Snowden, Archibald Loudon, 1837-1912 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from William Dudley Foulke to Theodore Roosevelt

William Dudley Foulke calls President Roosevelt’s attention to a paper he encloses which was “published ostensibly by negroes” and distributed widely in Indianapolis. Foulke also comments on the situation of Francis Augustus MacNutt, who had been in the service of the United States as a diplomat until certain charges were raised against him. MacNutt was acquitted at Rome, but subsequent statements attributed to Roosevelt led to his not being received at the Vatican. MacNutt begs the privilege of answering any definite charge against him. He is still abroad, but would return to the United States to have the opportunity to prove his innocence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to David B. Ogden

President Roosevelt appreciates David B. Ogden’s wish to advocate on behalf of Francis Augustus MacNutt. He has not taken any official position or action relative to MacNutt, and does not think it would be proper to send anyone to speak with Archibald Loudon Snowden at this time. He has already received a copy of all official information on the matter from Secretary of State Root.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

President Roosevelt does not wish to take action on the case of Francis Augustus MacNutt in the absence of Secretary of State Elihu Root, and believes the only thing he can say is that the State Department has transmitted the records dealing with MacNutt to him, which contain all official information on the matter. Roosevelt cannot do what David B. Ogden requests and make an inquiry into Archibald Loudon Snowden, as it is thirteen years after the event. Apart from any actions warranted by the official record, Roosevelt will not act on the matter. He is sure that on reflection Eugene A. Philbin will see that it would be unwise for Roosevelt to involve himself in the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White

President Roosevelt sends Ambassador White a self-explanatory letter for him to read and return relating to some of the recent furor surrounding former Secretary of Legation Francis Augustus MacNutt. Former diplomat Archibald Loudon Snowden accused MacNutt of showing official correspondence with foreign representatives. Snowden agreed to retract his statement, but has subsequently refused to do so. Roosevelt largely knows about MacNutt from reports of Bellamy Storer and Maria Longworth Storer, and while he relies on them less, still comments that his personal impression of MacNutt is unfavorable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt encloses a letter for William Dudley Foulke introducing him to Ambassador Henry White. Roosevelt does not feel that he can write to white about Francis Augustus MacNutt any more, and would prefer to let the matter rest with the note and memorandum by Secretary of State Elihu Root.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-04

Letter from B. Storer to Francis Augustus MacNutt

Ambassador Storer tells Francis Augustus MacNutt that the report concerning his Washington club has not reached him nor his wife, Maria Longworth Storer. Mrs. Storer heard of the “manner and reason” of MacNutt’s resignation from the civil service from a “sound authority” who named another authority on the subject when questioned; these were President Roosevelt, then Civil Service Commissioner, and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Storer believed the report to have come from Archibald Loudon Snowden or Mr. Griggs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-01

Letter from William Dudley Foulke to Theodore Roosevelt

On behalf of his former classmate, David B. Ogden, William Dudley Foulke asks President Roosevelt to reconsider the charges of disloyalty brought against Francis Augustus MacNutt when he was in Spain. Foulke says that minister Archibald Loudon Snowden has made contradictory statements about the matter. Foulke also notes that attacks on Roosevelt in the press are becoming milder, perhaps because they seem to be ineffectual.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-12

Letter from Henry White to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Henry White updates President Roosevelt on the allegations against Francis Augustus MacNutt, that he was leaking secret, official Vatican documents. Although MacNutt has been cleared by the Court of Appeals at Rome, and White concurs that there was no truth in the matter, it will be better if MacNutt does not present himself at the Embassy, and it is hoped that he will not do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-25

Letter from David B. Ogden to Theodore Roosevelt

David B. Ogden writes to President Roosevelt regarding charges made against American diplomat Francis Augustus MacNutt. Ogden, who is cousin to MacNutt’s wife, Margaret van Cortlandt Ogden MacNutt, believes MacNutt to be innocent of any charges brought against him. He implores that Roosevelt conduct a sincere investigation regarding the charges against MacNutt and he accuses Colonel Archibald Louden Snowden of making false statements on the matter. Ogden particularly hopes that Roosevelt will send someone he trusts with Ogden’s lawyer John Hampton Barnes to procure a sworn statement from Snowden.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-23

Letter from William Dudley Foulke to Theodore Roosevelt

William Dudley Foulke writes to President Roosevelt regarding Francis Augustus MacNutt, who is accused of divulging secrets. Archibald Loudon Snowden, who had previously agreed to write a statement, now refuses to write one. Foulke believes this disqualifies Snowden to offer evidence regarding MacNutt’s guilt or innocence. Foulke suggests Roosevelt send someone trustworthy to resolve the issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-30

Letter from John H. Barnes to Origen S. Seymour

John Hampton Barnes reports to Origen S. Seymour that he has spoken with Archibald Loudon Snowden, former United States Minister to Spain, regarding Snowden’s request to transfer Francis N. MacNutt, his secretary of legation, in 1893. It was alleged McNutt was transferred because he divulged secrets to priests. Snowden stated that he merely could not rely on MacNutt’s loyalty during negotiations and had no knowledge of MacNutt divulging secrets.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-29

Fragment of a letter from David B. Ogden to Theodore Roosevelt

David B. Ogden insists on the innocence of Francis Augustus MacNutt, his cousin Margaret van Cortlandt Ogden MacNutt’s husband. Ogden notes MacNutt’s neighbors spoke highly of him and that Maria Longworth Storer’s statement was only believed because she stated that President Roosevelt was the authority for it. Ogden does not understand how the president has any personal knowledge of MacNutt’s disloyalty and argues against Roosevelt’s supposed position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-12