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President Theodore Roosevelt returns Judge William Henry Hunt’s report. Though Roosevelt is doubtful of Hunt’s proposed “remedy for the Spanish business,” he finds his comments on “the territorial business” to be admirable. Roosevelt asks that the report not be made public without his permission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-20
President Roosevelt asks Attorney General Knox to investigate if the State Department can influence the Spanish government to provide information to the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission. No information has been furnished by Spanish officials.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-28
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 had a low opinion of Colombia and considered their government to be “cruel despotism.” He was happy to assist Colombia. The tyranny over Panama would end and the canal would not be blocked.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-04
President Roosevelt remembers meeting with President McKinley and the Cabinet before the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt recalls advocating that the Spanish government should be notified that the departure of their fleet would be considered an act of war and treated accordingly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-13
On behalf of the Government of the United States, President Roosevelt accepts the painting by Theobald Chartran showing the signing of the peace protocol between the United States and Spain on August 12, 1898.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-10
President Roosevelt is engaged in a dispute with Governor Long over an article published by Long. Roosevelt feels that Long suggested that Roosevelt advocated attacking the Spanish fleet without declaring war. Roosevelt admits that he wanted a declaration of war long before it was declared and wanted the Spanish Government warned that the departure of their fleet would be considered an act of war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-15
President Roosevelt has taken issue with an article written by Governor Long that appeared in the Outlook. The article suggests that Roosevelt, while Assistant Secretary to Long, wanted to send a squadron to attack the Spanish fleet while the United States was still at peace with Spain. President Roosevelt remembers events differently and considers Long’s accusation to be serious, especially since it appears to have been accepted by the public at large.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-12
President Roosevelt would like Secretary of State Hay to look into the case of Jose Gregorio Delgado who is seeking an indemnity for his property in Cuba that was taken by Spanish authorities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-13
President Roosevelt would like to see J. L. M. Curry on his return to the United States and appreciates his diplomatic ability and success.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-23
President Roosevelt would have sent Richard Harding Davis as secretary if he had known Davis would accept. Roosevelt finds Jabez Curry to be a “trump.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-01
President Roosevelt has agreed to appoint Oscar S. Straus as the United States representative to the Permanent Court of Arbitration and is sending J. L. M. Curry as special ambassador to the coronation of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-11
President Roosevelt asks Commander Cowles for his opinion on what to do about William Sowden Sims’s letter. Roosevelt calls Sims “a good man, but a preposterous alarmist,” and remarks that Sims once believed Spanish ships to be better than American ships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-12
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt sees no reason why French Ensor Chadwick and his wife, Cornelia Jones Miller Chadwick, should not go to Spain, as it seems unlikely there will be trouble with the country. Roosevelt is obliged to Chadwick and shares that Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long is pleased.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-30
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt enjoyed Senator Chandler’s letter, especially the quip about Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. He asks Chandler to speak with him before committing to John A. Howell, whom he regards as unfit to command a squadron, as evidenced by his lackluster work with the Armor Board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-27
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt cannot tell French Ensor Chadwick about Spain. While things look “very ominous,” he doubts anything will happen. Roosevelt assures Chadwick that he will do what he can to ensure Chadwick, Willard H. Brownson, and C. H. Davis get ships should war happen. He thinks it a good thing to get the editor of the Engineering News before the board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-17
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks George L. Dyer for the letter, which he showed to President William McKinley and left with Judge Day. Like many others, Roosevelt is “at sea” about whether Spain intends to fight. He spoke to McKinley about Dyer’s son, George P. Dyer, for one of the available vacancies (probably for the Navy Academy), but the president said nothing. Roosevelt encourages Dyer to keep writing “the facts…as you see them.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-17
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt updates Secretary of the Navy Long on his recent meeting with the Armor Board. President William McKinley and Judge William R. Day report that news from Spain is not satisfactory and while Roosevelt does not anticipate trouble, the Navy should be ready to act immediately.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-20
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Senator Lodge that he will not reply to the Journal again after its statements about the USS Indiana. He recently dined with President William McKinley and outlined his plans for naval and expeditionary forces should there be war with Spain. Roosevelt commends Lodge for his new volume of essays.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-21
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt believes a war with Spain is always possible. The cool weather means that an expeditionary force, in addition to the navy, would likely be needed. He supposes F. V. Greene would participate and will certainly do so himself in some capacity. Roosevelt wants to go with Greene and proposes raising a regiment with Greene as Colonel and himself as Lieutenant-Colonel, since his military experience is limited to service in the National Guard. He does not see the need for such a plan but wants to plan in advance so he can act quickly should the need arise.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-15