Whiskey

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt is glad to know about the situation between Assistant Attorney General Charles Wells Russell and Assistant Attorney to the Department of Justice Albert A. Richards, as well as the situation with the labeling of whisky. Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte about keeping Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley on as a special assistant and appointing Special Assistant Attorney General James H. Wilkerson in his place. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edgar Alexander Mearns

Theodore Roosevelt believes that Edgar Alexander Mearns’ diabetes will not make any difference in regards to the Africa trip. Roosevelt agrees with having a case of brandy, a case of whiskey, and case of champagne in the medical stores.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edgar Alexander Mearns

Theodore Roosevelt wonders how much whiskey or brandy he should take for medicinal purposes. He also supposes that Edgar Alexander Mearns will have “small mammal traps and the like.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Homer A. Everest to Theodore Roosevelt

Homer A. Everest has invented a non-refillable bottle and an improved loom. He and his partner do not have enough money and would like to show Theodore Roosevelt their inventions in the hope he will be interested. Everest explains his family history to Roosevelt and decries the whiskey tampering occurring in Rhode Island, enclosing related clippings. He hopes to meet Roosevelt in Boston.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-19

Creator(s)

Everest, Homer A. (Homer Alvord), 1858-

Letter from Charles Petersen to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Petersen has just arrived in America from Denmark. He read an interview with US minister to Denmark, Maurice Francis Egan, that Theodore Roosevelt can offer employment assistance to any interested dane. Petersen hopes to find employment through Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-16

Creator(s)

Petersen, Charles

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge brings several small matters to President Roosevelt’s attention about Senator William E. Chandler resigning from the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission, interviews that Lodge has had with blenders of whiskey who feel they have been misrepresented by the journalist, Henry Beach Needham, and that Philip Hildreth Reade ought to be promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Army. Lodge also mentions that he gave an off-hand speech encouraging people to support the Republican ticket, but it had been misrepresented in the papers. The senator closes by including a quotation from a man who believed that Roosevelt was a drunkard and addicted to morphine and that his family constantly stays with him to prevent others from discovering his condition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on the trial in Idaho related to the murder of former Governor Steunenberg. After consulting with Calvin Cobb, owner of the Idaho Statesman, Bonaparte has directed United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick not to investigate any allegations regarding Steunenberg’s possible involvement in timber fraud. Any such involvement would be under the statute of limitations, and investigation of such would only help the defense case for those accused of Steunenberg’s murder. Bonaparte notes that if any reasonable evidence arose that Ruick was helping the defense, he would recommend Ruick’s immediate dismissal. He asks that if Roosevelt would like to speak with him for any reason, he should let him know. Otherwise he will stay in Baltimore and do work that he brought with him relating to the whiskey controversy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-29

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Henry Beach Needham to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Beach Needham relays a letter to President Roosevelt from R. M. Allen, an attorney responsible for the pure food law in Kentucky. Allen’s letter describes the “blind faith” that the American people have in Roosevelt and his advocacy for legislation, in contrast to their lack of appreciation of the need for local legislation. Needham urges Roosevelt to take advantage of this, making a statement in support of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act as laws safeguarding the rights of the American citizen. These laws represent the first instance that most people come into direct contact with the federal government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-17

Creator(s)

Needham, Henry Beach, 1871-1915

Letter from James Wilson to William Loeb

Secretary of Agriculture Wilson reports to William Loeb on President Roosevelt’s standing in Ohio, based on the opinion of W. I. Chamberlain, a farm journal editor who has visited every county. Wilson asks Loeb to inform the Roosevelt that he will be visiting whiskey distilleries and will be gone for a week.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-02

Creator(s)

Wilson, James, 1835-1920

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Charles M. Harrington

On Theodore Roosevelt’s behalf, Roosevelt’s Secretary thanks Charles M. Harrington for his letter and states that there is no truth in reports that Roosevelt “has taken to drinking and us[ing] whiskey immoderately” since Roosevelt “as a rule [] drinks tea and milk.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-08

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to L. L. Loar

Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary responds to L. L. Loar that Roosevelt does not drink whiskey and does not usually make speeches in churches on Sundays. Loar is referred to public libraries to read Roosevelt’s published speeches and addresses for his views on public questions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-07

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William J. Scott

Theodore Roosevelt tells William J. Scott that the intemperance story is false.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ferdinand Cowle Iglehart

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Reverend Ferdinand Cowle Iglehart for his telegram. Roosevelt explains that he drinks a minimal amount of alcohol primarily for medicinal purposes, and refers to his drinking in Africa to treat a fever.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Carroll R. Reed

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Carroll R. Reed that the statements of Roosevelt being drunk are false and slanderous.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edgar Alexander Mearns

Theodore Roosevelt has undertaken a libel suit against a Michigan editor who publicly accused Roosevelt of being a “habitual drinker.” Roosevelt would like Edgar Alexander Mearns to testify to the fact that Roosevelt “practically drank nothing during our African trip.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1913-02-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

President Roosevelt forwards Attorney General Bonaparte’s opinion on Frederick L. Dunlap’s correspondence about the whiskey question to Secretary of Agriculture Wilson. Although Roosevelt understands the opposing side’s view, he believes that Bonaparte’s take is decisive and should be upheld.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

President Roosevelt will not dodge the “whisky question” through inaction. He instructs Secretary of Agriculture Wilson to arrange the matter with Commissioner of Internal Revenue John G. Capers so that he can make a decision on February 15.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

The State Department will give Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou a copy of President Roosevelt’s memorandum to the Justice Department regarding whiskey importation. Roosevelt instructs Cortelyou to govern himself accordingly regarding the whiskey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou not to let any Canadian whisky into the country, as Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson has raised objections under the pure food law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou why the Internal Revenue Bureau has delayed the implementation of the Department of Justice’s decision on whiskey labels. A handwritten note from Roosevelt says that he feels the Internal Revenue Bureau needs to put the the decision into effect immediately.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919