Theodore Roosevelt Event Timeline

Theodore Roosevelt (26) Event Timeline

09/14/1901 – 03/04/1909

06/18/1900

Nomination for Vice Presidency

11/06/1900

Election Day

1901

09/06/1901

President McKinley shot at Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, while Roosevelt is hiking in the Adirondacks.

09/14/1901

Theodore Roosevelt Takes Office following the death of William McKinley; youngest person to take office as president.

10/16/1901

President Roosevelt invites Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House.  Southerners are upset by what is said to be “an intended insult to the South. . . and as a threat of social equality. . . “ (Washington Times, 10/19/1901)  An initial report was that this dinner signalled that the President would “make somewhat more vigorous mention in his message to Congress of lynch and mob law than have his predecessors.” (Washington Times, 10/18/1901)

11/18/1901

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty signed with Great Britain, giving the US the right to create and control an Isthmian canal. Abrogated Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850. Referred to Senate, 12/04/1901

12/03/1901

First State of the Union Message to Congress;  calls for regulation of trusts, conservation, enlarged navy, extension of civil service.

12/16/1901

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty is ratified by the Senate.

1902

03/06/1902

Signs Permanent Census Bureau Act

03/08/1902

Signs Philippine Tariff Act (32 Stat 54), confirming actions of the Philippine Commission.

04/29/1902

Signs extension of the Chinese Exclusion Act (32 Stat 176) (“An Act to prohibit the coming into and to regulate the residence within the United States, its Territories, and all territory under its jurisdiction, and the District of Columbia, of Chinese and persons of Chinese descent”)

05/12/1902

Pennsylvania Coal Miners Strike organized by the United Mine Workers of America.

05/22/1902

Signs legislation creating Crater Lake National Park in Oregon

05/22/1902:

By proclamation creates the Yellowstone Forest Reserve and the Teton Forest Reserve

06/07/1902

Orders Investigation of Coal Strike

06/17/1902

Signs the Newlands Reclamation Act (32 Stat 388); revenues from public land sales in western states may be used to fund water storage and irrigation projects.

06/28/1902

Signs the Isthmian Canal Act (32 Stat 481), providing funds for acquiring the assets of the New Panama Canal Company, of France, and land from Columbia, constructing a canal in Panama.

07/01/1902

Signs the Philippine Government Act (32 Stat 691)

10/03/1902

In response to Anthracite Coal Strike, Roosevelt convenes a conference in Washington DC while the White House was undergoing renovation.  Roosevelt stated that he had no authority to intervene in the strike, but regarded the situation as intolerable.  This is the first time a president intervenes in an industrial dispute.  Roosevelt later released a transcript of the meeting to the press, to the detriment of the mine owners.

12/02/1902

Second Annual State of the Union Message

1903

02/12/1903

Signs Act (32 Stat 825) increasing salaries of Supreme Court Justices and other federal judges

02/14/1903

Signs the Act (32 Stat 825) establishing the Department of Commerce and Labor.  This agency received offices from the Treasury (Light Houses; Steamboat Inspection Service; Bureau of navigation; National Bureau of Standards; Coast and Geodetic Survey; Commissioner-General of Immigration; Bureau of Statistics. From the Department of the Interior:  The Census Office; the Fish Commission. From State Department: Bureau of Foreign Commerce. New Bureau:  Bureau of Manufactures.

02/19/1903

Signs the Elkins Anti-Rebate Act (32 Stat 847) (An Act to further regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the States), making it illegal for persons or corporations to “offer, grant, or give or to solicit, accept or receive any rebate. . . in respect of the transportation of any property in interstate or foreign commerce.”

02/23/1903

Champion v. Ames (“The Lottery Case”) decision of Supreme Court;  transport of lottery tickets is “commerce” and that federal regulation of interstate commerce includes prohibiting commerce.. 

03/14/1903

Proclaims Pelican Island, Florida as the first Federal Bird Reservation or refuge.  Roosevelt cites as authority an 1891 act permitting the President to “set apart and reserve” public lands wholly or in part covered with timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not.”  Between 1902 and the end of his presidency, Roosevelt established over 100 reserves.”

11/02/1903

Orders Warships to Panama to Maintain Free and Uninterrupted Transit Across Isthmus

11/02/1903

Panama declares independence from Colombia.

11/06/1903

The United States Recognizes the Republic of Panama

11/18/1903

Treaty signed with Republic of Panama for the construction of a ship canal.

12/07/1903

Third Annual State of the Union Message.

1904

01/04/1904

Special Message outlines activities relating to construction of an isthmian canal.

01/04/1904

In Gonzales v. Williams, the Supreme Court rules that Puerto Rico residents are not “alien immigrants” with respect to US immigration law (but are not ruled US citizens).

02/08/1904

Russo-Japanese War begins

02/11/1904

Proclamation of neutrality in Russo-Japanese War.

03/14/1904

In Northern Securities Co. v. United States, the Supreme Court Orders the Dissolution of the Northern Securities Company (a holding company) is an illegal combination in accordance with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act

04/27/1904

Signs Naval Construction Act (32 Stat 350) provides for increasing the Navy by constructing many new ships.

06/21/1904

Republicans Nominate Theodore Roosevelt by acclimation for President,  Charles Fairbanks as Vice President

11/08/1904

Election Day, Roosevelt wins defeating Democrat Alton B. Parker.

12/06/1904

Fourth Annual State of the Union Message. Announces policy of possible intervention in hemispheric affairs, the “Roosevelt Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. Demands that US citizens be according their rights when traveling "without regard to their creed or race; without regard to whether they were born here or born abroad."

Calls for compulsory school attendance laws for the District of Columbia, and for public playgrounds.

Suggests adopting corporal punishment to respond to "brutality and cruelty toward the weak," in particular "wife-beaters." He also calls for "severe child-labor and factory-inspection laws." Recommends against married women working in factories: "The prime duty of the man is to work, to be the breadwinner; the prime duty of the woman is to be the mother, the housewife."

Praises the work of the work of the Department of Agriculture in education of farmers and related research. Points out that individual states are not in a position to deal with "great corporations" dealing in interstate commerce.  This goal requires appropriate legislation. Commends to Congress the work of the Bureau of Corporations in examining possible corporate illegality.

1905

01/09/1905

Presidential electors cast ballots

01/21/1905

Temporary agreement with the Dominican Republic to undertake the “Roosevelt Corollary”

02/01/1905

Signs Act (33 Stat 628) transferring control of forest reserves (Bureau of Forestry) to Department of Agriculture; Gifford Pinchot continues as chief.  The Bureau becomes “The Forest Service” as of July 1, 1905.

02/08/1905

Electoral votes counted in Congress

03/04/1905

Inaugural Address.  “Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shirk neither. We have become a great nation, forced by the fact of its greatness into relations with the other nations of the earth, and we must behave as beseems a people with such responsibilities.”

03/17/1905

Attends wedding of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City.

04/04/1905 – 05/10/1905

Speaking tour including the states of Kentucky, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa.

05/17/1905

Lochner v. New York.  Supreme Court holds that states limitations on working hours are unconstitutional;  the due process clause of the 14^th Amendment protects the individual right to freedom of contract.

06/01/1905

About this time, identical diplomatic messages conveyed inviting Japanese and Russians to engage in peace talks.

06/27/1905

Industrial Workers of the World Union established in Chicago

07/11/1905

Meeting of Black intellectuals at Niagara Falls demands racial equality;  beginning of the “Niagara Movement,” predecessor of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

08/04/1905

Calls for a report from the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service on yellow fever outbreak in New Orleans. 

08/05/1905

Russo-Japanese Peace talks begin at Oyster Bay, N.Y., peace talks begin at Portsmouth NH 08/09/1905

09/05/1905

Russia and Japan sign the Portsmouth Treaty ending the Russo-Japanese war

10/18/1905 – 10/31/1905

Speaking tour including the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana

12/05/1905

Fifth State of the Union Message to Congress includes urging reform of railroad regulation.  Asserts “we must reat with justice and good will all immigrants who come here under the law.”

1906

02/17/1906

Daughter Alice Lee Roosevelt is married; major news event.

04/14/1906

“The Man with the Muckrake” Speech.  “The men with the muck-rakes are often indispensable to the well-being of society; but only if they know when to stop raking the muck, and to look upward to the celestial crown above them, to the crown of worthy endeavor.”. . . “the wild preachers of unrest and discontent, the wild agitators against the entire existing order, the men who act crookedly, whether because of sinister design or from mere puzzle-headedness, the men who preach destruction without proposing any substitute for what they intend to destroy, or who propose a substitute which would be far worse than the existing evils—all these men are the most dangerous opponents of real reform.”

04/18/1906

San Francisco Earthquake. A massive early-morning quake is followed by fire and the loss of hundreds of lives.

06/08/1906

Signs the National Monuments Act (“An Act for the preservation of American antiquities" (34 Stat 225)). The President is authorized by public proclamation, to create national monuments, limited to the “smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the object to be protected.” 

06/16/1906

Signs Act (34 Stat 267) enabling Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona to form constitutions and be admitted into the Union.

06/29/1906

Signs the Hepburn Act (34 Stat 584), enhancing the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad shipping rates and enforce regulations.  In particular, the act was intended to reduce the bargaining power of large shippers and the Commission was empowered to set rates that it determined were “just and reasonable” (rather than any kind of market-set prices). The ICC was increased in size and members’ salaries increased. Passage of the bill depended on popular outrage toward the railroads. 

06/30/1906

Signs the the Pure Food and Drug Act (34 Stat 768) prohibiting the manufacturing and sale of poisonous foods, drugs, or medicines.

08/12/1906

Brownsville Incident involving accusations of murder against African-American “Buffalo Soldiers” stationed at Fort Brown.  On 11/05/1906, Roosevelt ordered 167 soldiers of the 25^th U.S. Regiment dishonorably discharged.  This action was quite controversial at the time.  On Septenber 24, 1972, the Secretary of the Army Robert Froehlke reversed that order, changing the discharges to Honorable.

09/14/1906

Asserts rights under existing treaty to intervene in Cuba.

09/22/1906

Atlanta GA race riot.  “Roosevelt remained silent on the massacre.”

11/09/1906

11/26/1906 Visits Panama to inspect the building of the Panama Canal.  First trip abroad by a US President.

12/03/1906

Sixth Annual Message to Congress. Includes call for prohibiting corporate contributions to political campaigns and reforms to federal criminal law. Observes that "lynching represents by just so much a loosening of the bands of civilization; that the spirit of lynching inevitably throws into prominence in the community all the foul and evil creatures who dwell therein . . .  " Immigrants "we must treat with justice and good will . . . " Particularly singles out hostility to Japanese, pointing out their gift to support recovery after the San Francisco earthquake. "To shut [Japanese children] out from the public schools is a wicked absurdity. . . " Urges Congressional action "specifically providing for the naturalization of Japanese who come here intending to become American citizens."

12/10/1906

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Russo-Japanese War. Roossevelt did not attend the ceremony in person but a telegraphed statement was read by the American Envoy to Norway. 

12/12/1906

Oscar Straus of New York City Confirmed as Secretary of Department of Commerce and Labor;  first Jewish member of any President’s cabinet.

12/17/1906

Message to Congress after return from Canal Zone in Panama.

12/19/1906

Message to Congress on discharge of soldiers in the “Brownsville Incident.”

1907

01/26/1907

Signs Act (34 Stat 864) Prohibiting “money contributions” to Federal political candidates by Corporations

02/20/1907

Signs the Immigration Act of 1907 (“An Act to regulate the immigration of aliens into the United States” 34 Stat 898).  Imposes a head tax on immigrants; excludes all “likely to become a public charge,” or who have contagious diseases; exceptions for professions, ministers, skilled labor.  Includes language blocking entry by individuals intially using passports to seek entry to some other country. The Act includes language reflecting a prior informal agreement between the United States and Japan linking Japanese limitations on immigration to the United States (by restricting passport issuance) and ending racial segregation in San Francisco public schools. This informal agreement is known as the “Gentlemen’s Agreement.”

03/02/1907

Issues 14 proclamations establishing forest reserves in certain Western states

03/04/1907

Signs the Department of Agriculture appropriations bill (34 Stat 1271) (which included the Forest Service) that included this language:  “hereafter no forest reserve shall be created, nor shall any additions be made to one heretofore created within-the limits of the States of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, or Wyoming, except by Act of Congress.”  That language motivated the block of forest reserve proclamations on 03/02.

10/22/1907

The Panic of 1907 destabilizes the American financial system; stock market crashes.

10/23/1907

Attempts to dissipate rumors of a financial crash

11/16/1907

Oklahoma becomes a state

12/03/1907

Seventh Annual Message to Congress

12/16/1907

US battle fleet of 16 battleships (“Great White Fleet”) begins extended trip in Pacific Ocean and on around the globe.

1908

01/11/1908

Grand Canyon declared National Monument

05/13/1908

Governors’ Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources meets at the White House.  Organized substantially by Gifford Pinchot.

05/28/1908

Signs child labor law for the District of Columbia (35 Stat 420); forbids employment to children under age 14.

06/08/1908

Appoints National Conservation Commission; includes members of Congress as well as Executive Branch officials.

06/16/1908

William Howard Taft nominated for President at Republican Convention.

08/10/1908

Appoints Commission on Country Life

10/01/1908

Ford introduces the Model T automobile.

11/03/1908

William Howard Taft is elected President

12/08/1908

Eighth State of the Union Message to Congress

12/14/1908

Electors cast ballots

12/15/1908

In Special Message, asks for Congressional investigation of claims by a New York newspaper, The World, (edited by Joseph Pulitzer) that there was corruption involved in acquiring French rights to the Panama Canal. 

1909

01/06/1909

Electoral votes counted in Congress

01/22/1909

Submits, as Special Message to Congress, the Report of the National Conservation Commission.

02/09/1909

Submits as Special Message to Congress the report of the Commission on Country Life.

02/12/1909

African-American leaders launch the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

02/17/1909

Pulitzer indicted for criminal libel.

02/22/1909

Reviews “Great White Fleet” upon its return to Hampton Roads, VA.

03/04/1909

Signs Appropriations Act that includes an increase in the salary of the President from $50,000 to $75,000.