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Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg writes to inform President Roosevelt about the formation of a “powerful London group” aimed at creating anti-German sentiment in the United States. The group emphasizes the danger of Germany as a world power and would particularly like the removal of Germany’s naval forces from the Far East.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-22
Ambassador Reid discusses his experience at the English royal court, explains the reasons for England’s reluctance to force conversations for peace between the Russians and Japanese, and relays information on the current relationship between Germany and France.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-17
Benjamin Ide Wheeler praises President Roosevelt’s diplomatic skills. Wheeler states the future of the United States will be determined by the countries across the Pacific Ocean instead of those across the Atlantic Ocean as it was in the founding of the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-16
Assistant Secretary of State Loomis writes to Minister Griscom informing him that President Roosevelt has advised Minister Takahira that it would be unwise for Japan to appear uncooperative in the upcoming peace talks. Loomis explains that throughout the conflict, Russia has appeared to be the difficult party. Roosevelt believes that it would be a “misfortune for Japan” if they were to “hang back” in the conference. Although Roosevelt regretted that Japan rejected the Hague as the place of meeting, he has arranged for the meeting to take place in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-16
Henry Rider Haggard writes to Theodore Roosevelt about a report Haggard has written which outlines and proposes a scheme that would benefit humanity, alluding to overcrowded cities and unoccupied lands. Haggard asks that Roosevelt keep the report confidential until it has been presented to Parliament, but to forward to Haggard any opinions and criticism of the proposal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-13
Hermann Speck von Sternburg discusses plans for the upcoming peace negotiations between Russia and Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-11
President Roosevelt urges Japan and Russia to negotiate for peace. Roosevelt believes Japan and Russia can meet without an intermediary, but offers to assist if the two nations would like his help.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-08
John Callan O’Laughlin relays concerns Count Cassini has in regards to President Roosevelt’s negotiations in the Russo-Japanese War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-08
Secretary of War Taft responds to a letter from Senator Lodge regarding treaties that President Roosevelt has given to the Senate. Taft breaks down Lodge’s questions about articles in the treaties regarding legal and constitutional aspects, and evaluates amendments that the Senate proposes to add. Taft points out that the treaties currently under discussion refer to previous conventions which established a Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and discusses how the powers of this court interact with the powers of the United States government, specifically with reference to the making and execution of treaties. Taft also encloses a memo by Judge Charles E. Magoon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-07
This document contains translated excerpts from eleven French and one Italian newspapers commenting on President Roosevelt’s letter to the French poet, Frédéric Mistral, and Roosevelt’s published speech, “The Strenuous Life.” The excerpts compare the different situations of the “young” United States establishing their own traditions, while “old” France is breaking down their traditions. Roosevelt is also compared to President Emile Loubet of France. The translated articles range in date from January 31, 1905, to February 9, 1905, and were compiled on February 13, 1905.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-13
Manuel Azpiroz requests a private audience with President Roosevelt in order to give him a letter from the President of Mexico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-21
Nicholas Murray Butler informs Theodore Roosevelt of the general good feeling towards Roosevelt at a luncheon attended by Butler and southern politicians. Butler stresses that Roosevelt’s standing in the South has greatly improved upon his reelection and suggests some steps Roosevelt can take to cement that relationship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-16
Finley Peter Dunne accepts President Roosevelt’s invitation and discusses the role of the Irish in American politics. Dunne is concerned about Roosevelt’s pro-English comments and expresses his disgust with the English government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-01
A Japanese woman holding an umbrella looks adoringly at an American eagle. Caption: Japan (to American eagle)–But how sweet of you to come all this way on purpose to see me! Eagle–Why, yes; I thought you’d be pleased!–Punch.
The context of this cartoon from London’s Punch magazine reprinted in an American newspaper and pasted in the White House’s cartoon scrapbook, is the port of call in Japanese waters of the Great White Fleet.
President Roosevelt in a special police officer’s uniform marches across the United States with his “big stick.” Caption: Why not make him special policeman for life with the United States, Alaska and the Philippines as his beat?
The context of this early cartoon of Jay N. “Ding” Darling is the contemporary speculative fascination over what the relatively young Theodore Roosevelt would do with himself upon retirement from the presidency. Cartoonists, as with politicians and the general public, spent time either wondering whether Roosevelt would reverse his decision not to succeed himself, or wondering about which of seemingly countless fields of endeavor the polymath Roosevelt would pursue.
The symbolic character John Bull gestures to President Roosevelt to come over to him. He stands beside a sign with a lion at the bottom that reads, “Precedent no. 1: ‘Once an Englishman always an Englishman.'” Roosevelt, on the other hand, stands on an area labeled U.S. with a tag that reads, “T.R. Champion Precedent Breaker.” On the left side stands Jamaican Governor James Alexander Swettenham who thinks, “Anything personal, I wonder?”
Sir James Alexander Swettenham was a member of Great Britain’s vast colonial diplomatic corps, in the days when the sun never set on the British Empire. He held posts in Ceylon, Cyprus, and Singapore, before being named Governor of British Guiana from 1901 to 1904 and Governor of Jamaica from 1904 until the time of this cartoon, 1907.
A “standpatter” points to an “American industries” baby in a cradle and tells President Roosevelt, “We must not neglect our child.” In the background, Uncle Sam carries a “Panama Canal Cream Fund” to the “foreign market.” A Republican elephant sits beside the cradle.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-04
President Roosevelt wears clothing with a number of states on it as well as “Alaska” and the “Philippines.” He holds “the big stick” and stands on a “Constitution of United States” door mat with a tag that reads, “my private door mat. T. R.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-19
Text of the speech given by President Roosevelt at the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in which Roosevelt discusses the history and reasons for American expansion.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1903-04-30
Arnold White writes about the international situation in Europe, addressing first Russia’s desire for a warm water port, and then his impression of Germany’s goals with regards to Europe. Germany, White says, is the only nation with something to gain from a European war, and that the push for war is coming from the Jewish influence in Germany. With President Roosevelt’s election and friendship towards Germany, the United States has been removed as a potential deterrent toward German aggression. White ends with a prediction that if war happens, it will come through German aggression towards the Netherlands moving towards a collision with Great Britain, and he admonishes his reader that Germany must be watched.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04