Speyer, James, 1861-1941

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler tries to convince President Roosevelt to come to New York to speak at the upcoming National Arbitration and Peace Conference, not only to support the issues at the conference, but also to help with the “general public situation,” likely referring to a series of recent conflicts, including the dispute between Roosevelt and railroad executive Edward Henry Harriman, and recent reports that Secretary of State Elihu Root is considering resigning on account of disagreements with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-08

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Paul Morton to Theodore Roosevelt

James Speyer will visit with President Roosevelt on the railroad question and agrees with him on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-12

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler updates President Roosevelt on the progress being made to establish the Association for International Conciliation, with funding from Andrew Carnegie. The peace work of the association is to be done as quietly as possible and in accordance with the wishes of Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root. In addition, Butler offers Roosevelt his support in regard to the Brownsville affair and encourages Roosevelt to keep up a “stiff front” to the “Senate oligarchy.” Butler also shares his observations regarding how railroad officials are trying to make the new railroad rate law unpopular, but concludes that, despite challenges, the law will succeed in the end.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-21

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft notifies President Roosevelt that James Speyer suggests Roosevelt appoint someone to Santo Domingo as an agent authorized to adjust outstanding claims through new loans. Speyer recommends Greison and Taft suggests George R. Colton as an alternative.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-20

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Announcement of the Theodore Roosevelt Professorship of American History and Institutions at the University of Berlin

A press release regarding the recent endowment by James Speyer of the Theodore Roosevelt Professorship of American History and Institutions at the University of Berlin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-13

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt responds to a letter from Nicholas Murray Butler that had criticized Roosevelt’s recent message to Congress. Roosevelt was not surprised by the letter, as Butler had been moving away from Roosevelt’s policies for the past year or two. While Roosevelt’s message did upset some people, he says that his real supporters have strongly supported it, and that he has received many letters to that effect. Roosevelt believes that he has done the right thing in speaking out against corruption in politics and business.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Speyer

President Roosevelt informs James Speyer that there are individuals who are critical of Speyer’s proposed scholarship, which would require that a Jewish scholar would be appointed by everyone. Roosevelt, George B. Cortelyou, Paul Morton, Elihu Root, and William H. Taft all agree with Speyer’s scholarship stipulations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

President Roosevelt believes Arthur Hamilton Lee handled the “Swettenham matter” efficiently, calling the matter itself a “cosmic incident” and citing others like Swettenham in American Government, most notably General James Harrison Wilson. He was amused by the opinions of John William Burgess, who was awarded the Theodore Roosevelt professorship in at the University of Berlin. While Roosevelt admires some of Burgess’s scholarly accomplishments, he considers Burgess “hopefully wrong-headed” and criticizes his first lecture denouncing the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry W. Taft

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft of his discussion with Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon concerning Speyer and Company. Bacon reviewed the matter with Charles H. Tweed and Jacob H. Hollander. His action cannot be reversed and even if it could, Bacon believes it improper. Roosevelt is fond of James Speyer and wishes he did not have to relay this information to Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry W. Taft

President Roosevelt informs Henry W. Taft that Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon believes James Speyer has been treated well and that Bacon backs Jacob H. Hollander. He sent Taft and Tweed’s letters to Bacon for comment. Roosevelt is reluctant to influence negotiations of Santo Domingo with the bankers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Robinson

President Roosevelt informs Douglas Robinson that invitations to Alice Roosevelt’s and Nicholas Longworth’s wedding are limited to close family and friends of the bride and groom, as well as some official guests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt informs Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler that Jacob H. Schiff’s speech has “fallen absolutely flat;” that no Senator or Congressman has been influenced; and “the great majority of the business men” who write him have warned him not to pay attention to it. Roosevelt does not believe that anything can be done about currency legislation during this session of Congress, but he wants to make “a resolute effort” next session.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt asks if Columbia University President Butler can bring his daughter Sarah Schuyler Butler to stay the night at the New Willard on December 4, and at the White House on December 5, when they entertain the Speyers and Burgesses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt tells Columbia University President Butler that he does not want to have “Hamlet with Hamlet left out,” and asks him to find out whether the Speyers and Burgesses can come to Washington on January 4 for the Diplomatic Reception and supper after. Either that day or the following day, the party will also have lunch with German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg and his wife Lilian May Speck von Sternburg. He hopes Butler can come to both functions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt outlines for Nicholas Murray Butler an amended plan suggested by Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt for when Butler visits with the Speyers and the Burgesses. The Roosevelts suggest dinner followed by a musical.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt would like to see Columbia University President Butler, Professor John William Burgess, and James Speyer at the White House for dinner before Burgess sails to Berlin. People like the Roots and the Tafts will also be invited. Roosevelt enjoyed his trip through the South.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Wallace Riddle

President Roosevelt introduces Consul General Riddle to James Speyer, a businessman in New York, and commends Speyer to Riddle’s courtesy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

In response to a previous letter from Elihu Root, President Roosevelt asks if he should communicate directly with James Speyer or wait until Root returns from Newfoundland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Oscar S. Straus

President Roosevelt invites Oscar S. Straus to come to Oyster Bay with James Speyer, Jacob H. Schiff, Cornelius Newton Bliss (treasurer of the Republican National Committee), and Elihu Root to see him formally notified of his nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cornelius Newton Bliss

President Roosevelt asks Cornelius Newton Bliss whether Oscar S. Straus will support Roosevelt or not. Roosevelt also suggests that Jacob H. Schiff, James Speyer, and Straus should come out to see him, as they represent both the business and Jewish communities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919