Your TR Source
Mexican Ambassador to the United States Creel congratulations President Roosevelt on having his book translated into “the sweet language of Cervantes.” He opines that “a good book is like a fountain of wisdom” and writing a book in only one language is “like a monopoly or trust.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-15
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Ricardo Batrell for the letter and book he sent. However, it will be difficult for Roosevelt to comment on the book as he is not fluent in Spanish.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-09-30
President Roosevelt thanks Mexican Ambassador to the United States Creel for his letter and the Spanish translations of Roosevelt’s writings on “American Ideals” and “The Strenuous Life.” He is pleased that his works were translated in Spain into Spanish, the language of Cervantes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-15
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of State Root that he would like to appoint George B. McGoogan to a Spanish-speaking consulate position, and asks if such a thing is possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-07
President Roosevelt informs Senator Foraker he has submitted the name of John Stuart Elliott to the Senate for Commissioner of the Interior of Puerto Rico. Although Elliott is Roosevelt’s cousin, he made the nomination based on Puerto Rico Governor Beekman Winthrop and Secretary of War William H. Taft’s recommendations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-04
President Roosevelt has instructed the State Department to appoint William Miller Collier as the ambassador to Spain based on a letter from New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt. The president encourages Collier to thank Platt personally for his letter. Roosevelt includes a handwritten addition: “Now go at re-furbishing your Spanish hard and at once!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-19
President Roosevelt agrees with Governor General of the Philippines Taft that General Leonard Wood will have to stay with the Moros for some time. Roosevelt has a Georgian in mind for the judge vacancy and asks if the judges should know Spanish.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-29
John A. Herman informs William Loeb that he has received a letter from Senator Philander C. Knox indicating he would recommend Herman for a position to President Roosevelt. Herman and Knox agree that Herman’s experience as an attorney and knowledge of Spanish means he would be well suited to a diplomatic or judicial post in one of the Spanish speaking territories.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-19
John H. Parker describes the annexation of Cuba by the United States as inevitable due to its strategic location and suggests that the current state of affairs might present an opportunity for such an intervention. Parker considers it best to accomplish the goal diplomatically but acknowledges that the military might be used as a last resort. If direct intervention is not the desired goal at this time, Parker proposes that the United States government quietly provide military advisers to Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma so that he can put down an uprising in Santiago and restore public order.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-02
A fragment of a newspaper article reporting that President Roosevelt appointed Consul General Hezekiah A. Gudger as a judge of the Supreme Court of the Panama Canal Zone to replace Judge Osceola Kyle, who resigned due in part to his inability to understand Spanish and his unfamiliarity with the customs of the area.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-01
Putnam’s is in communication with Mr. Vales regarding Spanish translations of Roosevelt’s works, but doubts Mr. Vales’ business responsibility.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-15