United States. War Dept.

Theodore Roosevelt writes to the men who have volunteered for service in the firing lines during World War I to discuss his disappointment at being unable to join them, after President Wilson said Roosevelt could not reform the Rough Riders. Each man who was to be involved in the regiment can now join the military another way or serve his country in civil life. The funds that have been used for the regiment will be withdrawn and applied to another purpose. All four divisions would have sailed by September 1. Roosevelt challenges Wilson’s belief that the regiment would have only had a political impact and not contributed to the success of the war.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-05-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Secretary of War Taft writes to President Roosevelt about a controversy involving the Schuykill Arsenal, under contract to provide uniforms. It has been charged that the seamstresses are overpaid because they are veterans’ widows and children. Taft dismisses this charge. The arsenal won the contract by bidding lowest. However, as enlisted men must purchase their uniforms, Taft is concerned about the ethics involved in the current pricing contract supporting one group’s profits. Taft is concerned about the cost of the uniforms, which are paid for by the enlisted men.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-17

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-07-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Bratton, O. S.

Language

English

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Boughton, John W.

Language

English

Theodore Roosevelt is envious of Major Drain and wishes him good fortune. Roosevelt is not comfortable writing to the War Department on Drain’s behalf. However, he wrote Drain a personal letter which he is at liberty to use.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

The Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt refers G. R. B. Davies to the War Department at the direction of Roosevelt in response the Davies’ letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-06-01

President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Wright that it was unethical to allow Fassett to re-take the exam, as the War Department knew he was colorblind. Any single waiver of a disqualifying condition only leads to bitterness from others who have been turned down.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt will investigate Samuel S. Slater’s charges, but corrects him on his statements regarding any poor work on the Isthmus, and admonishes him for making such claims in a letter that will go to the War Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Wright to look into a matter personally. He instructs that the word “may” can be interpreted as the War Department sees fit. Wright can either grant or deny Representative Herbert Parson’s request.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs John Donovan, president of the Military Tournament Association, that while unable to attend the tournament, he will ask the War Department to aid in its success and has sent Donovan’s letter to Secretary of War Luke E. Wright.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Simon Bolivar Buckner that he has written to the War Department that he desires Taylor to sit for the next examination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt states that he wants all watchmen, lock tenders, and lock employees to be considered as covered by the eight-hour-a-day law. He wants Secretary of War William H. Taft to make exceptions only on a case-by-case basis, and the president desires that the number of all exceptions is reported to him. Roosevelt wants this policy to go into effect immediately.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is working to accomplish the things mentioned in Major General Wood’s letter. Roosevelt has shared the letter with United States Army Chief of Staff James Franklin Bell, who is in agreement. When Wood returns home Roosevelt would like to discuss the matter further.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt wishes W. Sloan Simpson luck with peccary hunting and encloses a self-explanatory letter from the War Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William Loeb explains to Representative Tawney that due to limited space, only a few of the various departmental assistant secretaries are invited to the Army and Navy Reception.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-21

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

President Roosevelt feels that Governor Johnson has made a strong case for Alvah Eastman, and has directed an immediate investigation and report from the War Department. He will ask the department to send their results to the Congressional Committees on Military Affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William Loeb explains to Mrs. E. A. Mower that she did not receive an invitation because she did not reply to the War Department’s inquiry and was, therefore, omitted from the list. However, he will ensure invitations are sent to her and her daughter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-12

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

President Roosevelt will do his best to secure tents from the War Department, but he will not speak at the church Henry St. George Tucker referred to. Both he and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt want to go privately to Brandon, Westover, and a third place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is attempting to send a warship to Natchez, Mississippi, for Mardi Gras, as Senator McLaurin requested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Senator Proctor that he could not ask General James Franklin Bell to waive his claim yet again, and the War Department felt like Brigadier General Stephen Perry Jocelyn’s promotion a few months ago was adequate. Roosevelt apologizes but notes that General William Spencer McCaskey and Bell would each have to be considered for a promotion before Jocelyn.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919