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President Roosevelt informs Senator Crane that no naval ships will be able to make an appearance at Boston’s Old Town Week.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-23
President Roosevelt expresses his concern to Rear Admiral Brownson over the explosion aboard the USS Georgia. He is sure it is being investigated to prevent future incidents. Roosevelt orders Brownson to not send any ship to Boston for Old Home Week. He says he endorsed Brownson’s refusal to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and Roosevelt has informed the Massachusetts delegation, Governor Curtis Guild, and Mayor John Francis Fitzgerald.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-20
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Metcalf that he hopes the navy personnel bill will be passed, but they need to put up a fight and Metcalf should write to the senate committee as Roosevelt already has. Roosevelt also makes it clear he wants two battleships this session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-27
President Roosevelt asks Speaker Cannon if the personnel bill can be taken up and passed as it is important to reducing expenses for the Navy. Roosevelt suggests that Cannon speak to Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs George Edmund Foss.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
President Roosevelt hopes for two battleships this year. He tells Representative Foss, Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, that he is looking to them to help the Navy. In a postscript, Roosevelt notes the enclosure showing that the Unites States is far behind what foreign nations are doing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-23
President Roosevelt asks Representative Capron if there is anything he can do to help pass the bill regarding the pay of Navy officers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-22
President Roosevelt assures A. T. Mahan that he has no intention of sending battleships to the Pacific when there is any tension with Japan. If there was any danger of war, he would immediately withdraw until the entire Navy could regroup and travel en masse.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-12
President Roosevelt tells General Otis in confidence that he is attempting to negotiate an agreement with Japan that would mutually exclude laborers from immigrating. He would like to restrict immigrants from the “lowest standard of living” from Europe as well. However, he believe that the Japanese already here should be treated like every other citizen, and that “the cry against them is simply nonsense.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-08
President Roosevelt is concerned about negative feelings between line officers and medical officers in the Navy. He wants to know why the Personnel Board recommended an increase in the amount of time before a commissioned medical officer is allowed to become a lieutenant, as the Navy is in need of more young surgeons.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-01
President Roosevelt tells Major General Wood that his recent letter impressed both Secretary of War William H. Taft and himself. Roosevelt is attempting to convince Congress to grant Wood the tract of land he desires at Fort McKinley, but he has a hard time convincing them on military matters. He informs the Major General that he will be stationed in the Philippines until after the elections when he will be brought back to America, and that Taft will visit the country in September.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt sends Dora Cleveland his deepest sympathy for the recent death of her son, Melvin L. Cleveland. Melvin fell overboard into the Potomac River while part of a naval procession welcoming Roosevelt back to the Washington area on November 26, 1906. Roosevelt tells her he will see if anything further can be done about the situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-20
President Roosevelt tells Representative Foss that he doesn’t want to lead the race for large ships, but does not want to fall behind either. Roosevelt states that the two most recent ships commissioned for the Navy are each about eighteen thousand tons. He notes this size is comparable to Japan’s new battleship, which is named the Satsuma, and closes by saying that they cannot take any chances with their navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-19
President Roosevelt tells British Ambassador to the United States Grey that Rennel Rodd was offered a position interacting with the US government, but turned it down. Roosevelt contrasts the attitudes and relations of a number of different countries with America and England, and takes a specific focus on Japan. Roosevelt notes that Japan has continued preparing for war over the last decade, and writes that there will be industrial competition between Japan and European countries. He also wonders if they are planning on invading America, Germany, or the Philippines. Roosevelt wants the United States and Japan to sign a treaty stating they will keep their citizens out of each other’s labor markets. Roosevelt closes by remarking on the similarities in governmental thinking and military approach between the United States and England.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-19
President Roosevelt thanks Allen W. Thurman for the letter and for the clipping containing Representative William Jennings Bryan’s comments on the president’s recent speech. Roosevelt feels that the Navy keeps the peace globally the same way that police keep the peace in local matters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-08
President Roosevelt tells Senator Knox that he will research the case of Lieutenant Commander Patrick William Hourigan. Roosevelt recalls that he stood up for Hourigan to President William McKinley during his court martial case in 1900 for being intoxicated on duty. Roosevelt suspects that if Hourigan has remained sober, that he can probably “restore him his numbers.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-07
President Roosevelt writes Senator Hale (the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs in the Senate) looking to clarify recent comments by the president which he feels have been interpreted incorrectly. Roosevelt states that he is in favor of authorizing more than one naval ship per year, and that his recent comments on the topic were misconstrued. Roosevelt notes that he had “limited myself to asking one ship a year” believing that was Hale’s desire, but closes by noting, “Of course my desire is for that ship, and another.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-07
President Roosevelt will appoint Admiral Sampson’s son, Ralph E. Sampson, and the alternate. He has the highest regard for S. Weir Mitchell, but Roosevelt does not think it fair that the sons of naval men should be passed over for Mitchell’s grandnephew. He desires that one or two Southerners be appointed to the military academies, and, in these exceptional cases, they may have to be the sons of men not in the United States Army or Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-01
President Roosevelt would like Reverend Doyle to recommend a Catholic, of not more than 35 years of age, who could be appointed as chaplain in the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-01
Carl T. Bauch explains that his son, Herbert W. Bauch, failed a makeup examination at the United States Naval Academy due to extenuating circumstances. He hopes Theodore Roosevelt will advocate for Herbert W. Bauch’s reinstatement in his class.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-07
George L. Hall asks Theodore Roosevelt for aid and advice after overstaying his leave from his ship, though he never intended to desert and will gladly serve 5 years probation. Hall believes all young men can benefit from the Navy and hopes Roosevelt might help him return honorably.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-02