Your TR Source
President Roosevelt provides Secretary of State Hay with a list of appointments in the diplomatic and consular service after March 4, 1905. Roosevelt includes a handwritten note, “All this is tentative.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-17
President Roosevelt is working on getting confirmation for the Panama and Cuban treaties. The Democrats are moving against both treaties and Senator Spooner has been “filled with distrust at the last moment.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-12
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Hay to forward some letters and to begin the investigation according to Hay’s earlier suggestions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-08
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing journalist Jacob A. Riis. He is willing to stand alone when necessary, but is heartened by Riis’s support.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-22
President Roosevelt was concerned by Benjamin Ide Wheeler’s letter, and wishes that what Wheeler said could be taught to some people on the east coast. He wishes that Arthur Twining Hadley, president of Yale University, had not chosen this particular moment to give honorary degrees to J. Pierpont Morgan and John C. Spooner. Roosevelt still thinks that William H. Taft will be elected all right.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-06
President Roosevelt sends William H. Taft two letters, which he says explain themselves. Roosevelt thinks that United States Representative William Kent is a good person, although a bit of a visionary. There has been some grumbling about Arthur Twining Hadley, president of Yale University, awarding honorary degrees to J. Pierpont Morgan and John C. Spooner, but Roosevelt thinks that there is not much importance in this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-03
President Roosevelt discusses recent attacks made against him by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer. He considers Brewer one of the “corporation judges” who are naturally given to work against Roosevelt, and so appreciated William Allen White’s kind letter more than he was concerned by Brewer’s comments. Roosevelt is more concerned that individuals like Edward Henry Harriman and John D. Rockefeller would see to use and perhaps exacerbate the current economic crisis to undermine his presidency and turn public opinion against him. Roosevelt closes by asking that White keep this letter private.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-26
President Roosevelt describes to Mark Sullivan the considerations that have gone into his selections for federal judgeships. Roosevelt reviews his appointments in detail, noting that some were made at the request of the local organization and some against their wishes. The goal in each case was to appoint someone “of the high character, the good sense, the trained legal ability, and the necessary broad-mindedness of spirit…essential to a good judge.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-13
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp for permission to quote a phrase he used in a recent letter to William Loeb. Roosevelt will send it to Wisconsin Senator John C. Spooner with a request for Spooner’s brother to resign. Roosevelt is anxious to see Leupp, but in the meantime directs him to write to Reverend Charles L. Thompson regarding the Pima water supply. In a handwritten postscript, Roosevelt notes that he has sent Leupp copies of his correspondence with Bishop Ignatius F. Horstmann for him to look at.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-10
President Roosevelt sends Senator La Follette, of Wisconsin, a duplicate of a letter which he is also sending to Senator John C. Spooner. La Follette and Spooner have been in disagreement regarding which of them should make recommendations for government positions in Eastern Wisconsin, and which should make recommendations for Western Wisconsin. In the past, former Senator Joseph Very Quarles of Wisconsin made recommendations for the Eastern portion of the state, while Spooner made recommendations for the Western. Roosevelt has decided to keep this sort of framework, with Spooner continuing to recommend for the Western portion and La Follette taking up the Eastern portion. He emphasizes that while he will take their recommendations into consideration, he is the final judge of whether nominees are fit for the positions. Roosevelt also comments on the post office of Marinette, and likewise tries to set out rules for nominations in these cases, stating that he will accept recommendations of the Congressmen of the district.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-29
President Roosevelt hopes that Senator Alger will telegraph Senator Philander C. Knox or John C. Spooner to pair him in favor of a lock canal. Roosevelt is deeply interested in the issue because he feels that a sea-level canal would be ruinous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-18
President Roosevelt asks General Bell to look over Captain Dan Tyler Moore’s memorandum about the injustice done to artillerymen in the selection of officers. Roosevelt would also like Bell to look over and submit the enclosed letter to Secretary of War William H. Taft about the work of the army at San Francisco. He hopes the letter will impact those who prevent him from helping the army, and secure more effective representation in Congress. In addition Roosevelt tells Bell that if the current Chief of Artillery, General Samuel Myers Mills Jr., does not resign, then he should be retired. Finally, Roosevelt asks Bell to look over the letter to Senator John C. Spooner and hopes an impressive man can be chosen as an officer if will not do injustice to others.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-28
President Roosevelt tells Senator William B. Allison that, upon reflection, the actions of the people opposed to railroad rate legislation has put those in favor of a bill in a position where they should not hesitate to try to pass a bill with the cooperation of the Democrats. Roosevelt finds himself increasingly in favor of the proposition to forbid the granting of temporary injunctions in the matter, and discusses how an amendment containing this might be passed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-12
President Roosevelt writes to Senator Nelson because the actions of Senator Eugene Hale, likely on behalf of Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, referring to Senator Joseph W. Bailey’s amendment have changed the situation enough to warrant a reevaluation of the amendments. Roosevelt was worried at first about the constitutionality of Bailey’s amendment, but feels that if it is put in as a separate clause so that it does not risk the entire bill, it may be all right. He suspects that several ‘railway Senators’ have supported Bailey’s amendment because they believe it will be struck down by the courts and thereby stop the entire legislation. He reiterates that he is fine with Bailey’s amendment, but hopes that Nelson or Senator William B. Allison will be able to insist on separate votes, splitting the amendment into two.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-11
President Roosevelt responds to E. P. Bacon’s letter about Senator John C. Spooner’s proposed amendment to the railroad rate bill. The amendment would be an effective deterrent against railroads making motions for a stay simply to cause delay. However, Roosevelt believes that the courts will not grant excessive stays. The bill can be passed without the amendment, which could be passed as a separate law in the future if necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-09
President Roosevelt thanks Commissioner of Internal Revenue Yerkes for his suggestions, and thinks they are wise. He plans to send Yerkes’s letters to Senators Philander C. Knox and John C. Spooner for their opinions, and will wait to act until he hears from them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-03
President Roosevelt is glad to hear that Secretary of State Hay is recovering. He updates Hay on a variety of matters the State Department is currently dealing with. In particular, Roosevelt discusses the situation in Santo Domingo, and the ongoing efforts to broker peace between Russia and Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-30
In response to a “extraordinary statement” in William Randolph Hearst’s paper, President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop that although he is fond of his uncle Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, they rarely agree on politics. Roosevelt did not make a statement that he did not intend to accept the nomination for a third term as president without thinking it over, and he stands by his decision even though it is causing him trouble in the Senate. Roosevelt complains about the inability of the Senate to ratify his San Domingan treaty. Efforts from both Democratic Senators and Republicans Eugene Hale and John C. Spooner derailed the treaty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-23
President Roosevelt explains the complex reasons he cannot appoint Senator Hale’s nominee, James Edmund Dunning, to the American Consulate in Milan, Italy, after all.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-06
President Roosevelt would like to appoint Henry W. Taft’s candidate, Amos Parker Wilder, to a diplomatic post, but he cannot appoint any other men from Wisconsin at this time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-25