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President Roosevelt has heard that the Senate Judiciary Committee has finally reported Judge James Wickersham’s name to the Senate for confirmation. Roosevelt tells Senator Penrose that he believes he must keep Wickersham on in Alaska, even if the Senate does not vote on him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-28
President Roosevelt writes to Senator Allison about the Hepburn bill and the proposed amendments to it. He still approves of Allison’s amendment and would like it to be passed in conjunction with the Long amendment, although he objects to the passage of any broad amendments altering the character of the bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-05
President Roosevelt promises James D. Phelan that he will speak with Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, but that before any legislative action will occur the leaders of the House and Senate will need to consider the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-05
President Roosevelt thinks former Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton is right, and agrees that he has troubles of his own and is not trying to elect United States Senators. He writes, in a handwritten postscript, “Good luck to you! I wish I felt I was doing half as well with my job as you are with yours!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-18
President Roosevelt writes to Senator Nelson because the actions of Senator Eugene Hale, likely on behalf of Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, referring to Senator Joseph W. Bailey’s amendment have changed the situation enough to warrant a reevaluation of the amendments. Roosevelt was worried at first about the constitutionality of Bailey’s amendment, but feels that if it is put in as a separate clause so that it does not risk the entire bill, it may be all right. He suspects that several ‘railway Senators’ have supported Bailey’s amendment because they believe it will be struck down by the courts and thereby stop the entire legislation. He reiterates that he is fine with Bailey’s amendment, but hopes that Nelson or Senator William B. Allison will be able to insist on separate votes, splitting the amendment into two.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-11
President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Moody that the “Daniels payment matter” is more important than he initially thought, and holds the position that it is desirable for it to be understood that if a president makes a recess appointment, the appointee will continue to be paid for their service until the nomination is formally rejected by the Senate. Roosevelt believes that officials in the Treasury Department should be instructed to take this view.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-31
President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge that he and Secretary of War William H. Taft feel strongly that any action about the Philippine tariff bill before the final vote on the rate bill would result in damage, as it would link the two together as congressmen try to make deals on the rate bill. Roosevelt believes discussion on the topic should wait “until there is the most ample opportunity to discuss the whole business without there being any other subject before the senate which will dwarf it in importance.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-06
President Roosevelt informs Senator Clark, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, that he has resubmitted the name of William C. Bristol for the position of District Attorney of Oregon. Roosevelt additionally sends Clark a number of affidavits and telegrams which explain the situation surrounding Roosevelt’s prior withdrawal of Bristol’s name, and show that it was due to a misunderstanding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-29
President Roosevelt introduces Governor Wilford B. Hoggatt of Alaska to Senator Knox, and asks him to allow Hoggatt to appear before a Senate committee to speak on behalf of the confirmation of Judge James Wickersham.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-30
President Roosevelt thanks John St. Loe Strachey for remembering the upcoming wedding of his daughter Alice to Congressman Nicholas Longworth. Roosevelt is pleased with Longworth and hopes that he will have a successful career in politics. He reflects at length about politics in both Great Britain and the United States. In particular, Roosevelt discusses the function and manner of the United States Senate, and envies that a labor man is in Great Britain’s Cabinet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-12
President Roosevelt has submitted United States District Attorney Blizzard’s name for reappointment, but would like assurance on two things. First, he wants Blizzard’s personal word that since Attorney General William H. Moody has communicated with him, he has not, and will not in the future, directly or indirectly take part in any legislative action for or against bills involving corporate interests. Second, as U.S. District Attorney, Blizzard should not take any direct or indirect part in any private suits connected with “any labor difficulty of any kind” that involves corporations or private individuals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-18
President Roosevelt informs New York Secretary of State O’Brien that Daniel W. Moran’s appointment as postmaster was a recess appointment, and thus his name will still have to be put before the Senate. Roosevelt did not know there was opposition to Moran until he received O’Brien’s letter. If Senator Thomas Collier Platt objects to Moran, Roosevelt is sure the Senate will not confirm him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-08
President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Moody he has received information that leads him to believe that Circuit Court Judge Reese Blizzard is not the right man for the position. Blizzard has given the impression that he is a lobbyist for corporations. The Senators must be convinced to “furnish us with a good man in his place.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-30
President Roosevelt informs John Allison that his message has already been printed and distributed to the press, but he will send Allison’s letter to Senator Philander C. Knox.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-25
President Roosevelt is concerned over statements in a memorandum by Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock. Hitchcock seems to imply that there are Senate-appointed men in the civil service who are unfit to hold their positions and do not follow the rules of the departments they work in, who cannot be removed by the Executive for proper cause. Roosevelt tells Hitchcock that this is not the case, and that placing these positions under the classified service would not allow for the hiring of better men than the current appointment system allows.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-10
President Roosevelt reassures William F. Willoughby that the only reason he would not reappoint him would be Willoughby’s refusal of the position. He will send in his name for reappointment to the Senate as soon as they convene.
William F. Willoughby was serving as Treasurer of Puerto Rico at this time. He would be nominated for reappointment to this position on December 13, 1905, and confirmed by the Senate within several days.
President Roosevelt suggests to Acting Secretary of State that Admiral Melvil Dewey should go ahead of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, although behind Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and Vice President Charles Fairbanks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-26
President Roosevelt informs Ellen Grant Sartoris he would like to appoint her son, Algernon Edward Sartoris, but there are one or two other men he is anxious to place as well. Given Algernon’s “unwise publication” last year, Roosevelt is still trying to figure out if he can get Algernon’s name through the Senate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-05
In response to a “extraordinary statement” in William Randolph Hearst’s paper, President Roosevelt tells Joseph Bucklin Bishop that although he is fond of his uncle Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, they rarely agree on politics. Roosevelt did not make a statement that he did not intend to accept the nomination for a third term as president without thinking it over, and he stands by his decision even though it is causing him trouble in the Senate. Roosevelt complains about the inability of the Senate to ratify his San Domingan treaty. Efforts from both Democratic Senators and Republicans Eugene Hale and John C. Spooner derailed the treaty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-23
President Roosevelt believes Senator Heyburn’s resolution to be unwise, and requests Heyburn come meet with him about the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-15