PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT APPOINTS ELIHU ROOT TO BE HIS SECRETARY OF STATE

THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919). Roosevelt was the Twenty-Sixth President.

ELIHU ROOT (1845-1937). Root had a long and highly-influential political career that included terms as Secretary of State and Secretary of War. He was also a lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

DS. 1pg. 23” x 19”. December 6, 1905. Washington.  A large commission signed “Theodore Roosevelt” as President and co-signed by “Elihu Root” as Secretary of State.  The President appointed Elihu Root to be his Secretary of State.  Root has been the Secretary of War until 1904, when he returned to private practice, but return to public service in late 1905 when his predecessor, John Hay, died.  Root put the consular service in the civil service, toured Latin America in 1906, worked with Great Britain on the Canadian boundary, and favored arbitration in resolving international disputes.  The extremely large document has a large Roosevelt autograph in excess of five inches, a large white seal and very minor toning and edge tears creasing (mostly noted for accuracy).  Acquired directly from the Root family, this magnificent commission has never been on the market before.  Cabinet level appointments are rarely encountered.  Ironic how Root signs his very own commission!