United States. Secret Service

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles J. Bonaparte explains the changing duties of the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice. Bonaparte notes that the department is becoming responsible for the detecting of crimes but has no dedicated force to do so. Secret Service agents and Pinkerton agents were simply on loan and answer to different departments. Since the ban by Congress of the use of Secret Service agents, Bonaparte believes a dedicated detective force should be created and based out of the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-14

Comment on the House debate of Friday, January 8th

John E. Wilkie reports on the recent debates in the House Committee on Appropriations surrounding the Secret Service’s payment and involvement in land fraud cases. Wilkie outlines and refutes the claims made by some committee members, including Representatives John A. Tawney, Joseph S. Sherley, and William I. Smith. He concludes with the observation that the committee members “alone were responsible” for the state of Congress and that “no executive officer” is to blame.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-08

Letter from Edward M. Pike to The Outlook

Edward M. Pike gives a statement to The Outlook, writing that he wants Congress to “wiggle” under President Roosevelt’s secret service plan but to also remember Roosevelt has the “almost unanimous” support of the people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-08

Report from William J. Flynn to John E. Wilkie

Secret Service Agent Flynn reports on his investigation into William G. Machris, who had sent President Roosevelt the photograph of a check the president had signed out of concern the photograph could be misused. Machris confirmed that as far as he was aware, this was the only copy of the check.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-24

Letter from James Rudolph Garfield to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Interior Garfield sends President Roosevelt the report on the murder of Secret Service Agent Joseph A. Walker, who was shot at the mouth of the Hesperus Mine near Durango, Colorado, while investigating coal land fraud. Garfield assures Roosevelt that the land fraud case will receive his personal special attention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

Telegram from Lucien C. Wheeler to John E. Wilkie

Secret Service Agent Wheeler notifies Secret Service Chief Wilkie of the murder of Secret Service Agent Joseph A. Walker at the mouth of the Hesperus mine, owned by Porter Fuel Company, near Durango, Colorado. Walker went to the mine with three other government agents, Callahan, John E. Chapson, and Thomas Harper to inspect the mine in support of a government case against the Porter Fuel Company. Walker stayed near the mouth of the mine while the other men went inside, and when they re-emerged, they found Walker dead of gunshots to the head and neck. Later, two men, William R. Mason and Joseph Vanderwiede, gave themselves up to the sheriff but claimed Walker was shot in self defense. Wheeler will keep Wilkie advised of developments in the investigation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-03

Letter from George T. O’Haver to John E. Wilkie

Memphis Chief of Police O’Haver feels it is his duty to write to Secret Service Chief Wilkie about an incident that occurred while President Roosevelt was visiting Memphis in October. O’Haver explains that while the police department was guarding Roosevelt, Secret Service Agent James Sloan acted disrespectfully and dangerously, and therefore he is not fitting of his position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-08

Letter from John E. Wilkie to George T. O’Haver

Secret Service Chief Wilkie congratulates Memphis Chief of Police O’Haver on the conduct of his force during President Roosevelt’s recent visit. Wilkie also requests an investigation into an incident in St. Louis, covered in the Washington Post, which Wilkie believes to have been improperly reported by one of O’Haver’s officers. Wilkie requests that O’Haver conducts a private investigation into the matter and provide the facts to the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-09

Letter from George T. O’Haver to John E. Wilkie

Memphis Police Chief O’Haver tells Secret Service Chief Wilkie that he has spoken to Detective Al B. Hurst, who denies giving an interview or any recollection of an incident in St. Louis during President Roosevelt’s recent tour of southern states. O’Haver recommends that Wilkie contact the reporter of the article in question and offers his further assistance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-15

Letter from John E. Wilkie to William Loeb

Secret Service Chief Wilkie tells William Loeb he will be out of town until the last week of August, but will arrange to have Mr. Moran make a preliminary survey of Provincetown, Massachusetts, prior to an upcoming trip. If Moran cannot make it, Inspector Sutton will be sent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-25

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge’s friend Arthur Lord, president of the Plymouth Pilgrim Society, asked Lodge to ask President Roosevelt if he might visit Plymouth while he is in Massachusetts to visit Provincetown. Lodge also tells Roosevelt about a journal he is reading about Andrew Hamilton’s travels through the northern colonies in 1744. Lodge thinks it is a good read and recommends it to Roosevelt. Lodge would like to speak with Roosevelt about the appointment of inspectors to enforce naturalization laws. Lodge opposes nominating from civil service lists, as the people on those lists lack the specialized training and qualities required to do the job. Finally, Lodge expects to be attacked in the newspapers for his stance on the merger bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-03

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge offers President Roosevelt his opinion as to the feasibility and advisability of employing the Secret Service in the investigation for the Brownsville Affair. Regardless of how it was managed, he thinks it is a bad idea. The case is so complicated already that the Federal presence is likely to inspire intimidation and perjury from witnesses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-25

Letter from John E. Wilkie to William Loeb

Secret Service Chief Wilkie tells William Loeb he is not inclined to believe the story in the enclosed letter from Illinois Governor Charles Samuel Deneen, but he will have it investigated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-21

Letter from James R. Sheffield to Theodore Roosevelt

James R. Sheffield invites President Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to stay with his family at their camp in the Adirondack Mountains. He explains the amenities, accommodations, and activities of the area. He believes that Secretary of War William H. Taft could easily visit so Taft and Roosevelt could privately discuss “Panama, Cuba, spelling reform or Harvard’s chances in England or any other equally important question.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-31

Letter from John E. Wilkie to William Loeb

John E. Wilkie, Chief of the Secret Service, responds to dissatisfaction regarding the agents stationed at President Roosevelt’s Oyster Bay home.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-17

Letter from John E. Wilkie to William Loeb

John E. Wilkie, Chief of the United States Secret Service, sends William Loeb a special report from Agent William J. Flynn saying that The Constitution Club will no longer use Roosevelt’s name after they had dishonestly listed him as an honorary member for promotional purposes. Wilkie informs Loeb that Flynn will continue to press club secretary Charles I. Bolles until he returns the letter to Loeb. Wilkie encloses an article about the club.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-15

Letter from William J. Flynn to John E. Wilkie

Secret Service operative William J. Flynn writes to Chief Wilkie regarding his investigation of the Constitution Club. Flynn spoke with the club’s secretary, Charles T. Belles, who said he misplaced a letter from President Roosevelt and admitted the club printed circulars containing Roosevelt’s name. Belles promised that Roosevelt’s name would not be associated with the Constitution Club and gave Flynn information about the club’s organization. Flynn also visited the printer of the circulars and spoke with the police to find out whether any of the club’s directors were known criminals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-14

Letter from W. S. Smith to Benjamin F. Barnes

W. S. Smith sends a United States Secret Service agent’s report on G. B. Hegardt, who was recommended by Senator Fulton as receiver of the land office at Roseburg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-03

Letter from James Wilson to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of Agriculture Wilson informs President Roosevelt that he has given the charges in the cotton matter to the Secret Service, dismissed the man who was under suspicion (Edwin Sanford Holmes), and sent the papers to Attorney General William H. Moody. He will help Moody push criminal charges.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-12

Letter from John A. Sleicher to William Loeb

John A. Sleicher sends William Loeb a letter received at his office. Sleicher suggests that Loeb either hand the letter to the Secret Service or destroy it because of its content.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-14