Your TR Source
President Roosevelt encloses a copy of a report by Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus about Murphy. He tells William H. H. Llewellyn that he worked very hard to get Murphy a place, but he immediately went on “a spree.” Murphy’s conduct was such an outrage that there was no option but to remove him. It is impossible to reinstate him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-19
President Roosevelt asks if Prescott F. Hall would object to Roosevelt showing the letter from Hall to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Roosevelt has a high regard for Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus, and finds it difficult to believe that Straus would consciously fail to enforce the immigration law. If Lodge, as head of the Immigration Commission, cannot make the investigation that Hall has requested, then Roosevelt will have to consider how it can be done.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-24
President Roosevelt denies the rumors of his seeking renomination at the convention, and points out that he has steadfastly supported Secretary of War William H. Taft. He also tells Lyman Abbott that he approves of the articles on immigrants that Edward Alfred Steiner has written in The Outlook. Roosevelt has tried to make his Cabinet representative of all types of Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-29
President Roosevelt is disappointed that James Bronson Reynolds is declining the invitation to become a secretary for the Nobel committee. Roosevelt also responds to concerns Reynolds expressed about abuses by government officials regarding Chinese immigrants. He asks Reynolds to provide details which the administration might investigate and on which they might act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-22
President Roosevelt will discuss Reynolds’s letter with Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus at once. Roosevelt values Reynolds’s opinion greatly, and does not want to even appear to disagree with his judgment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-25
President Roosevelt tells Senator Allison that he has just signed a bill that authorizes the Secretary of Commerce and Labor to investigate the welfare of women and child workers in the United States. However he feels that double the amount suggested would be needed to conduct a substantial investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-29
President Roosevelt asks Lieutenant Governor Woodruff if he would give judge William J. Carr the letter about his nomination and discusses activities regarding upcoming elections in New York and New York City.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-09
President Roosevelt believes the best strategy for the upcoming elections in New York is a focus on state issues rather than on his administration or the Republican Party from a “national standpoint.” Roosevelt sends letters “from a man who knows what he is talking about” to Lieutenant Governor of New York and Chairman of the Republican State Committee Woodruff and asks him to share them with gubernatorial candidate Charles Evans Hughes. Roosevelt does not think Representative and Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon would help gain support in New York, as the circumstances in this case call for a “home cabinet, not outsiders.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-11
President Roosevelt believes that the proposition of the editor of the American Hebrew is foolish, and tells Nathan Bijur that the American government has already done everything it could, “consistently with our own self-respect and with the advantage of the Russian Jews.” The public agitation for further action, “represents not an effective purpose to do good to those who are suffering in Russia, but to exploit, in the interest of entirely selfish individuals, the Jewish vote in America.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-11
President Roosevelt thanks French Ambassador Jusserand for the book and newspaper clipping. Roosevelt comments that he does not know who Louis Friedman is, and was not shown any telegram from him. Roosevelt enjoyed spending time with Jusserand and his wife, Elise Richards Jusserand, recently, and hopes that they enjoy their vacation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-27
President Roosevelt informs General Wood that he mentioned to Oscar Straus that Wood had told him that former president Grover Cleveland expressed regret about vetoing the immigration bill. Straus then called on Cleveland, who denied having said such a thing. Roosevelt asks Wood for the facts of the case for his own information.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-05
President Roosevelt agrees with his son Kermit’s thoughts on Nicholas Nickleby, and says that in general, he prefers novels that have joyous and noble aspects, rather than ones that are depressing and have sorrow, shame, and suffering in them. He updates his son on the activities at the White House, including a visit from African big game hunter Frederick Courteney Selous, and Quentin Roosevelt’s birthday celebrations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-19
President Roosevelt informs Frederick Norton Goddard that he has had significant opposition to the candidacy of Marcus M. Marks for Postmaster of New York, including labor organizations, certain businessman, and prominent members of the Jewish community.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-07
President Roosevelt agrees that Secretary of State Hay should send the correspondence to George B. Cortelyou. He believes the McCormick note may do some good if published. Hay should ask Cortelyou to consult several people, including Oscar S. Straus, Nathan Bijur, and Jacob H. Schiff. If he does, Roosevelt also suggests that Hay send notes to each of them, telling them he instructed Cortelyou to consult them, as they would be flattered to hear of it. Roosevelt has done as Hay suggested regarding Peru and Ecuador.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-10
President Roosevelt thanks Nathan Bijur for his recent letter and asks Bijur to review and make suggestions to his enclosed preliminary letter of acceptance. Roosevelt has also sent copies to Oscar S. Straus and Jacob H. Schiff for review.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-05
President Roosevelt has sent Jacob H. Schiff a draft of what he has written about the passport question for his letter of acceptance. Roosevelt has also sent copies to Oscar S. Straus and Nathan Bijur.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-05
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-14
President Roosevelt has spoken with Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, who was unaware of Roosevelt’s relations with Joseph Bucklin Bishop or that Bishop worked for the Commercial Advertiser. Shaw felt comfortable introducing Oscar S. Straus to General Thomas H. Hubbard because they knew each other from their time in Iowa. Shaw spoke of Straus’s character and did not request a favor for Straus or intend to offend Bishop.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-02
President Roosevelt received Aaron Vanderbilt’s memorial from Oscar S. Straus and is also concerned about American shipping.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-15
President Roosevelt is not concerned about the “crazy man incident,” as the man did not get past the secret service and was simply arrested. Roosevelt asks for Secretary of State Hay’s opinion on the suggestions from Albert Shaw and Oscar S. Straus and asks what others think.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-04