Your TR Source
President Roosevelt does not want an opinion from the Justice Department about the legality of signing a bill on a Sunday. He has already done so, and cites other precedents for doing so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-22
President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of Commerce and Labor Straus to investigate the Department of Commerce and Labor to ensure that no work is being done on Sundays, unless it is unavoidable. Roosevelt mentions an enclosed letter from Reverend Wallace Radcliffe.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary explains to Edgar M. Campbell that Roosevelt passes through New Iberia, Louisiana, on a Sunday, and it would be improper for him to speak. However, Roosevelt will greet the parish school children from his train.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-31
President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of War Taft to investigate the War Department and ensure that no work is being done on Sundays, unless it is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of Agriculture Wilson to examine his department to ensure that no work is being done on Sundays in the Department of Agriculture unless it is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Interior Garfield to investigate the Department of the Interior to ensure that no work is being done on Sundays unless it is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to inspect the Department of the Navy to ensure that no work is being done on Sundays, unless such work is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt instructs Postmaster General Meyer to investigate the Post Office Department and ensure that no work is being done on Sundays, unless it is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of State Root to investigate the State Department and ensure that no work is being done on Sundays, unless it is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt instructs Attorney General Bonaparte to investigate the Department of Justice in order to ensure that no work is being done on Sundays unless it is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou to investigate the Treasury Department to ensure that no work is being done on Sundays unless it is unavoidable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
President Roosevelt sends Attorney General Bonaparte a letter from Wallace Radcliffe and asks if it is possible to stop government work on Sundays. If Roosevelt has the ability, he would like to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
E. Sinclair Smith, of the Houston City Pastors’ Association, welcomes Theodore Roosevelt to the city. The Pastors’ Association and the Post Office are about to begin a campaign to advocate for closing post office buildings on Sunday, and Smith asks if Roosevelt would consider speaking a few words on behalf of this cause.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-07
William H. Taft thinks that David Decamp Thompson is reading too much into the National Republican platform affirming its previous political planks, in his claim that it opposes local option and prohibition laws. Taft has spoken with President Roosevelt, and they both agree that the national Republican Party should leave laws governing liquor to the states. Wade H. Ellis did not have the authority to commit anyone to being either in favor or against local option and prohibition laws.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-13
Secretary of State Root informs President Roosevelt that from now on he will ensure work on Sundays is strictly confined to the secretary and assistant secretary. Root asks if they can work on matters regarding the Far East on Sunday, and focus on the Near East and Europe on Monday. A handwritten note at the bottom from Roosevelt reads, “Dear Nannie, This is a characteristic Rootian note.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-27