Your TR Source
James L. Davenport informs Theodore Roosevelt that all reasonable men believe the actions Roosevelt took while President in regards to the Tennessee Iron and Coal company were the right steps and prevented a financial panic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-17
Theodore Roosevelt informs John P. Whitman that he does not remember if he has heard about the attacks by William Randolph Hearst against him on the Tennessee Steel Company matter and is indifferent to his opinion. Roosevelt would also appreciate to see Whitman and Russell R. Whitman at any time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-19
Theodore Roosevelt tells John Callan O’Laughlin that he has nothing to fear about Congress investigating the “Steel Corporation matter,” the Sugar Trust, or the Panama Canal because every action was made public knowledge from the beginning. Roosevelt expected some public uproar about the Steel Corporation once the danger had passed.
1911-06-02
Theodore Roosevelt responds to Joseph Bucklin Bishop saying President William H. Taft and George W. Wickersham forced Roosevelt’s hand when they allowed J. M. Dickinson to attack him over the Tennessee Coal and Iron deal. Roosevelt also discusses his possible presidential candidate nomination, stating that although he hopes it will not come to it, he will not ignore his duty if the people choose him as their candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-13
Theodore Roosevelt informs Robert Hay that no one made such a statement to him, and it is a pure lie. His public statement contains everything regarding the request and combination of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, along with his actions in the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-23
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Commissioner of Pensions Davenport for his kindness. He was pleased with Davenport’s memorandum regarding the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-21
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Everett P. Wheeler’s letter and knows he will agree that Roosevelt’s only course of action is silence. As he told the Congressional Committee, Roosevelt would follow the same course of action (regarding the acquisition of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company). When Roosevelt reviewed the matter with his cabinet, William H. Taft, then Secretary of War, empathically commended Roosevelt’s actions. While Roosevelt supposes Taft was unaware of Attonery General George W. Wickersham’s action, he believes the president is responsible for every important action of his subordinates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-30
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Representative Madison regarding the undesirability of the precedent established and was the only person to protest against it. While an ex-president is a private citizen and should appear before a Senate committee if asked, it should only be under exceptional circumstances. Roosevelt read the testimony before Madison’s committee. He thanks Hines for his treatment of George H. Earle and discusses the latter’s poor conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-11
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Samuel H. Barker for the note. Roosevelt compares Barker’s conviction of Roosevelt’s blunder (regarding the acquisition of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company) to that of the White Queen in Alice Through the Looking Glass, who “believed three impossible things before breakfast.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-11
Theodore Roosevelt liked the editorial and hopes to see James R. Garfield soon. He does not care if any part of his administration is investigated because there was no wrongdoing, but “they are such dishonest jacks that they do not realize this.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-09
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Albert H. Walker for his kind note. He previously addressed the question of deception regarding the Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company in his response to Representative Young. Roosevelt admires Walker’s concluding paragraph and wishes he could have incorporated it into his statement to the committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-08
Theodore Roosevelt encloses a letter and asks William Loeb if anything can be done regarding the writer and her “poor devil of a husband.” Roosevelt has been told that Congress wants to investigate his actions on “the Tennessee Coal and Iron matter, the Sugar Trust matter, and the Panama affair.” He asks Loeb if he knows where he may obtain the letter he wrote to Charles J. Bonaparte about Tennessee Coal and Iron.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-02
Theodore Roosevelt tells John Callan O’Laughlin that he has nothing to fear about Congress investigating the “Steel Corporation matter,” the Sugar Trust, or the Panama Canal because every action was made public knowledge from the beginning. Roosevelt expected some public uproar about the Steel Corporation once the danger was past.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-02
Theodore Roosevelt is looking forward to seeing Mrs. Bonaparte, the Roses, and the Harrises. He asks Charles Bonaparte to send him a copy of the letter Roosevelt sent Bonaparte about the Tennessee Coal and Iron Co., as Congress is debating whether or not to investigate Roosevelt about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-02
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the kind words about his action toward the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company. Roosevelt hopes to visit Clarence Howards’ steel plant. Roosevelt is carefully considering Howards’ suggestions on the article.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-24
In a cancelled letter, President Roosevelt asks Herbert Knox Smith for all papers dealing with the United States Steel Corporation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
President Roosevelt directs Herbert Knox Smith, Commissioner of Corporations, to forward to him all papers relating to the United States Steel Corporation and Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company so that Roosevelt can determine what should be made public.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
President Roosevelt advises Herbert Knox Smith, Commissioner of Corporations, that if he is asked to produce any papers in the “Steel Corporation inquiry” to state that he is required to report to the President first. After this, the President will give direction as to what should be made public “as the law requires.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Bonaparte of a meeting he had with Judge Elbert H. Gary and Henry Clay Frick regarding the potential failure of an important Wall Street firm, Moore and Schley. The firm is heavily invested in the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company. Gary and Frick propose that the United States Steel Company purchase that stock from the firm to prevent its failure. This purchase could expose United States Steel to an antitrust attack from the government, but Gary and Frick explain why it would not constitute a monopoly, and feel strongly that preventing the firm’s failure would be in everyone’s best interest. Roosevelt told them that while he could not advise them to take the proposed action, he felt it was not his duty to tell them not to.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-04
Gifford Pinchot gives permission to Edwin C. Eckel to refute the charges regarding the Tennessee Coal and Iron acquisition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-06