is doing wrong, as he wants to learn.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-14
President Roosevelt tells James Ford Rhodes he has just finished reading his fifth volume, which has tied in well with Roosevelt’s other readings of Thomas Babington Macaulay’s History and Abraham Lincoln’s letters and speeches. Although the president agrees with Rhodes that the right is not all on one side and the wrong is not all on the other in quarrels, Roosevelt thinks the American Civil War is the exception, as he believes “the right was exclusively with the Union people.” Roosevelt talks about his plans to build up the Navy to avoid war, believing the Panama Canal will help. Finally, he discusses problems he has been having with the tariff and Southern states. He disagrees with Rhodes that the South is not trying to reinstate slavery, as there is peonage in three states right now. Roosevelt closes by mentioning how his opponents helped him during the election campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-29
President Roosevelt defends a statement he made about Jefferson Davis eighteen or twenty years ago, in which he compared Davis with General Benedict Arnold. Roosevelt believes Davis a traitor because he intrigued for secession, and therefore the destruction of the republic, in support of slavery. Unlike Arnold, Davis received office for his treachery. Roosevelt also sends Colonel George Harvey a copy of Rough Riders to clear any confusion about Roosevelt’s participation on a specific day during the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-19
President Roosevelt appreciates Frank McQueen’s gift of an old essay on slavery written by Thomas Clarkson, one of the earliest English anti-slavery advocates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-01
In a letter to Charles E. Flandrau, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt addresses the history of slavery in Virginia and informs Flandrau he contacted the Sergeant at Arms at the Capitol Building to clarify a quotation. He expresses his happiness working for the United States Navy Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-12
Scott W. Crosthwait sends Theodore Roosevelt his “production,” which he finished on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. He discusses his enslaved parents and his birth into slavery. Because of this experience, he feels all oppressed people, including Jews, should have a square deal. Crosthwait asks Roosevelt, “a friend of the Jews,” to read and publicize the sentiments of his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-24
British Foreign Secretary Grey informs President Roosevelt that Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand will be replaced, and while he understands Roosevelt’s desire to have Arthur Lee in his place, that is politically impossible. Temporarily, Esmé Howard will be sent to Washington as Councillor to the Embassy. Grey appreciated Roosevelt’s explanation of his telegram to German Emperor William after the Portsmouth Peace. Grey explains that his foreign policy is not anti-German, but to be independent he feels it necessary to strengthen the entente with France and come to an agreement with Russia. Grey believes that his generation has had enough of war, and the British people feel a special bond with the United States. Grey hopes the dispute between Canada and the United States over Newfoundland will soon be settled. He also adds that many in Great Britain are upset over reports of slavery and plunder in the Belgian Congo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-04
William D. Washburn offers President Roosevelt his views on the matter of tariff reform. He has heard that, as the result of a meeting between Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon, James Sherman, and Roosevelt, the issue of revision of the tariff is not going to be a campaign issue. Washburn argues against this, saying that in the states of the Mississippi River Valley, and in Minnesota in particular, the tariff is still an important issue that deserves to be addressed. He points out that when the Whig party dismissed the issue of slavery, a new party rose up to address it and killed off the old one. If the Republican party ignores the issue of the tariff, history could repeat itself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-09