Vacations

President Roosevelt forwards to Attorney General Bonaparte the Interstate Commerce Commission’s report, letters, and a map on the Edward Henry Harriman matter. He suggests that Bonaparte publish the report at the same time he announces the law suit. In a postscript dated July 11, Roosevelt responds to a letter he received from Bonaparte in the meantime. He expects to be “in an awful row” regarding Ulysses S. Bratton. He discusses the timing of Alexander McDonald McBlair’s and Mary Tayloe Key’s marriage, as it relates to McBlair’s responsibilities in the Oregon land fraud cases. He praises Bonaparte’s handling of the tobacco case. Finally, he alerts Bonaparte that Senator William Peters Hepburn wants to speak with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt offers praise for Albert Shaw’s Political Problems of American Development and believes that everyone should read it. He asks whether Shaw has pressing business to discuss. He would prefer not to invite Shaw to Oyster Bay during his summer holiday, or he will be deluged with requests from others for the same opportunity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would like to know whether Elbert H. Gary really needs to see him, as Roosevelt would like to keep their number to a minimum to avoid breaking up his holiday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has enjoyed the book about Giuseppe Garibaldi that George Otto Trevelyan sent, especially as he was able to read it in connection with Pierre de La Gorce’s book on the history of the French Republic. Roosevelt says that since he has been at Sagamore Hill, he has been able to forget about all the stresses of office and go riding with his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. Roosevelt invites Trevelyan or his son, author George Macaulay Trevelyan, to visit at the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Charles Nagel that he will only have time for one stop in Missouri to meet with him and United States Circuit Judge Elmer B. Adams, after his trip down the Mississippi River.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt welcomes political cartoonist Homer Davenport home after a recent trip abroad. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt congratulates Secretary of the Treasury Shaw on his recent tour. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Henry L. Stimson for sending him a copy of William Randolph Hearst’s political platform, and instructs him to get “as good a rest as you can” during his vacation. He regrets he will not be able to join Stimson in a fox-hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt was interested to read Senator Beveridge’s letter, and wishes he could have gone on a canoe trip in the woods himself. He promises to speak with Gifford Pinchot and try to convince him to accompany Beveridge, although he cannot promise he will be successful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Robert Bridges for the gift of a book by Jesse Lynch Williams, and wishes him a pleasant vacation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit Roosevelt, who is currently on a trip in the Dakotas, and reminisces about his own time there. Life at Sagamore Hill is pleasant, and Roosevelt updates Kermit on the comings and goings and activities happening around the place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge about his vacation, and comments that “the secret service men are a very small but very necessary thorn in the flesh.” While they would not prevent an assassin, Roosevelt believes, they help keep sightseers away. Roosevelt will try to help the Congressional Committee in the fall, but feels that there will be a number of tough elections coming up.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt confirms receipt of Hollis Burke Frissell’s letter, but regrets that he will not be able to attend the meeting, and can neither write nor deliver a speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encourages Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte to take another vacation in August, and assures him that he feels that Bonaparte acted correctly regarding the “armor plate business.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he was shocked at how readily he took to having free time. While Roosevelt describes some of the various outings he has gone on with his son, Kermit Roosevelt, or his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, he comments that, “to-day, having no companion to incite me to anything, I just haven’t done anything.” He will do as Taft suggests regarding writing to Judge John Marshall Harlan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge about a recent camping trip he went on with some of his children, which they all enjoyed in spite of the rain. He hopes Lodge enjoyed his vacation. Roosevelt additionally recounts an experience he had riding his new horse, and tells Lodge about several visitors he had recently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt was pleased to hear from Jacob A. Riis, and was glad to hear about the Sea Breeze Hospital. He wishes Riis a pleasant trip, and hopes to see him when he returns.

(Riis was involved with raising funds for the construction of a hospital providing children with access to sea air, which was thought to be good for people suffering from tuberculosis.)

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-03

President Roosevelt wishes he could have seen Senator Platt before Platt left on vacation, as he would have liked to discuss the question of the New York judgeship with him. Roosevelt does not believe Robert C. Morris fits the requirements of the position, but is reluctant to appoint Charles M. Hough because of his ties with the Pennsylvania Railroad. Roosevelt comments on some other candidates as well, and guesses that he will be able to write to Platt on the matter more definitively in a couple days.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would like to be able to “get off into the woods somewhere for a holiday,” but does not think it will be possible for him to do so for a variety of reasons. Among other reasons, Roosevelt is cognizant of his time in the presidency growing shorter, and wants to make sure he is able to accomplish what he wants to. He believes Lyman Abbott is correct in his view of the Allison amendment, and says that it simply lists what Roosevelt has always maintained that the Hepburn bill contained. Recent discussion of the inheritance tax has amused Roosevelt, as there is already a law on the books which had been deemed constitutional by the Supreme Court several years ago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is pleased that James Ford Rhodes is able to take a break from his work and is planning to take a vacation to Europe. He hopes Rhodes and his wife will be able to visit the White House when they return. Roosevelt offers to write letters of introduction for Rhodes if there are any people in Europe he particularly would like to meet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919