Vatican City

Letter from Henry White to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador White informs President Roosevelt about American relations with the Vatican, including a controversial dinner White had with four cardinals in honor of Archbishop John Ireland. He says that some in the Vatican, including Pope Pius X, approved of the meeting, while others did not, given that the United States and the Vatican did not officially have relations at that time. White makes a number of other short remarks on various diplomats and the relationship between the Italian Government and the Vatican. White tells Roosevelt that Cardinal Merry del Val and the Pope both appreciated the signed photographs Roosevelt sent them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-27

Creator(s)

White, Henry, 1850-1927

Letter from Silas McBee to Theodore Roosevelt

Silas McBee tells President Roosevelt that his visit to Rome has been delightful beyond expectations. McBee has learned much first hand from both the state and the church, and he believes that the ultimate “problem” is one of human need and satisfaction. McBee had a candid and productive discussion with the King of Italy, noting his surprise at the king’s frankness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-25

Creator(s)

McBee, Silas, 1853-1924

Innocent Mr. Roosevelt

An article in the California Christian Advocate has published an article discussing Maria Longworth Storer’s attempt to secure President Roosevelt’s endorsement in a “scheme” to convince Pope Pius X to appoint Archbishop John Ireland a cardinal. Roosevelt did not give his endorsement because it would be improper to interfere in the official business of the Catholic church. Nonetheless, Storer “caused the impression to be conveyed to the pope that the President desired Ireland” for the cardinal position, although Pope Pius X denies this. The writer of the article believes Roosevelt to be “so open-minded, so sincere, so frank, that the Roman church has found him an easy mark for its schemes.” The writer goes on to accuse Rome of “defying” the President by trying to prevent the recall of Ambassador Storer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-22

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft forwards a message from Judge Ide, noting that Apostolic Delegate Agius denies that he complained to the Vatican about Alice Roosevelt receiving Gregorio Aglipay and Aglipayans (members of a national church founded by Aglipay, a former Catholic priest).

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-24

Creator(s)

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

Letter from Henry Adams to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Adams congratulates President Roosevelt on his maneuverings with the emperors and expresses his deep concern regarding a reported upcoming visit to Washington by Francis Augustus MacNutt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-06

Creator(s)

Adams, Henry, 1838-1918

Address to the Holy Father

This speech, created by the members of the Catholic American Pilgrimage of 1906, addresses Pope Pius X, and speaks about the state of the Catholic Church in the United States. Noting the large increase in the number of Catholics since the inception of the church in the United States, the group also speaks of the religious freedom present in the nation, and quotes Theodore Roosevelt’s support of both Catholic and Protestant presidents.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906

Creator(s)

Gabriels, Henry, 1838-1921

Letter from John Ireland to Theodore Roosevelt

Archbishop Ireland writes to President Roosevelt about the political process of completing the contract for the Friars’ land settlement in the Philippines. Ireland states that the only positive report of the process, besides his own, has come from the Apostolic Delegate Giovanni Guidi. The Friars and bishops are conveying contradictory, or negative information to the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Ireland requests that Governor Taft write to the Vatican and discuss how the effort is proceeding to support what the Apostolic Delegate and the Archbishop have reported.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-31

Creator(s)

Ireland, John, 1838-1918

Letter from Lyman Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Lyman Abbott offers to join Governor Taft and other American officials in Rome to assist in the negotiations with the Vatican regarding the “friar land problem in the Philippines.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-10

Creator(s)

Abbott, Lyman, 1835-1922

Chronology October 1858 to December 1870

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from October 1858 to December 1870. Notable events include the Roosevelt family’s involvement in the American Civil War, Theodore Roosevelt meeting John Hay as a child, and the Roosevelt family’s first European trip.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Creator(s)

Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association

Letter from Bellamy Storer to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador to Austria Storer informs President Roosevelt that Francis Augustus MacNutt has denied being dismissed from the American diplomatic and consular service. Although MacNutt was dismissed from the Vatican due to his misdemeanors, he wants to be reinstated there. Storer asks Roosevelt to look into the papers concerning MacNutt’s dismissal and wonders if Secretary of State Elihu Root has known about MacNutt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

Creator(s)

Storer, B. (Bellamy), 1847-1922

Letter from Maria Longworth Storer to Theodore Roosevelt

Maria Longworth Storer tells President Roosevelt that Francis Augustus MacNutt denies that he was dismissed from diplomatic service at the Vatican and has simply gone back to the United States to “rehabilitate himself.” Ambassador to Italy Henry White is friendly with MacNutt, though Storer hopes that Secretary of State Elihu Root can find proof of his dismissal. She also asks if she and her husband can be special envoys to Spain in the event of the wedding of King Alfonso XIII.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-24

Creator(s)

Storer, Maria Longworth, 1849-1932

Letter from Maria Longworth Storer to Theodore Roosevelt

Maria Longworth Storer has heard that Pope Pius X declined to promote Archbishop John Ireland to Cardinal after interference from Cardinal Raphael Merry del Val, who asserted that President Roosevelt had also advocated for the promotion of Archbishop John M. Farley. As Farley represents a “foreign and reactionary spirit,” Storer does not believe that Roosevelt would have asked for his advancement. If the assertions she heard are untrue, she asks Roosevelt to write the Pope to say so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-20

Creator(s)

Storer, Maria Longworth, 1849-1932

Fragment of a letter from David B. Ogden to Theodore Roosevelt

David B. Ogden insists on the innocence of Francis Augustus MacNutt, his cousin Margaret van Cortlandt Ogden MacNutt’s husband. Ogden notes MacNutt’s neighbors spoke highly of him and that Maria Longworth Storer’s statement was only believed because she stated that President Roosevelt was the authority for it. Ogden does not understand how the president has any personal knowledge of MacNutt’s disloyalty and argues against Roosevelt’s supposed position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-12

Creator(s)

Ogden, David B., 1849-1923

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

Draft of a letter dictated and edited by Theodore Roosevelt for Outlook editor Lyman Abbott. He wishes to address the “Vatican incident” and has the utmost respect for Catholics. A note at the end says this letter was dictated, perhaps while on a steamship from Alexandria to Naples.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1910-04-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from John Ireland to Theodore Roosevelt

Archbishop John Ireland congratulates President Roosevelt about the success of the negotiations with the Vatican over the purchase of the Friar’s land in the Philippines. Ireland provides evaluations of several politicians both in Minnesota and at the national level.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-23

Creator(s)

Ireland, John, 1838-1918

Letter from Frederick William Holls to Theodore Roosevelt

The Vatican is making an effort to join the Hague Convention and thus be recognized as a state and government by all signatories of the convention. Frederick William Holls argues that the United States should oppose this recognition and only give the Pope the same recognition as other religious leaders.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-14

Creator(s)

Holls, Frederick William, 1857-1903

Letter from John Hay to Theodore Roosevelt

The fears of Frederick William Holls are unfounded and Secretary of State Hay has no intention of diplomatically recognizing the papacy during President Roosevelt’s absence. Hay also comments on Myron T. Herrick’s confidence that he will be nominated for governor of Ohio and on relations with Great Britain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-16

Creator(s)

Hay, John, 1838-1905

Letter from Pope Leo XIII to Theodore Roosevelt

Pope Leo XIII thanks President Roosevelt for the gift of a collection of messages from the Presidents of the United States to Congress from 1789 to 1897. He also sends his best wishes for President Roosevelt and his family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-09

Creator(s)

Leo XIII, Pope, 1810-1903

Letter from Amasa Pierce Thornton to George B. Cortelyou

Amasa Pierce Thornton is organizing an effort to Americanize the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the Philippines that the Vatican will find acceptable. He wants an audience with Secretary of War Root and Archbishop Ireland. He wants an agreement that is acceptable to Root, Governor of the Philippines William H. Taft, the Vatican, and President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-30

Creator(s)

Thornton, Amasa Pierce, 1854-1917

Letter from St. Clair McKelway to Theodore Roosevelt

St. Clair McKelway writes to President Roosevelt regarding the proposed handling of the Manila problem in Rome. McKelway encourages Roosevelt to make the Vatican come to the United States and deal with the issues on American soil. Governor Taft is part of the delegation that will attempt to handle the situation. Rome regards the arrangement as an establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Vatican. Mssers. Ireland and Gorman are preceding Taft’s delegation to tell the views of the American government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-18

Creator(s)

McKelway, St. Clair, 1845-1915