answeredhim，“ThetroublewithRodneyisthathemisestimateshisrelationstocosmos“；towhichheresponded，“Cosmos——Cosmos？Neverheardofhim。YousticktoRodney。He’syourman！”Outsideofthepublicservantsthereweremultitudesofmen，innewspaperoffices，inmagazineoffices，inbusinessortheprofessionsoronfarmsorinshops，whoactivelysupportedthepoliciesforwhichIstoodanddidworkofgenuineleadershipwhichwasquiteaseffectiveasanyworkdonebymeninpublicoffice。WithouttheactivesupportofthesemenIwouldhavebeenpowerless。Inparticular，theleadingnewspapercorrespondentsatWashingtonwereasawholeasingularlyable，trustworthy，andpublic-spiritedbodyofmen，andthemostusefulofallagentsinthefightforefficientanddecentgovernment。
Asforthemenundermeinexecutiveoffice，IcouldnotoverstatethedebtofgratitudeIowethem。Fromtheheadsofthedepartments，theCabinetofficers，down，themoststrikingfeatureoftheAdministrationwasthedevoted，zealous，andefficientworkthatwasdoneassoonasitbecameunderstoodthattheonebondofinterestamongallofuswasthedesiretomaketheGovernmentthemosteffectiveinstrumentinadvancingtheinterestsofthepeopleasawhole，theinterestsoftheaveragemenandwomenoftheUnitedStatesandoftheirchildren。IdonotthinkIoverstatethecasewhenIsaythatmostofthemenwhodidthebestworkundermefeltthatourswasapartnership，thatweallstoodonthesamelevelofpurposeandservice，andthatitmatterednotwhatpositionanyoneofusheldsolongasinthatpositionhegavetheverybestthatwasinhim。Weworkedveryhard；butImadeapointofgettingacoupleofhoursoffeachdayforequallyvigorousplay。ThemenwithwhomIthenplayed，whomwelaughinglygrewtocallthe“TennisCabinet。”havebeenmentionedinapreviouschapterofthisbookinconnectionwiththegifttheygavemeatthelastbreakfastwhichtheytookattheWhiteHouse。ThereweremanyothersinthepublicserviceundermewithwhomIhappenednottoplay，butwhodidtheirshareofourcommonworkjustaseffectivelyasitwasdonebyuswhodidplay。OfcoursenothingcouldhavebeendoneinmyAdministrationifithadnotbeenforthezeal，intelligence，masterfulability，anddownrighthardlaborofthesemenincountlesspositionsunderme。Iwashelplesstodoanythingexceptasmythoughtsandordersweretranslatedintoactionbythem；and，moreover，eachofthem，ashegrewspeciallyfitforhisjob，usedtosuggesttometherightthoughttohave，andtherightordertogive，concerningthatjob。Itisofcoursehardformetospeakwithcoldanddispassionatepartialityofthesemen，whowereasclosetomeaswerethemenofmyregiment。ButtheoutsideobserversbestfittedtopassjudgmentaboutthemfeltasIdid。AttheendofmyAdministrationMr。Bryce，theBritishAmbassador，toldmethatinalonglife，duringwhichhehadstudiedintimatelythegovernmentofmanydifferentcountries，hehadneverinanycountryseenamoreeager，high-minded，andefficientsetofpublicservants，menmoreusefulandmorecreditabletotheircountry，thanthementhendoingtheworkoftheAmericanGovernmentinWashingtonandinthefield。IrepeatthisstatementwiththepermissionofMr。Bryce。
Ataboutthesametime，oralittlebefore，inthespringof1908，thereappearedintheEnglish/FortnightlyReview/anarticle，evidentlybyacompetenteyewitness，settingforthmoreindetailthesameviewstowhichtheBritishAmbassadorthusprivatelygaveexpression。Itwasinpartasfollows：
“Mr。Roosevelthasgatheredaroundhimabodyofpublicservantswhoarenowheresurpassed，Iquestionwhethertheyareanywhereequaled，forefficiency，self-sacrifice，andanabsolutedevotiontotheircountry’sinterests。Manyofthemarepoormen，withoutprivatemeans，whohavevoluntarilyabandonedhighprofessionalambitionsandturnedtheirbacksontherewardsofbusinesstoservetheircountryonsalariesthatarenotmerelyinadequate，butindecentlyso。Thereisnotoneofthemwhoisnotconstantlyassailedbyoffersofpositionsintheworldofcommerce，finance，andthelawthatwouldsatisfyeverymaterialambitionwithwhichhebeganlife。Thereisnotoneofthemwhocouldnot，ifhechose，earnoutsideWashingtonfromtentotwentytimestheincomeonwhichheeconomizesasaStateofficial。ButthesemenareasindifferenttomoneyandtothepowerthatmoneybringsastotheallurementsofNewportandNewYork，ortomerelypersonaldistinctions，ortothecommercializedidealswhichthegreatbulkoftheirfellow-countrymenacceptwithoutquestion。Theyarecontent，andmorethancontent，tosinkthemselvesintheNationalservicewithoutathoughtofprivateadvancement，andoftenataheavysacrificeofworldlyhonors，andtotoilon……sustainedbytheirownnativeimpulsetomakeofpatriotismanefficientinstrumentofpublicbetterment。”
TheAmericanpublicrarelyappreciatethehighqualityoftheworkdonebysomeofourdiplomats——work，usuallyentirelyunnoticedandunrewarded，whichredoundstotheinterestandthehonorofallofus。
Themostusefulmanintheentirediplomaticservice，duringmypresidency，andformanyyearsbefore，wasHenryWhite；andIsaythishavinginmindthehighqualityofworkdonebysuchadmirableambassadorsandministersasBacon，Meyer，Straus，O’Brien，Rockhill，andEgan，tonameonlyafewamongmany。WhenIleftthepresidencyWhitewasAmbassadortoFrance；shortlyafterwardshewasremovedbyMr。Taft，forreasonsunconnectedwiththegoodoftheservice。
ThemostimportantfactoringettingtherightspiritinmyAdministration，nexttotheinsistenceuponcourage，honesty，andagenuinedemocracyofdesiretoservetheplainpeople，wasmyinsistenceuponthetheorythattheexecutivepowerwaslimitedonlybyspecificrestrictionsandprohibitionsappearingintheConstitutionorimposedbytheCongressunderitsConstitutionalpowers。Myviewwasthateveryexecutiveofficer，andabovealleveryexecutiveofficerinhighposition，wasastewardofthepeopleboundactivelyandaffirmativelytodoallhecouldforthepeople，andnottocontenthimselfwiththenegativemeritofkeepinghistalentsundamagedinanapkin。IdeclinedtoadopttheviewthatwhatwasimperativelynecessaryfortheNationcouldnotbedonebythePresidentunlesshecouldfindsomespecificauthorizationtodoit。
MybeliefwasthatitwasnotonlyhisrightbuthisdutytodoanythingthattheneedsoftheNationdemandedunlesssuchactionwasforbiddenbytheConstitutionorbythelaws。UnderthisinterpretationofexecutivepowerIdidandcausedtobedonemanythingsnotpreviouslydonebythePresidentandtheheadsofthedepartments。Ididnotusurppower，butIdidgreatlybroadentheuseofexecutivepower。Inotherwords，Iactedforthepublicwelfare，I
actedforthecommonwell-beingofallourpeople，wheneverandinwhatevermannerwasnecessary，unlesspreventedbydirectconstitutionalorlegislativeprohibition。Ididnotcarearapforthemereformandshowofpower；Icaredimmenselyfortheusethatcouldbemadeofthesubstance。TheSenateatonetimeobjectedtomycommunicatingwiththeminprinting，preferringtheexpensive，foolish，andlaboriouspracticeofwritingoutthemessagesbyhand。
Itwasnotpossibletoreturntotheoutwornarchaismofhandwriting；
butweendeavoredtohavetheprintingmadeasprettyaspossible。
WhetherIcommunicatedwiththeCongressinwritingorbywordofmouth，andwhetherthewritingwasbyamachine，orapen，wereequally，andabsolutely，unimportantmatters。TheimportancelayinwhatIsaidandintheheedpaidtowhatIsaid。SoastomymeetingandconsultingSenators，Congressmen，politicians，financiers，andlabormen。Iconsultedallwhowishedtoseeme；andifIwishedtoseeanyone，Isentforhim；andwheretheconsultationtookplacewasamatterofsupremeunimportance。IconsultedeverymanwiththesincerehopethatIcouldprofitbyandfollowhisadvice；IconsultedeverymemberofCongresswhowishedtobeconsulted，hopingtobeabletocometoanagreementofactionwithhim；andIalwaysfinallyactedasmyconscienceandcommonsensebademeact。
AboutappointmentsIwasobligedbytheConstitutiontoconsulttheSenate；andthelong-establishedcustomoftheSenatemeantthatinpracticethisconsultationwaswithindividualSenatorsandevenwithbigpoliticianswhostoodbehindtheSenators。Iwasonlyone-halftheappointingpower；Inominated；buttheSenateconfirmed。Inpractice，bywhatwascalled“thecourtesyoftheSenate。”theSenatenormallyrefusedtoconfirmanyappointmentiftheSenatorfromtheStateobjectedtoit。Inexceptionalcases，whereIcouldarousepublicattention，IcouldforcethroughtheappointmentinspiteoftheoppositionoftheSenators；inallordinarycasesthiswasimpossible。
Ontheotherhand，theSenatorcouldofcoursedonothingforanymanunlessIchosetonominatehim。InconsequencetheConstitutionitselfforcedthePresidentandtheSenatorsfromeachStatetocometoaworkingagreementontheappointmentsinandfromthatState。
Mycoursewastoinsistonabsolutefitness，includinghonesty，asaprerequisitetoeveryappointment；andtoremoveonlyforgoodcause，and，wheretherewassuchcause，torefuseeventodiscusswiththeSenatorininteresttheunfitservant’sretention。Subjecttotheseconsiderations，InormallyacceptedeachSenator’srecommendationsforofficesofaroutinekind，suchasmostpost-officesandthelike，butinsistedonmyselfchoosingthemenforthemoreimportantpositions。
Iwaswillingtotakeanygoodmanforpostmaster；butinthecaseofaJudgeorDistrictAttorneyorCanalCommissionerorAmbassador，I
wasapttoinsisteitheronagivenmanorelseonanymanwithagivenclassofqualifications。IftheSenatordeceivedme，Itookcarethathehadnoopportunitytorepeatthedeception。
Icanperhapsbestillustratemytheoryofactionbytwospecificexamples。InNewYorkGovernorOdellandSenatorPlattsometimesworkedinagreementandsometimeswereatswords’points，andbothwishedtobeconsulted。ToafriendlyCongressman，whowasalsotheirfriend，IwroteasfollowsonJuly22，1903：
“IwanttoworkwithPlatt。IwanttoworkwithOdell。Iwanttosupportbothandtaketheadviceofboth。ButofcourseultimatelyImustbethejudgeastoactingontheadvicegiven。When，asinthecaseofthejudgeship，Iamconvincedthattheadviceofbothiswrong，IshallactasIdidwhenIappointedHolt。WhenIcanfindafriendofOdell’slikeCooley，whoisthoroughlyfitforthepositionIdesiretofill，itgivesmethegreatestpleasuretoappointhim。WhenPlattproposestomeamanlikeHamiltonFish，itisequallyapleasuretoappointhim。”
ThiswaswritteninconnectionwitheventswhichleduptomyrefusingtoacceptSenatorPlatt’sorGovernorOdell’ssuggestionsastoaFederalJudgeshipandaFederalDistrictAttorneyship，andinsistingontheappointment，firstofJudgeHoughandlaterofDistrictAttorneyStimson；becauseineachcaseIfeltthattheworktobedonewasofsohighanorderthatIcouldnottakeanordinaryman。
TheothercasewasthatofSenatorFulton，ofOregon。ThroughFrancisHeneyIwasprosecutingmenwhowereimplicatedinavastnetworkofconspiracyagainstthelawinconnectionwiththetheftofpubliclandinOregon。IhadbeenactingonSenatorFulton’srecommendationsforoffice，intheusualmanner。HeneyhadbeeninsistingthatFultonwasinleaguewiththemenwewereprosecuting，andthathehadrecommendedunfitmen。FultonhadbeenprotestingagainstmyfollowingHeney’sadvice，particularlyasregardsappointingJudgeWolvertonasUnitedStatesJudge。FinallyHeneylaidbeforemeareportwhichconvincedmeofthetruthofhisstatements。IthenwrotetoFultonasfollows，onNovember20，1905：“MydearSenatorFulton：IincloseyouherewithacopyofthereportmadetomebyMr。Heney。IhaveseentheoriginalsofthelettersfromyouandSenatorMitchellquotedtherein。
Idonotatthistimedesiretodiscussthereportitself，whichofcourseImustsubmittotheAttorney-General。ButIhavebeenobligedtoreachthepainfulconclusionthatyourownlettersasthereinquotedtendtoshowthatyourecommendedforthepositionofDistrictAttorneyBwhenyouhadgoodreasontobelievethathehadhimselfbeenguiltyoffraudulentconduct；thatyourecommendedCforthesamepositionsimplybecauseitwasforB’sinterestthatheshouldbesorecommended，and，asthereisreasontobelieve，becausehehadagreedtodividethefeeswithBifhewereappointed；andthatyoufinallyrecommendedthereappointmentofHwiththeknowledgethatifHwereappointedhewouldabstainfromprosecutingBforcriminalmisconduct，thisbeingwhyBadvocatedH’sclaimsforreappointment。Ifyoucaretomakeanystatementinthematter，Ishallofcoursebegladtohearit。AstheDistrictJudgeofOregonIshallappointJudgeWolverton。”
IntheletterIofcoursegaveinfullthenamesindicatedabovebyinitials。SenatorFultongavenoexplanation。IthereforeceasedtoconsulthimaboutappointmentsundertheDepartmentofJusticeandtheInterior，thetwodepartmentsinwhichthecrookednesshadoccurred