Truthfulness and falsehood

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt responds to William Dudley Foulke’s request to call the Indianapolis News to account for the falsehoods they are spreading. Roosevelt explains that he does not believe it will do any good, because the paper is simply on par with other papers like the New York World, New York Sun, and New York Evening Post. Such papers will simply repeat their falsehoods and spread new ones if they are corrected. Roosevelt believes that it is useless to deny false stories in the news because papers do not attempt to prove their assertions. In particular, Roosevelt mentions false stories about his raising campaign funds and the purchase of the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Robinson

Although President Roosevelt and Douglas Robinson think that the rumor that Robinson had any connection with the canal deal is so ridiculous that it does not warrant a denial, the Democratic newspapers are discussing it. Roosevelt thinks that Robinson should make a statement denying his involvement to the Associated Press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dinwiddie

President Roosevelt criticizes William Dinwiddie for “pointing the way” to an editorial that popularizes false views. Roosevelt says that if Dinwiddie has a criticism about Franklin K. Lane he will look into it, but he will not send Lane an editorial that is based on a lie. Roosevelt says that Joseph Pulitzer’s papers combine, in publishing this editorial, “the yellowest yellow journalism with the further iniquity of low journalism.” Roosevelt maintains that wherever guilt has been proven by the government, it has been punished to the fullest extent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George C. Perkins

President Roosevelt has one comment about Senator Perkins’ letter. Perkins stated that in regard to the letters mistakenly sent out in his name, the writer did not intend to personally criticize the president and he regrets that it was construed in that way. Roosevelt states that this is the only way the letter can be construed, as the letters contained deliberate and false attacks against him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Olive Grace Kerr

President Roosevelt offers his condolences to Olive Grace Kerr for the death of her husband, Henry Scanlan Kerr. However, Roosevelt feels he must object to Olive Kerr publishing the article she encloses, since he feels that Henry Kerr would not have recalled Roosevelt’s statements accurately or may have misunderstood what he meant. Roosevelt also feels that it would be inappropriate to publicly recount details Henry Kerr might have overheard at a private luncheon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Editors of the Outlook

President Roosevelt addresses the entire editorial board of The Outlook, as he is unsure which particular editor “had his mind all turned askew” by the writings of William J. Long. Roosevelt appreciates The Outlook’s coverage of topics such as the Brownsville Incident, race relations in San Francisco, and railroad rate legislation, but he takes strong exception to The Outlook describing his distaste for Long’s writing a “controversy.” Roosevelt condems Long’s writings and describes him as a “cheap imposter” who does not observe nature but fabricates nature stories that could not possibly happen. Roosevelt takes issue with The Oulook’s assertions about his comments on Long’s writing, and discusses in detail the “mechanical”—not “mathematical”—impossibility of a wolf killing a caribou with a single bite as Long describes. Roosevelt suggests several naturalists in New York the editors can consult in matters of “nature fakers,” and offers to go page by page through one of Long’s books with The Outlook special nature editor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Spratt

President Roosevelt thanks George W. Spratt for an editorial he sent, saying the author knows what he’s talking about, unlike nature fakers like William J. Long or Jack London.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas W. Slocum

President Roosevelt thanks Thomas W. Slocum for the letter to President of Harvard Charles William Eliot. He cannot believe that anyone at Harvard could have taken “such a ridiculous report” seriously.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

President Roosevelt received a paper purportedly issued by the Program Committee of the upcoming Public Lands Convention. He points Secretary of Agriculture Wilson’s attention to several statements that not only misrepresent the administration’s attitude but are the direct opposite.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Shaw

President Roosevelt is surprised that a magazine such as The Review of Reviews would unintentionally publish something that should have never been published. Roosevelt tells Dr. Albert Shaw that he hopes to see W.T. Stead. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lincoln Steffens

President Roosevelt has no intention to remove Joseph H. Kibbey as Governor of the Arizona territory, despite the efforts of Senator Albert J. Beveridge and his supporters. While Roosevelt is disappointed that some public officials make accusations that cannot be backed up by facts, he will protect anyone making serious accusations as long as there is sufficient evidence to support those accusations. The next time he sees Lincon Steffens he would like to review what Steffens has found out about Government officials in the West before anything is made public. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert J. Collier

President Roosevelt is astounded by the degree of falsehood contained in an article in Robert J. Collier’s weekly magazine about the Department of the Interior. Roosevelt would like to opportunity to explain the true situation to Collier or Mark Sullivan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Stedman Hanks

President Roosevelt sympathizes with Charles Stedman Hanks, and gives examples where illustrations of animals in books did not match the animals described in the text. Roosevelt remarks that, regarding the “Tillman incident,” he must meet with many people, and it is impossible for him to prevent some number of them from lying about him. Roosevelt feels that the railroad rate bill is in a good place, but is wary of what may happen to it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Alsworth Ross

President Roosevelt is amused by the presses misunderstanding of Edward Alsworth Ross’s article. He agrees with Ross that families should have less children for the betterment of society, however, the one or two-child ideal would result in the extinction of the middle class. Roosevelt believes that the “Harriman-Standard Oil interests” are doing everything they can to cause him conflict in the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Morrison

President Roosevelt is only answering William Morrison’s letter because he believes that Morrison did not know that it was offensive. Morrison alleged that Roosevelt was “in possession of certain facts” regarding statistics referenced in a speech by James T. Russell, but does not want to provide them. Roosevelt refers Morrison to a letter he published in answer to Russell in which he stated that he does not have any such facts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Taft to tell President of the Isthmian Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts that his answer regarding the L. W. Ferguson case is “absolutely conclusive.” Roosevelt is astonished that a purportedly reputable paper would print such charges.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James T. Russell

Reverend Russell’s statement that President Roosevelt found that “eighty-two per cent. of criminals against morality were Hebrews” is a misrepresentation. Roosevelt never made an investigation about this and did not make any statements saying so. He asks Russell to tell him who made the report he referenced, and to state that Roosevelt never made such an investigation or statement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Grant La Farge

President Roosevelt informs C. Grant La Farge that the Executive Committee of the Boone and Crockett Club should use the letter as they see fit. He especially wants it shown to the member who claims that his letter recommending Charles A. Moore to the Club’s committee was merely in return for political favors granted by Moore’s father, Charles A. Moore. While a man of excellent reputation, the elder Moore strongly opposed Roosevelt and never supported him. Instead, Roosevelt recommended the younger Moore because of his character and good views on sport and the serious work of life, which is precisely the type of member the Club needs more of. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John A. Sleicher

President Roosevelt complains about the lies being told about him in papers like the New York Times calling him “undecided and vacillating” regarding the railroad rate bill. He tells John A. Sleicher that the papers lie because “they make their bread and butter by so doing.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred Henry Lewis

After reading the Cosmopolitan, President Roosevelt would like to talk over things with Alfred Henry Lewis. Some of the articles “consist of nothing but a mixture of hysteria and mendacity,” and while there is truth in some of them, others suppress the truth and rely on sensationalism. Roosevelt believes that Lewis can mold public opinion and wants him to do so properly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919