Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt does not want to commit to details yet. Still, he agrees with Bernard Shandon Rodey’s principles regarding the protective tariff, primarily that it must be largely controlled since it cannot be abolished.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-18
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary explains to Messrs. Tice & Lynch that Roosevelt received some pictures as a gift from the people of Porto Maurizio and that he does not know the value of them. The secretary inquires whether Roosevelt should sign the declaration and if he will need to pay a duty on the pictures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-05
Theodore Roosevelt opposes the Aldrich proposition. He is puzzled that Elisha Ely Garrison and Victor Morawetz oppose it with strong arguments yet contend that each other is wrong. Despite Garrison’s suggestion, Roosevelt is unwilling to lead the fight against the Aldrich Bill as he is less knowledgeable about currency issues and the tariff than about the military and corporate regulation, among other things.
Theodore Roosevelt tells William Roscoe Thayer that he looks forward to receiving the book. Roosevelt discusses ultramontane attacks on schools and fundamental liberties, the American Protective Association (A.P.A.), cowardly newspapers, and his position on the tariff.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-31
Theodore Roosevelt sends thanks to Frederick D. Tucker in response to his letter. Roosevelt agrees that though he did not stand by his position on the tariff, he did stand by Governor Simeon E. Baldwin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-31
Theodore Roosevelt sends revisions to an essay or article on the tariff, striking one sentence and replacing it with other text.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910
Theodore Roosevelt answers the three questions Alfred Borden posed regarding his political record. Roosevelt did not deal with the question of the tariff because he was attempting to take care of the trusts, does not feel that the cases of William Lorimer and George Barnsdale Cox are in any way comparable, and has not generalized the entirety of Wall Street as dishonest in any speech he has made. After making these points, Roosevelt writes more candidly in a postscript, criticizing Borden’s points as being ridiculous, and saying that if he took the time to find out the facts he would realize this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-10-29
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary informs James Rudolph Garfield he is too busy to immediately reply to his letters personally. The secretary outlines Roosevelt’s travel itinerary. Regarding the tariff, Roosevelt does not see how “any man of reasonable intelligence any where can misunderstand his position.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-10-31
Theodore Roosevelt attempts to answer Alfred Borden’s questions, but admits that it is somewhat difficult to do so without seeming to be rude or condescending, as they seem to be fairly basic questions. He explains that, while President, he did not attempt to deal with the Tariff question because he was focused on a number of other topics he considered more important, and he worried that by splitting his efforts further, he would achieve less. Regarding his relations with Senator William Lorimer and Ohio political boss George Barnsdale Cox, Roosevelt explains that when he did not know anything about Lorimer, he treated him just as he did Cox, with both being political bosses of their respective states. Once the scandal surrounding Lorimer began to be exposed as he assumed a position in the legislature, it necessarily had to change how Roosevelt related to him. Finally, Roosevelt denies having ever painted the entirety of Wall Street as dishonest men, and maintains that he has always been in favor of the honest businessman. He hopes, in answering Borden, he did not hurt his feelings, but strove to write candidly and honestly answer his questions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-11-02
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Fourth Assistant Postmaster General P. V. De Graw that they know nothing about a book inscribed for Roosevelt from P. A. Vaile. They do not have the authority to pay duty on books.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-05-18
Theodore Roosevelt advises Charles J. Bonaparte what stance to take at the Progressive National Committee meeting on January 11, 1916, recommending a middle ground between “head-in-the-air” politics and purely materialistic concerns. Roosevelt says that the overwhelming issue is whether the United States is a real nation, getting loyalty from its citizens and respect from other nations. He mentions “large and real Americanism” as the most important issue, and names military, social, and industrial preparedness as essential.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-31
Theodore Roosevelt will not comment on the matter until he has thoroughly examined it and sought the counsel of men like Charles McCarthy. Roosevelt believes that to achieve national efficiency there should be a centralization of appropriations or an executive budget, but with this should also come accountability. Roosevelt is especially concerned about issues involving the Panama Canal, tariffs, and reclamation projects.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-22
Theodore Roosevelt tells William P. Baker of the Syracuse Post-Standard that a tariff will not help to achieve military preparedness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-09
President Roosevelt writes Representative Longworth about Arthur L. Faulkner, President of the National Window Glass Workers in Cleveland, Ohio. Faulkner had great courage in supporting the party in the last election, and Roosevelt prizes his judgment. Faulkner advises that the tariff on window glass should not be reduced, but rather, should be increased to protect American workers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-25
President Roosevelt assures Alvin Howard Sanders that he does not intend to rush the new tariff bill through the short session of Congress. In a postscript, Roosevelt confidentially gives Sanders permission to make this opinion public.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-15
William Loeb acknowledges Marcellus F. Berry’s letter reporting the arrival of a package of books from Edward North Buxton. Berry should pay the duty as suggested and forward the package to Oyster Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-30
President Roosevelt says that a letter from Egbert J. DeBell is essentially a piece of blackmail, and he has forwarded it to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp. Roosevelt has spoken with Elihu Root, who thinks that no campaign letter from Roosevelt should be published until after William H. Taft gives his speech of acceptance and publishes his letter of acceptance. That should still give plenty of time for Roosevelt to do something, but the final say belongs to Taft, as to what he would like Roosevelt to do and when. Roosevelt responds to several points Taft raised about the Democratic Party platform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-13
President Roosevelt invites Lincoln Steffens to come see him at Oyster Bay. Roosevelt thinks that if Steffens’ theory is correct, the government would have to own the saloons, refuse to collect customs duties, while owning every possible corporation and industry where there would be the chance of bribery. Steffens is somewhat wrong regarding Europe, as not every government owns the saloons, and many of them have subsidies for industries. Roosevelt agrees with Steffens in the necessity of fighting against privilege, but thinks that Steffens is attacking a symptom instead of the cause.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-12
President Roosevelt asks Speaker of the House Cannon if it would be possible for Congress to discuss the Pearl Harbor matter in conjunction with the naval bill. Roosevelt says that the United States should have three or four battleships, and that Hawaii should be fortified with a dock constructed there as well. Roosevelt has been having a difficult time on Cannon’s behalf in connection with the tariff commission, so he hopes that Cannon will look favorably upon this request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-23
Theodore Roosevelt hopes that the Republican party will take up the tariff. Roosevelt looks forward to the appearance of John Burroughs’s next volume, and asks if Burroughs has seen his two recent articles in Scribner’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-11