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Benjamin B. Odell has two heads as he acts in the capacity of “Governor” of New York and as “Chairman Rep. State Com.” The governor side wields a quill pen labeled “Veto Power” over papers labeled “Legislative favors,” and the chairman side holds out a tin cup labeled “Campaign Contributions.” Caption: The latest thing in political monstrosities.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1904-04-13
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Colquitt for his letter and for his interesting veto measure. Roosevelt has compared the attitudes of people in Texas towards the initiative, referendum, and recall to the attitudes of people in Arizona and other western states. Roosevelt assures Colquitt that the people of New York feel the same as the people of Texas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-21
President Roosevelt feels that his water power bill veto was more important than his census bill veto. However, Roosevelt still views the census bill veto as important, and briefly outlines why he pursued this strategy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-06
President Roosevelt thanks his son Ted Roosevelt for the letter he wrote about his brother, Quentin Roosevelt, and compliments his judgement on the matter. He applauds Ted for his words about Governor George L. Lilley’s inauguration, and discusses his current frustrations with Congress. While he will have to veto a few bills, he does not think too much damage will be done, since he is so close to leaving office. Roosevelt is also sore from his ninety-eight mile ride the day prior, but he will be “full of light” at the upcoming diplomatic dinner later that evening.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-14
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on recent happenings as he concludes his presidency. Irritated by the negative reaction to his “moderate” physical exercise order, Roosevelt recounts his recent, one-day ninety mile ride out to Warrenton, Virginia, which he hoped “would put a stop to any grumbling.” He also discusses the state of his relationship with Congress, which has soured as he nears the end of his term. Roosevelt does not expect to pass any legislation this winter, and, as such, feels that Congress cannot do him much harm. To conclude, Roosevelt fondly reflects on his presidency, noting that he and his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, have enjoyed the White House “more than any President and his wife,” but are content and willing to leave it for a life of happiness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-14
President Roosevelt addresses the current state of legislation in Congress regarding federal oversight of combinations. He informs Seth Low that he would be forced to veto certain measures brought forth by Congressmen who have been speaking with Victor Morawetz, who is counsel for J. P. Morgan. If necessary, Roosevelt will make his views clear in a message to Congress. Although some of the proposed work could be done by the courts, Roosevelt cites the work of the Interstate Commerce Commission as an illustration of why supervisory power should lie with the executive branch.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-01
President Roosevelt tells Richard Henry Dana that, regarding the census bureau, he intends to use his veto powers or perform some other political maneuver. He also mentions conferring with William Dudley Foulke.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-12
President Roosevelt has heard from Senator Robert M. La Follette that the bill Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock is currently considering will do “great injustice” to a number of Native Americans, and asks Hitchcock to report whether this is a large enough issue to warrant vetoing the bill. Roosevelt has also heard that an assistant of Tams Bixby, of the Dawes Commission, took a leave of absence to brief a law office, and says that if this is accurate “not only should the assistant be proceeded against, but it seems to me that Bixby should be required to show cause why action should not be taken against him.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-20
President Roosevelt praises New York Governor Wayland’s recent actions, in particular his veto of a divorce bill. Although Wayland has had “trials in plenty,” Roosevelt assures him that he is justifying everybody’s hopes about him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-24
President Roosevelt tells Judge Speer he could not find sufficient reason to veto the bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-06
President Roosevelt will let Governor Odell know as soon as he hears from Cornelius Newton Bliss about the matter. He is pleased Odell plans to veto the gas bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-25
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Ernest McGaffey’s view of the bill and would veto it if it was passed. McGaffey should keep that information private. Roosevelt also has enjoyed some “sea stories” from a “young Harvard fellow” named James B. Connelly and wonders if McGaffey knows him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-30
Henry A. Bier is grateful that Theodore Roosevelt vetoed a bill that would “give away” the Five Mile rapids power site. Bier is pessimistic about the current government’s willingness to act on this opportunity, but also offers a solution to get the project started. Bier believes that the locals would welcome the completion of this project and asks Roosevelt to comment on this matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-29
Governor Osborn sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of a message vetoing a bill allowing the Michigan Supreme Court Justices to live outside of Lansing, Michigan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-28
Governor of Texas Colquitt sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of the House Journal of February 20, 1911, with his message regarding the Texarkana Charter Bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-31
In a previous letter, President Roosevelt claims that his veto of the water power bill was more important than his veto of the census bill. Elbert F. Baldwin thinks this is the case in an economic sense, but thinks that the census bill veto was more important in a moral sense. Baldwin hopes that Roosevelt likes the commentary he wrote about these vetos for The Outlook.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-10
President-Elect Taft advises President Roosevelt to veto the bill in response to Congress’s refusal to put the Census Bureau under the Civil Service Act. Taft believes that vetoing it will help to put an end to the “pernicious spoils system.” Taft reports that Representative Joseph R. Foraker claims Taft and Roosevelt have taken money from an emergency fund unlawfully and has requested that they make their expenditures public. Taft details the expenditures he has made over the past four years from the fund, most of which covered his travel expenses. Taft reasons it may not be in the best interest of the public to reveal all of the expenditures, but recognizes that failure to do so would “create such a row.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-13
William Allen White was pleased by what President Roosevelt told him about Associate Justice William H. Moody’s views. White believes that the courts should have some veto power over the legislature, but that this power should also be restricted. He believes that lower federal courts should not have the ability to to invalidate federal laws, and similarly lower state courts should not be able to invalidate state laws–rather, only the supreme courts of such bodies should be able to rule on these. In lower courts, laws are often objected to without proper investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-15
Portrait and description of Hon. James I. Roosevelt, United States District Attorney.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1860-01-28
Nicholas Murray Butler relates a conversation between himself and Professor Burgess about whether the Senate may amend a treaty and the right of a president to veto an appropriation bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-17