Your TR Source
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks N. I. S. Van Der Werker for the letter. However, Roosevelt does not know anything about the rumor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-09
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks Beatrice Henderer for the note and assures that the story is false.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-11-27
Theodore Roosevelt tells R. S. Lindsay that any statements saying he asked any general to be put under his authority and absolutely false.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-06-04
President Roosevelt does not think that the incident with the papers that Representative Longworth wrote him about was his fault. Roosevelt tells his son-in-law about a time when a paper invented a quote from him stating that he would rather vote for a ticket of drunkards than a ticket of prohibitionists. Even after Roosevelt said it was a “lie out of the whole cloth,” the statement was quoted at prohibition meetings. Roosevelt believes that William H. Taft will be elected, but that the popular vote will be less than it was four years ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-10
President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte that District Attorney of Wyoming Timothy F. Burke cannot be reappointed due to his lack of enthusiasm regarding laws against the illegal enclosure of public lands, and informs Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock of the situation. Roosevelt has contacted the senators of Wyoming to let them know that Burke will not be reappointed. Roosevelt feels there has been a breakdown within the Department of the Interior in making a successful case against Senator Francis E. Warren, which Roosevelt feels is a more serious case than Burke’s. Edward B. Linnen’s report can be completely discredited and therefore no action can be taken. Roosevelt suggests that a new examination be undertaken by another group of men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-26
President Roosevelt has not responded to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock’s letter because he has been too busy and also wanted to consult the men who were present at the conference held by Roosevelt which Hitchcock did not attend. Roosevelt points out that due to Hitchcock’s absence at the meeting, his letter is full of errors which Roosevelt outlines in his letter to Hitchcock. A mistake within the Department of the Interior has resulted in a serious situation and Roosevelt feels Hitchcock’s arguments are inaccurate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-25
President Roosevelt explains to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock that he is writing again because another issue has been raised in regard to Hitchcock’s earlier letter. Roosevelt questions why an exhibit has been provided to him by the Department of the Interior which appears to have been done without Hitchcock’s knowledge. He would like a report from Inspector Edward B. Linnen as to why he sent in the exhibit and what purpose it served. Also, it appears details have been leaked to the press that falsely hold Roosevelt responsible for ordering the investigation into the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
Joel Chandler Harris tells President Roosevelt, “You see–It’s this way about a rabbit–” In Harris’s pocket is the “Story of the Dog Flash.” By Roosevelt’s chair is the book, “Nature Faking by T. Roosevelt,” and behind his chair are two men: “fakir” and “nature fakir.” There are mounted animals: a bear, a moose, a raccoon, a deer, and a mouse. They say, “What’s that?” “Gee whiz!” “Did you hear what that man said?” “The biggest one I ever heard” and “You don’t say so!” respectively. In the foreground is a turtle that says, “I’m a nature fakir myself!”
Theodore Roosevelt was exceedingly taken with the writings of Joel Chandler Harris, an editor of the Atlanta Constitution who was active in Southern journalism and literature from the Civil War days until just after the turn of the century. Roosevelt’s mother was from Roswell, Georgia (her childhood plantation was believed to be the model for Tara in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind) and he often referred to himself as a Southerner (and as a New Yorker, which he was; and also a man of the West, which he was). The president also at times was especially solicitous of writers and editors whose opinions held sway. Harris’s editorials were distributed throughout the South; political satirist Finley Peter Dunne (“Mr. Dooley”) was another writer to whom Roosevelt displayed deference.
President Roosevelt walks into a clearing of animals with his rifle where a snake, bear, cougar, and rabbit holding signs that read “Immune. I’m a ‘practical’ varmint,” “Immune. Grandfather of the teddy-bear,” “Immune. Testified against fakirs,” and “Immune. A friend of John Burroughs.” Caption: Prepared.
President Roosevelt went on an extended bear hunt near Stamboul, Louisiana, between October 6 and October 19, a rather long vacation away from the public in the middle of an extended speaking tour. It was in a part of the country, the canebrakes stretching between Mississippi and Louisiana, where a bear hunt early in his presidency, where the incident leading to the legend of the teddy bear arose.
Uncle Sam holds a paper that reads, “Harriman raised $200,000 campaign fund for Roosevelt in 1904” and asks President Roosevelt, “Well, what have you got to say for yourself?” Roosevelt, clutching a bag of money and holding a G.O.P. elephant on a string, says, “It’s a ‘deliberate’ and ‘willful’ untruth!”
Among the bitterest anti-Roosevelt agitators of the day were The Woman’s National Daily and its cartoonist known to history only as N. Eingen. The large-circulation paper was the brainchild of the St. Louis-area entrepreneur Edward Gardner Lewis, one of several enterprises spun off the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Lewis might indeed have had political differences with the president, but friction arose when the Administration pursued Lewis for infractions of postal and banking regulations.
An angry President Roosevelt kicks a book as he holds a paper that reads, “Sir: You are a _____ liar. Very truly, T. Roosevelt. White House Form No. 4423.” Caption: “Selecting the adjective.”
Before Albert Turner Reid was a polished illustrator in the political-cartoon field, but already possessor of an elegant flourish for a signature, he drew this imaginary portrait of President Roosevelt in a fit of pique. The perfervid Roosevelt was believable to conceive, and draw, exploding blasts of a violent temper.
Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon stands on a platform with a suitcase that has a “Panama” label waving as he looks ahead and sees two men fighting, an elephant and an “Ananias cup.” The words “willful untruth,” “$5,000,000.00 conspiracy fund,” “You coughed up everything,” “deliberate untruth,” “brainstorm,” and “blame it on Loeb” appears from the kerfuffle.
Between the fifty-ninth and sixtieth Congresses — in both of which he served as Speaker of the House — “Uncle Joe” Cannon embarked on a tour of the Caribbean and Panama. It was highly unusual that a member of Congress at that time would undertake an independent diplomatic or fact-finding mission. It was widely assumed, or at least speculated, that Cannon was burnishing credentials and doing homework for a planned presidential campaign in 1908.
Congressman Fleming responds to Colonel Bacon’s statement that disputes President Roosevelt’s actions in the Battle of San Juan Hill. While in the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1898, Fleming spoke to wounded soldier from the Rough Riders regiment who recounted the battle and his experience with Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-17
This article comments on William H. Fleming’s report of President Roosevelt’s military record. Fleming, a Rough Rider, is responding to Colonel Bacon’s statement disputing Roosevelt’s account of his actions during the Battle of San Juan Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-17
President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop about two articles in Harper’s Weekly, which, according to Roosevelt, are full of lies. He asks Bishop his opinion on the best way to answer and address the lies in the press.
1903-03-12
President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop regarding “dishonorable and untruthful” articles written by Henry Loomis Nelson in the Boston Herald. He asks for Bishop’s advice on how to best respond to Nelson in the press.
1903-07-21
Colonel Alexander S. Bacon accuses President Roosevelt of lying about his charge on San Juan Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-14
Moses A. Gunst has forwarded a statement from Mr. Theobold, who claims that Major Plumley and George R. Bidwell are working against President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-01
In an ongoing dispute regarding a letter by Shaw published in Collier’s Weekly, President Roosevelt says either Shaw or the publication has misquoted him. Roosevelt asks to see a copy of Shaw’s letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-25
President Roosevelt and Albert Shaw have an ongoing dispute regarding a letter Shaw circulated in Missouri. Shaw claims that Roosevelt said Cyrus Packard Walbridge was a better man than Joseph Wingate Folk. Roosevelt denies this, claiming that he said only that Walbridge was the candidate he supported. Roosevelt references the chain of correspondence between himself, Robert Collier, and Norman Hapgood, and insists Shaw come see him as soon as possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-27