Straus, Oscar S. (Oscar Solomon), 1850-1926

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root that Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus asked to host the final Cabinet dinner comprised only of Cabinet members. Roosevelt explains that if he had allowed Root to give such a dinner, then Straus, and probably several other members, would have wanted to do the same. Roosevelt also expresses concern about Root’s leg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs F. 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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt received Aaron Vanderbilt’s memorial from Oscar S. Straus and is also concerned about American shipping.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919