Your TR Source
President Roosevelt thanks Eugene Gano Hay for his knowledge of policy and praises its impact on the German tariff agreement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-09
William Loeb informs the Ross Rifle Company that Theodore Roosevelt received the rifle and paid $12.50 for customs duties and express charges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-07
President Roosevelt tells Senator Hopkins that the newspaper coverage of their recent meeting is incorrect in stating that they agreed that there would be no change to the tariff until after the upcoming election. Roosevelt asks Hopkins to only tell the truth about the meeting if asked, specifically that the issue of the tariff only came up incidentally and that no agreement was made regarding the tariff.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-18
President Roosevelt discusses several topics with Secretary of State Root. Roosevelt had intended to appoint William Penn Duvall to Quartermaster General, but Secretary of War William H. Taft strongly recommended James Buchanan Aleshire instead. Roosevelt has called upon Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to investigate the difficulties of Japanese immigrants in San Francisco. Roosevelt has been hearing “howls” over an agreement with Germany. Roosevelt feels Andrew Carnegie’s New York peace conference has weakened the United States’ chances at the International Peace Conference at the Hague, and so has not been following developments there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-02
President Roosevelt agrees with Charles William Eliot about railroads and tariffs, and will look into the professors at the Naval Academy. Roosevelt also speaks on the current status of the United States returning the indemnity to China.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-19
President Roosevelt must decline the speaking invitation but would like to see Charles G. Washburn when he is in Washington, D.C., so they can discuss the tariff and Secretary of War William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-14
President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Sternburg for the information about Japan. He is pleased that, according to Secretary of State Elihu Root, discussions have started on the tariff agreement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-02
President Roosevelt requests aid from Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon in passing a tariff bill for the Philippines. Roosevelt notes that he usually acquiesces to Cannon’s judgement but that the opinion of many who have been in the Philippines makes it clear to him that this bill is necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-02
President Roosevelt says he shall do all he can to have the duty on art removed from the tariff but does not believe the tariff can be touched with such a short session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-27
President Roosevelt informs Senator Hale he will take up the matter regarding Collector of the Port George A. Curran but will wait on the St. John issue until he sees Secretary of State Elihu Root and Hale. He is disheartened by the Maine election and the implications of William Randolph Hearst’s nomination for governor of New York. The situation in Cuba continues to be a struggle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-28
President Roosevelt sent Secretary of the Treasury Shaw’s “mighty strong letter” to Hill and if Shaw agrees, he will send it to some tariff reform supporters. While he is not prepared to entirely agree with Shaw, Roosevelt concedes his points are well put. He does differ with Shaw’s comments on the popular feeling. He gives an update on the coins designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-11
President Roosevelt updates Secretary of War Taft on travel arrangements for their upcoming trip to Panama and comments on Taft’s tariff speech. He advises Taft to write a temperate letter for publication in response to Herbert Ross’s recent article.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-01
President Roosevelt suggests William Rockhill Nelson’s sources be more accurate in relaying information as he said nothing about tariffs which contradicts his earlier statements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-04
President Roosevelt thanks Secretary of State Root for the humorous translation of a Spanish newspaper. He provides updates on the successful naval review, recent state elections, and the boiling pot of New York politics. Roosevelt finds that William Jennings Bryan’s eagerness for popularity causes him to commit “to preposterous positions,” as revealed by his recent speech.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-04
President Roosevelt received Commissioner of Corporations Garfield’s letter and will first send the report to Attorney General William H. Moody. In a post-script, Roosevelt states he does not want to be involved in the matter regarding Representative Theodore E. Burton. Roosevelt commends Secretary of War William H. Taft’s “bully speech,” believing it demonstrates possession of “all the qualities of a great national leader.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-05
President Roosevelt thanks Representative Watson for his willingness to help the Congressional Committee in the upcoming election, and outlines what he thinks are some of the major accomplishments of Congress and relevant points of the Republican platform. Roosevelt believes that the “real evils in our industrial and economic system” have been and will continue to be addressed by “resolute and intelligent legislation and executive action.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-18
President Roosevelt believes it is out of the question for him, as President, to write full answers to the sorts of propositions that William D. Washburn set forth in his letter, as he must consider not only his own beliefs, but that of the party he leads. While he agreed with Washburn on some points, he disagreed on others, and protests the comparison of the tariff issue with the issue of slavery, as the tariff is not a moral issue. Roosevelt will speak more on the subject sometime when Washburn is in Washington, D.C., but will do so purely privately.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21
President Roosevelt was interested in Senator Beveridge’s letter, and congratulates him about his speech. Roosevelt remarks that the trouble with revising the tariff is that no two people want exactly the same thing, and admits he is not sure how they are going to accomplish the reform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
President Roosevelt tells John A. Sleicher that “Congress has got to get so that it will and can act on the tariff before any action on my part would do more than split the Republican party wide open.” If the executive branch were the only party involved the tariff would be revised immediately. However, Roosevelt cannot act without Congress and he is not sure if a revision on the tariff will be possible before the next presidential election. He reminds Sleicher that he will not consent to being the next Republican candidate, and that the issue will therefore be taken up by his successor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-11
President Roosevelt explains his reasoning for keeping his speech as it currently is rather than making the change Speaker of the House Cannon suggested, as he feels that the paragraph may help senators whose states wish for a revision of the tariff. Roosevelt believes there is a sentiment against the words “stand pat,” and advises Cannon to avoid them in his speeches, as well as possibly including an explanation of the possibility of tariff reform. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge suggested Roosevelt say something about the immigration bill, but Roosevelt is not sure if doing so is wise. Roosevelt feels the same about Representative Charles E. Littlefield as Cannon does, and will do what he can to assist him in his reelection.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-15