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Theodore Roosevelt writes his sister from the campaign trail. Roosevelt asks her to tell her son, Theodore Douglas Robinson, that he wishes he were with him. Roosevelt mentions that the nomination from Oscar S. Straus strengthened his campaign.
1912-09-15
President Theodore Roosevelt stands on a reviewing stand, holding hat in raised right hand as a large group of capitalists, industrialists, and financiers wearing the tattered clothing of tramps, march past the stand. Some carry placards with such statements as: “Irrigate the Trusts,” “No place to go but the Waldorf,” “We want the earth,” “Free quick lunches,” “Pity the poor banker,” “Dividends or we perish.” At the front of the group, J. P. Morgan carries a wooden bucket labeled “The full water pail.” Caption: “Aggregated wealth largely represented among Parker’s Supporters”–New York Tribune.
It might be said now, as it was in 1904, that the Republican Party is the home of the wealthy class, industrialists, and plutocrats. And then as now, cartoonists have fed that stereotype. Also then as now, major figures of Wall Street have supported the Democratic Party in great numbers, whether from agreement on social and political issues or frank self-interest.
An unruly infant labeled “Arbitration” cries, sitting in a high chair. Oscar S. Straus, as a nurse, is measuring out a spoonful of “Anti-Strike Tonic,” and a puzzled “Dr. Hanna” is standing behind the child. Caption: The child of the labor question worries its nurses.
As Minister to the Ottoman Empire, Oscar S. Straus was influential in persuading Turkish leaders to, in turn, persuade rebel Muslims in the Philippines not to actively join the native rebels then resisting United States occupation subsequent to the Spanish-American War. With that diplomatic success to his credit, he was appointed to be a member of the International Court of Arbitration at Hague upon the death of former President Benjamin Harrison. Marcus Alonzo Hanna, Chairman of the Republic Party, spokesman for the party’s business interests, and nemesis of American organized labor (due in part to scabrous cartoon caricatures), tries unsuccessfully with Straus in this cartoon to delete strike provisions from arbitration treaties. In 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Straus Secretary of Commerce and Labor, the first Jew to be a cabinet secretary. Subsequently, President William Howard Taft returned him ministerial duties in Turkey. Straus’s brother Isadore perished on the Titanic; Isadore another brother Nathan owned Macy’s and Abraham & Straus department stores; Nathan, Jr., became owner of Puck Magazine in 1914, and before World War II was a friend of Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank. A great-nephew, R. Peter Straus, owned New York radio station WMCA and the publishing house Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, whose son, R. Peter, Jr., married the mother of Monica Lewinsky.
Benjamin F. Barnes conveys President Roosevelt’s views and directions regarding a petition that will be sent to the Russian government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-14
President Roosevelt denies that there was any danger in the “crazy man incident.” He encloses a letter from Albert Shaw and asks if Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody and Mr. Leishman should be consulted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-04
Theodore Roosevelt wishes that he could have written George Sylvester Viereck sooner about his poem, which Roosevelt enjoyed and hoped The Outlook would publish. Roosevelt tells Viereck to keep in touch with Oscar S. Straus.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-13
Theodore Roosevelt acknowledges John H. Finley’s alliance with the Progressive Party, as reported by Oscar S. Straus. Roosevelt suggests Finley meet with Judge William H. Hotchkiss.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-12
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary notes that Roosevelt has received William E. Mason’s letter and suggestions and has turned them over to Oscar S. Straus.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-08
President Roosevelt thanks Walter F. Haskett for his letter, which he forwarded to Oscar S. Straus.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-09
Theodore Roosevelt tells Judge Robinson he can bring Frederick Morgan Davenport. Roosevelt is waiting until the Baltimore affair is settled, and he thinks Oscar S. Straus should head the committee. He will be able to arrange for the conference in a few days.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-27
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles J. Bonaparte for his support and provides his thoughts on a past Cabinet meeting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-30
Theodore Roosevelt encloses notes concerning Oscar S. Straus and his suspected arrangement of a trade agreement. Roosevelt explains that Straus exercised not the slightest influence on the agreement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-03
Theodore Roosevelt explains to Charlotte Matson that he gave his Nobel Prize money to a committee for a foundation to promote the cause of peace. Seth Low can provide a full account of how the money is being used.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-07
Theodore Roosevelt informs Jacob Saphirstein the proposal was made after a consultation and with the endorsement of Oscar S. Straus.
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Israel Frederick Fischer that he does not know if there is anything that The Outlook can do, but he is in communication to Straus about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-07
Victor Hugo Duras received Theodore Roosevelt’s letter and appreciates him taking an interest. He hopes Roosevelt will contact Senator Elihu Root about appointing him as minister following Oscar S. Straus’ resignation. Duras is pleased Andrew Carnegie selected Root as the peace fund’s trustee, as many Europeans have confidence in him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-16
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Sulzer for his letter and is pleased that Sulzer was elected governor of New York. Roosevelt hopes Sulzer and his wife will visit him at Sagamore Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-20
President Roosevelt sends Andrew Carnegie a letter to be used at his discretion. Roosevelt did this on the impetus of Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-26
President Roosevelt details the numerous accomplishments of Secretary of State Elihu Root to Andrew Carnegie. Roosevelt makes clear that while the successes occurred during his administration, the credit for State Department efforts firmly belongs to Root, especially as they relate to world peace. Roosevelt is unable to give a speech in Norway, as the request came after he accepted three speaking engagements in Europe and rejected all others.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-26
President Roosevelt has placed Senator Newlands’s letter before Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus with the instructions to follow Newlands’s instructions. Roosevelt is glad Newlands liked his action on the Council of Fine Arts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-18