United States. Department of the Navy

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to H. T. B. Harris

President Roosevelt sincerely thanks Rear Admiral Harris for his continued active service as Paymaster General of the Navy. As per Roosevelt’s order and following Harris’s input, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte recommended Eustace Barron Rogers as a suitable replacement. Roosevelt wanted to inform Harris of Roger’s selection before making it public and expresses satisfaction with Harris’s administration of duties. While Harris’s resignation is effective on November 1, Roosevelt asks he remain on active duty as president of the board representing the Naval Pay Corps regarding the pending legislative inquiry affecting commissioned personnel.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte that he has asked Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill to, in the course of his investigation into complaints of violations of the eight-hour law, go directly to Departments or Bureaus he may need information from in order to save time and minimize correspondence. He asks that Bonaparte give Neill any information he may need from the Department of the Navy as promptly as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt confirms receipt of Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte’s letter concerning John J. McBrearty, and already had some knowledge of the case. Secretary of War William H. Taft has told Roosevelt that McBrearty was “struck off the list of possible bidders in the War Department, for fraudulent practices,” and suggests that there should be cooperation between the War Department and the Department of the Navy regarding cases of this sort so that one department does not accept a contract from a merchant that another department has ruled out for fraud. He tells Bonaparte to follow his judgement regarding a Marine Corps civil service matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John C. Spooner

President Roosevelt has gone over “that matter of young Ludlow” with Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, and it is not in his power to do what Senator Spooner requests. He cannot interfere in such cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Edmund Foss

President Roosevelt requests that Representative Foss, as Chairman of the House Committee on Naval Affairs, move forward with legislation to change the process by which midshipmen at the Naval Academy are punished for hazing. Currently they are tried by court-martial and, if found guilty, dismissed without input from other authorities. Although Roosevelt believes that hazing should be punished, he thinks that dismissal is too severe a consequence in most cases. He has pardoned John P. Miller, a midshipman who was recently dismissed for hazing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hale

President Roosevelt requests that Senator Hale, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs, move forward with legislation to change the process by which midshipmen at the Naval Academy are punished for hazing. Currently they are tried by court-martial and, if found guilty, dismissed without input from other authorities. Although Roosevelt believes that hazing should be punished, he thinks that dismissal is too severe a consequence in most cases. He has pardoned John P. Miller, a midshipman who was recently dismissed for hazing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gifford Pinchot

President Roosevelt appoints Gifford Pinchot to serve on the Committee on Department Methods. The committee is to investigate improving the administration of government departments and services by adopting “best modern business practices.” Roosevelt identifies several things which should be looked at including salaries, purchasing supplies, and the “elimination of useless letter-writing.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Paul Morton

In accepting the resignation of Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton, President Roosevelt expresses his gratitude for the good work Morton has done, and for agreeing to remain in the role for longer than Morton had originally anticipated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

President Roosevelt intends to appoint Truman Handy Newberry as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in June or September. Roosevelt has wanted Newberry to have this position since they both returned from the Spanish-American War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Navy Moody information about torpedo boats. He would like the information, which was written by Commander Winslow, referred to Captain Converse. He wants the two of them to report back to him about what should be done in regards to torpedo boat construction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Paul Morton

President Roosevelt is glad that Secretary of the Navy Morton went to see the naval maneuvers. Roosevelt urges Morton to take ten days off, and informs him that he has heard that the naval officers have appreciated Morton as Secretary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Hale

President Roosevelt will bring Senator Hale’s letter to the attention of Secretary of the Navy Morton. Roosevelt would like to do what Hale suggests but must first consult with the Navy Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

President Roosevelt directed Alvey A. Adee to instruct the Navy that they must not interfere in any fighting between the Russians and Japanese in the neutral Chinese port. Roosevelt agrees that the best solution would be for China to say they cannot keep the peace and let the Russians and Japanese fight.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman J. Gage

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt has a high opinion of Dr. Alexander O. Brodie, whom he met on the Michigan last year, and he hopes that Secretary of the Treasury Gage will be able to grant his request.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-11-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

President Roosevelt would like to know what has been done about improving cruiser marksmanship, especially the guns of six-inch caliber and less.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-21

A lamentable naval episode

Following an exhibition of drunkenness at an official banquet by Naval Paymaster George M. Lukesh, Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte has not dismissed the man, but rather endorsed the recommendation of the court-martial putting him to the bottom of the list of paymasters. The author of the article explains that this is because, while Bonaparte has the ability to punish, neither he nor President Roosevelt have the power to impose a more severe sentence. The author also believes when an officer disgraces the Navy in such a way, there should be a method for imposing stronger punishments against them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas E. Murphy

Vice President Roosevelt is sorry to hear of Thomas E. Murphy’s “misfortune.” He forwarded his letter and the circular to the War Department and the Navy Department. If Roosevelt hears of any other information regarding Murphy’s son he will forward it to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to De Alva Stanwood Alexander

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt sends De Alva Stanwood Alexander a memorandum and offers to give him further information if necessary. Roosevelt comments on Mr. Ricker and his association with the Department of the Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-08-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to De Alva Stanwood Alexander

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs De Alva Stanwood Alexander the Department of the Navy must be cautious about reversing their previous actions, but he will look into the issue Alexander raises at once.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-08-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Westminster S. Abbey

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Westminster S. Abbey that the Department of the Navy would need an appropriation to purchase the suggested chain. Roosevelt informs Abbey that he would have to introduce a bill to Congress for the appropriation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-08-02