United States. Department of Justice

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt directs Attorney General Bonaparte to carefully look into the matter of the Anaconda smelter before proceeding with any suits. It has been suggested that if a suit against the Anaconda smelter were successful, then the copper industry in Montana as a whole would be ruined and there would be massive unemployment. Roosevelt says that while the suit will be brought on environmental grounds, they need to find out if they would cause more economic destruction by the suit being successful. The case is especially important because of its implications for similar situations across the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward J. Gavegan

President Roosevelt explains to Edward J. Gavegan that he omitted the word “impeachment” recently, as he thought it would appear that he was showing an improper attitude toward the court system. He asks what Gavegan would suggest he do in the matter involving judge Emile Henry Lacombe, and says that the natural way of proceeding would be to have the Department of Justice look into the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt believes the statements made by Delevan Smith in the Indianapolis News are patently false, and that refuting them will bring them undue attention. Because William Dudley Foulke insists that a reply be made, however, Roosevelt writes to refute the charges of a scandal involved in the purchasing of the Panama Canal zone from France. Roosevelt particularly refutes the charge that the affair has not been transparent, as documents related to it have been freely available. Roosevelt has refuted other false charges leveled against his administration, but the newspapers continue to print them, so he doubts whether his denial will be effective.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Andrew Lyon

President Roosevelt asks Colonel Lyon if he has found a replacement for John W. Vann yet. Roosevelt believes that Vann was a poor administrator, but feels that he is a good citizen, and asks Lyon if he thinks that Vann would accept a replacement position as deputy marshal or special agent under the Department of Justice. Lyon should telegraph Roosevelt as soon as he receives this letter, as Roosevelt wants to resolve this quickly. He wishes to assign Vann to a case that will be tried shortly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Seth Low

President Roosevelt will wait until he receives the next bill draft from Seth Low and then consult with the Department of Justice about it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt feels that Judge Royal Arch Gunnison should be reappointed, but asks if Attorney General Bonaparte or the Department of Justice possess information that would suggest otherwise. Roosevelt acknowledges that Gunnison can be slow, but believes that he is nevertheless an honest judge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Martyn Hoyt

President Roosevelt appoints Solicitor General Hoyt to the Central Committee of the National Red Cross as the representative of the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Seth Low

After speaking with Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte about Seth Low’s letter, President Roosevelt informs Low that even if it were passed by Congress, he cannot sign the bill as certain parties are advocating. The Department of Justice believes that Standard Oil is attempting to delay lawsuits in hopes that a measure like that bill will pass. Roosevelt has sent copies of his correspondence with Low to president-elect William H. Taft for reference if the question comes up during his administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt encloses an article from the New York Sun about the Prairie Oil Company. He asks Attorney General Bonaparte to send him a report about the matter if the Justice Department has made one.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt encloses a statement that he dictated to William Loeb in the presence of Ethan Allen Hitchcock, former secretary of the interior, and W. Scott Smith. The statement outlines Roosevelt’s and Hitchcock’s recollections of what happened in connection with a controversy over the Indian Prairie Oil & Gas Company’s pipeline contract. Roosevelt is confident that the report which The Sun alleges outlines Roosevelt’s taking action against Hitchcock’s recommendations does not exist.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Martyn Hoyt

President Roosevelt appoints Solicitor-General Hoyt as the Justice Department’s representative on the Central Committee on the National Red Cross.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt encloses a memorandum from Fowler to Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, which shows a “very unsatisfactory” state of affairs. He asks Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou to arrange a joint investigation into the matter with the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

President Roosevelt regretfully accepts Alford Warriner Cooley’s letter of resignation as Assistant Attorney General, and thanks Cooley for his many contributions to the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Isaac L. Hunt

President Roosevelt assures Isaac L. Hunt that he will certainly investigate if any member of the Department of Justice has been guilty of improper conduct, but he does not think he can do much else. He has not interfered, nor will he interfere, in the nomination in any Congressional district. Roosevelt will forward Hunt’s letter to Sherman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Medill McCormick

President Roosevelt believes that the Democratic party will adopt a plank satisfactory to the Newspaper Publishers Association because they will adopt any platform whether it can be put through or not. Roosevelt maintains that Bernard H. Ridder is a devotee of William Jennings Bryan and, in opposing Republican policies, wishes to discredit the Republican party. Roosevelt believes that the only effective action against trusts must come through legislation which increases the federal government’s control over interstate commerce. Roosevelt concludes by stating he is expressing his personal opinion and it is not for quotation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Barnes

President Roosevelt explains that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte had at first recommended that District Attorney George B. Curtiss be removed, or that he be allowed to serve out his term without reappointment. Based on this information, Roosevelt informed John W. Dwight, J. Sloat Fassett, and George W. Dunn about the situation. Since then, however, the opinion within the Department of Justice has changed, and so Roosevelt no longer has any ground to not reappoint Curtiss. He understands, however, that William Barnes has been put in a difficult position because of this, and promises to look into the matter further.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

Attorney General Bonaparte’s letter provides President Roosevelt with a new impression of the matter that Mr. Brooker referred to in his letter, and Roosevelt says that if Bonaparte has carefully investigated the case he should go ahead with the conclusion he came to. Roosevelt directs Bonaparte to communicate with Frank H. Hitchcock if there is any politician involved in a matter related to J. Ellen Foster. He also agrees with what Bonaparte says related to a letter from Henry L. Stimson, as well as his opinion related to negotiations with Senator Jonathan Bourne in the Standard Oil matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jonathan Bourne

President Roosevelt responds to a telephone message Senator Bourne left with William Loeb. As Roosevelt has told Bourne and John D. Archbold previously, he feels that it is a waste of time and unwise to try to carry on negotiations through Bourne, and says that the Standard Oil people should decide what course they wish to follow, and then communicate directly with Frank B. Kellogg or Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte. The letter from Bonaparte that Roosevelt previously read to Bourne was not meant to be specific guidelines, but was only meant to give Bourne an indication of the feeling within the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt does not think that it is possible to grant Day’s request. He tells Attorney General Bonaparte that the report can be made confidential, but that it should be kept in the files of the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte, and says that they should appoint Milton Dwight Purdy at once. Roosevelt does not want to be dictated to by Senator Knute Nelson as to who he is able to appoint. He is unsure about the wisdom of putting another Tennessee Democrat in the administration when there are already several people from the area in the administration. Roosevelt asks Bonaparte’s opinions about several people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-23