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President Roosevelt tells Senator Foraker that Puerto Rico is flourishing and the government’s laws are working well. He wishes Hawaiian and Alaskan laws were more satisfactory. He is very impressed by the work at the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-27
President Roosevelt describes his trip to Puerto Rico. They were greeted in Ponce by Governor Winthrop Beekman and Commissioner of the Interior Laurence H. Grahame then drove by car to San Juan. He describes the plants of the area as well as the character of Grahame and his wearing of a kilt. He comments on Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s hatred of car rides. In a postscript, Roosevelt describes his welcome to Puerto Rico by various military members.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-23
William Loeb, acting on the direction of President Roosevelt, acknowledges the receipt of papers from Acting Attorney General Hoyt concerning an application for a pardon, and encloses a copy of the letter Roosevelt sent to Puerto Rico Governor Beekman Winthrop transmitting those same papers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-27
President Roosevelt tells Archbishop Blenk that he hopes to keep Beekman Winthop in his position as Governor of Puerto Rico for as long as he will stay, potentially through the entirety of Roosevelt’s presidency. If Winthrop moves on, Roosevelt feels that Puerto Rican Secretary of State Regis Henri Post should be his successor. He asks Blenk to write to him confidentially if Roosevelt’s impression of Post is incorrect.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-11
President Roosevelt was pleased to read Minnie Rodey’s letter and is sure both she and her husband, Judge Bernard Shandon Rodey, will do well in Puerto Rico. He is glad her husband is out of the fight for New Mexico’s statehood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-22
President Roosevelt tells Harvard Dean Edgar Huidekoper Wells that his son, Kermit Roosevelt, is hoping to enter college at the same age Roosevelt himself did. Kermit wishes to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Theodore Roosevelt, by getting a tutor and compressing two years of schooling into one to make this possible. Roosevelt asks Wells for information on getting a tutor and outlines Kermit’s plan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-03
President Roosevelt has received both of Lyman Abbott’s notes, and hopes that he liked his recent speech. Roosevelt has heard good things about Everett W. Lord, Assistant Commissioner of Education in Puerto Rico, but says that in the matter of selecting a new Commissioner of Education he is inclined to listen to the opinions of those on the ground, such as Governor Beekman Winthrop, or current Commissioner of Education Roland P. Falkner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-10
President Roosevelt has received Senator Foraker’s letter and will take no action on future appointments in Puerto Rico without consulting him first. He asks if Foraker saw Puerto Rico Governor Beekman Winthrop when he was in Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-13
With a heavy heart, President Roosevelt reluctantly accepts John S. Elliott’s resignation as Commissioner of the Interior for Puerto Rico and thanks him for his service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-01
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte to inform various people that he is not able to grant their requests. He laments the “awful curse” of paperwork in both the army and the navy, and the tendency bureaucrats have to increase it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-25
President Roosevelt acknowledges receipt of the letter from Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico Larrinaga, and promises that he wants to do what is best for the island and will speak with Governor Beekman Winthrop regarding the matters Larrinaga raised.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
President Roosevelt informs Senator Foraker he has submitted the name of John Stuart Elliott to the Senate for Commissioner of the Interior of Puerto Rico. Although Elliott is Roosevelt’s cousin, he made the nomination based on Puerto Rico Governor Beekman Winthrop and Secretary of War William H. Taft’s recommendations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-04
William Loeb sends Secretary of the Treasury Shaw a letter of introduction written by President Roosevelt to Governor of Puerto Rico Beekman Winthrop for Benjamin S. Haywood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-22
President Roosevelt was pleased to appoint Beekman Winthrop as governor of Puerto Rico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-02
President Roosevelt was pleased to send Beekman Winthrop’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-27
President Roosevelt received Arthur F. Estabrook’s letter from Senator Hoar. He did not choose one of the officials from Puerto Rico because it would cause too much jealousy among them. Instead, Roosevelt chose Beekman Winthrop, a man he holds in high regard.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-23
Now that William Henry Hunt has accepted the judgeship, President Roosevelt would like to name Hunt’s successor as Governor of Puerto Rico as soon as possible. Of the four officials who have been recommended to him, Roosevelt believes Regis Henri Post to be the most suited for the position but fears naming him would cause “much heartburning and dissatisfaction” among the other candidates. Since Roosevelt is unwilling to promote anyone currently in Puerto Rico, he would like to appoint Beekman Winthrop, who was recommended by Secretary of War William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-21
President Roosevelt suggests Secretary of War Taft send a corrected copy of the speech he gave at the Kickapoo Club to the Outlook. They should inform Beekman Winthrop soon that Roosevelt would like to appoint him governor of Puerto Rico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-15
After consulting with Secretary of War William H. Taft, President Roosevelt has decided not to give the appointment to Beekman Winthrop. There are concerns about promoting Winthrop over others who have spent more time in the islands. Roosevelt has another appointment in mind for Winthrop.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-24
With William H. Taft’s information, President Roosevelt believes it would be a mistake to appoint Beekman Winthrop at this time. Roosevelt was impressed with Winthrop and accepts responsibility for offering Winthrop the appointment too hastily after William Woodville Rockhill declined it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-27