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President Roosevelt wishes to speak to Captain Richard Wainwright, Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, and would like George B. Cortelyou to issue an invitation in whatever way would be proper, either directly or through the Navy Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-25
Theodore Roosevelt expresses his desire to have Lieutenant Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian and two others serve under his command should he raise a division. The others named are Lieutenant Roscoe and Wainwright.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-07-01
President Roosevelt writes to recognize the work of Commander William Sowden Sims, who has improved naval gunnery and military training in the course of his work as Inspector of Target Practice. Roosevelt makes clear that he will not seek to promote Sims against Navy regulation, however.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-27
President Roosevelt thanks Captain Key for his letter, which is in agreement with Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright’s letter. Roosevelt plans to send Key’s letter to George von Lengerke Meyer, soon to be Secretary of the Navy, for the comments on the General Board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-27
Given that Captain Royal Rodney Ingersoll’s opinion contradicts Captain Richard Wainwright’s, President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to submit any statement of Ingersoll’s to him before it goes to the Senate Committee. Roosevelt has “certain very interesting information” regarding the views of the Japanese military and naval authorities, which he will submit to Metcalf and the General Board confidentially after Secretary of State Elihu Root goes through it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-17
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Taft if Lieutenant John R. Proctor of the artillery can be kept in the Philippines since he is “now absorbed with the work” there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-05
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Richard Wainwright that pays tribute to the great service of Lieutenant Commander William Sowden Sims. President Roosevelt would like to reward Sims and requests suggestions from Secretary of the Navy Moody.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-05
President Roosevelt is pleased that he will be giving Commander Wainwright’s son, also named Richard Wainwright, a diploma from the United States Naval Academy. However, Roosevelt will be unable to attend the ball.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-18
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt appreciates French Ensor Chadwick’s letter. He will try to visit the New York Naval Shipyard shortly but does not think there is much to do. The change in command at the shipyard was certain “to produce hard feeling and bitterness.” Roosevelt disavows Chadwick’s statement of “if the present arrangement stands.” Unless Francis T. Bowles does badly, there will not be another change, and Roosevelt will not return to the previous arrangement. Roosevelt does not want to grant a court of inquiry as he doubts any good will come of it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-13
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt shares with Secretary of the Navy Long that many are frantic about Francis T. Bowles being put in charge. There is a call for a court of inquiry which Roosevelt finds pointless and will not grant unless Long directs him to. He enjoyed and profited from his time with the squadron and will write a full report later. Roosevelt recently talked to John A. Howell about the Armor Board, which is a more expensive task than Congress thinks. He comments on several other matters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt updates Secretary of the Navy Long on several issues. He agrees with Long about the Bureau of Yards and Docks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-06
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Admiral Bunce either French Ensor Chadwick or Richard Wainwright will be on the board. Roosevelt will involve the Bureau of Navigation as acting Secretary of the Navy, but would prefer to do so only if Secretary of the Navy Long would leave the decision overruled upon his return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-23
Edward Leon inquires from Theodore Roosevelt help regarding his son, who desires to enroll into the Academy of Annapolis. Leon’s son is an educated man who studied at the University of France and decided to become a Navy man after a positive experience with Richard Wainwright’s squadron.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-22
Rear Admiral Sperry responds to President Roosevelt’s intent to send an official letter of praise to the Navy Department regarding Sperry’s command of the Great White Fleet. Sperry suggests including additional highlights of his career, such as his contribution to the discussion of maritime law at the second Hague Peace Conference in 1907. Sperry expresses a desire to retire from his commander duties and be appointed to an internal waterways commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-25
Albert L. Key notes that the legislation regarding line officers that President Roosevelt has called for is “essential for the efficiency of the fleet,” and that those who oppose it stand to lose something. He submits a memorandum outlining an updated procedure to include in the new operation which would give officers confidential warnings before they were dismissed from duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-11
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf informs Senator Hale of the Committee on Naval Affairs about the circumstances leading to the approval of the plans for the battleships Delaware and North Dakota. Metcalf explains that the designs received consideration from many different sources, including the board on construction, the special board on designs, and the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Metcalf was subsequently notified that there was some concern regarding the armor belt on these ships, but consulted with several sources and determined that the armor plating on the ships as designed seemed to be sufficient. He also invites Hale to examine some plans for a new type of ship that is to be used for scouting purposes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-09
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte asks President Roosevelt for his advice on two instances regarding promotions within the Navy. Bonaparte also includes a handwritten note because he had forgotten to inform Roosevelt during their meeting that he would be speaking in Chicago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-07
James R. Reckner recounts the voyage of the Great White Fleet from December 1907 to February 1909. Reckner looks at the many ports of call made by the flotilla, and he notes some of the entertainment, ceremonies, and honors accorded the fleet as it made its way around the globe. Reckner highlights a change of command necessitated by the poor health of Admiral Robley D. Evans, and he emphasizes the difficulties faced by the ships by a lack of adequate coal supplies at various points in the cruise. Reckner also describes how a part of the fleet came to the aid of Messina, Sicily in the aftermath of an earthquake, and he outlines how important the voyage was to the relationship between the United States and Japan.
The article includes twenty-seven images from the Great White Fleet collection of Bill Stewart, including twenty photographs, five souvenirs, and two postcards.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2008
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs interviews a number of naval officers on some alleged defects in the construction of several battleships now being built. Chief among these concerns are the questions of the placement of the armor belt, the positions of the guns, and the design of the hoists to provide the turrets with ammunition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
Edith Roosevelt’s fever is returning and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt is calling in Dr. Osler from Baltimore. Roosevelt was pleased to receive the informative note from William S. Cowles about the investigation into the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana, even though there is not yet any conclusion about the cause.
1898-02-25