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President Roosevelt writes that unless Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich produces evidence, there is no need for Admiral A. T. Mahan to act. Multiple accounts have validated Admiral Charles S. Sperry’s statements, and Goodrich has been against the voyage of the Great White Fleet from the start.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-01
President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt appreciated Lieutenant Commander Long’s letters and the Sidney Telegraph clipping. Roosevelt is pleased to know of the sympathies of the Australians and the update on the fleet. When Long returns Roosevelt will see if he can secure him shore duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-28
Rudolph Forster instructs Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to send a telegram on behalf of President Roosevelt to the prime minister and governor of New Zealand via Admiral Charles S. Sperry, expressing the “sincere regard” of the American people for the people of New Zealand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-13
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Root about his opinion regarding a proposal by Great Britain at the International Peace Conference at the Hague. Roosevelt is inclined to agree with Admiral Charles S. Sperry’s views.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-29
President Roosevelt aboard a flagship, addressing the eagerly listening sailors and officers
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-06-21
Theodore Roosevelt explains to William L. Marcy that he cannot communicate with President William H. Taft regarding appointments. He suggests Marcy contact Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-27
President Roosevelt extends thanks to Prime Minister Ward of New Zealand for a book of New Zealand landscapes and for a Maori cloak gifted by his wife, Theresa Dorothea Ward, on behalf of the Arawa tribe. Additionally, speaking for the United States, Roosevelt thanks Ward and the people of New Zealand for welcoming the Great White Fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-26
President Roosevelt appreciates and responds in kind to President Estrada Cabrera of Guatemala’s good will. Roosevelt informs Estrada Cabrera that he has already directed the Great White Fleet to visit Guatemala in response to Estrada Cabrera’s invitation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-20
President Roosevelt warns President-Elect Taft not to let the “horrid female creature” Cecile de Wentworth paint his portrait. In a moment of weakness, Roosevelt let her “make believe” painting his portrait that she then tried to hang in the Paris Salon. She tried to get the American ambassador in France to convince the French that it was disrespectful to Roosevelt not to hang the “awful daub” in a good place. Roosevelt has also directed Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry’s fleet to stop, and thinks that Sperry is an “old jack” to get misled about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-21
President Roosevelt encloses for Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry telegrams from Philippines Governor General James Francis Smith and president-elect William H. Taft. In light of Smith’s telegram, Roosevelt feels it is “absolutely unwarranted” not to allow the crews shore leave in Manila. He orders Newberry to tell Admiral Charles S. Sperry that, seeing as Admiral Giles B. Harber’s men have been given full shore leave, Sperry should grant his crew shore leave with precautions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-21
President Roosevelt thanks Admiral Pillsbury for sending him the two letters from Admiral Charles S. Sperry and returns them. He is glad that the men have done well in rifle shooting and praises how well Sperry has carried out his duties. Roosevelt asks Pillsbury who he thinks is responsible for stories about misconduct of sailors on the fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-23
President Roosevelt will read the notes with “great interest” and tells Rear Admiral Mahan that he will ensure that he is given authority to get the information he needs from Admiral Robley D. Evans. Roosevelt also comments on what a “ridiculous creature” journalist Edward Dicey is, and relates him to the “solemn mugwumps” who write about subjects they know nothing about.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-08
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Admiral Charles S. Sperry requesting to grant leave for the men at Tokyo. Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to bring the matter to Secretary of State Elihu Root’s attention. The president believes in a “moderate quantity of leave.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-17
President Roosevelt believes that Albert L. Key’s main objections to his plan for the administration of the Navy stems from the fact that officers eligible for positions are too old. Roosevelt would like to promote younger men to higher grades in the Navy, but his experience attempting this in the Army has made it clear that he cannot successfully do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-10
President Roosevelt recounts for Viscount Lee how pleasant it was to sit for his portrait by Fülöp László. László allowed him to have guests to speak to while he sat, and Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge was a common guest. Roosevelt thanks Lee for his work with William Lyon Mackenzie King, and notes that although the issue of Japanese immigration is not acute yet, it could be soon. He also discusses the success of the Great White Fleet’s tour and target practice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-08
President Roosevelt tells Rear Admiral Pillsbury that the letter from Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry was very interesting, and he requests a special report on why the conditions of the USS Alabama and USS Maine are so poor. He also asks Pillsbury to remind him to send a message of congratulation to Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
President Roosevelt was pleased with Sydney Brooks’s article on the voyage of the American fleet, and additionally plans to read the article on Irish gentry. He is glad that Brooks liked his message. Roosevelt says that he wrote the message because he was concerned that the voices of people advocating short-term gain at the cost of long-term punishment would be louder than those who can face temporary unpleasantness in the pursuit of long-term goals. In a lengthy postscript, Roosevelt corrects Brooks’s statement regarding pension bills, saying that while there are undoubtedly some abuses, there are not any “padded and fraudulent” bills like Brooks has written about.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte if naval officer Charles S. Sperry would be a good fit for commander of a new division of battleships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-01
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Henry D. Macdona for his letter will arrange to meet with him at the Manhattan Club when he is next in New York. Roosevelt laments to Macdona that it is difficult for sons of naval officers to be given positions and recommends a letter be written to President William McKinley by an influential man on behalf of Charles S. Sperry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-27
This obituary illustrates the life of Rear Admiral Charles Stillman Sperry, U.S. Navy. His military history, personality, and effectiveness as a leader are all captured in this document. Most notably he is known for being a key mediator in many high tension situations in East Asia, and successfully prevent said conflicts from escalating.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09