William Loeb
When TR was NYS Governor William Loeb had been appointed one of his official stenographers.
On the night McKinley died it was William Loeb who met TR at the North Creek Train Station and delivered Secretary of State John Hay’s telegram announcing McKinley died at 2:15 Saturday morning September 14, 1901.
During Roosevelt’s White House years Leob served as his assistant secretary from 1901 to 1903 and then succeeded George Cortelyou as TR’s Presidential Secretary for the balance of his time in office.
Loeb had the ability to get things done without having to be given specific instructions. It was one of the qualities that enabled him to become a principal advisor who helped participate in shaping policy.
Acting as the President's public alter-ego, he unofficially became the nation's first presidential press secretary.
Acting as the President's public alter-ego, he unofficially became the nation's first presidential press secretary.
Loeb was empowered to speak for the President and reporters were able to contact him twenty-four hours a day.
Known to the press as "Stonewall Loeb", he was the one who controlled access to the President in an unprecedented fashion, dealing with the inquiries of most of the President's visitors without ever having to disturb him.
When Roosevelt took to learning Judo in the White House in March-April 1904 known as Jujutsu (jiu jitsu) Loeb was one of his training partners.
TR once described Loeb as "The best secretary any President ever had.” In addition, in his autobiography Roosevelt stated Loeb was responsible for starting the investigation into the frauds committed by the Sugar Trust in New York's Custom House.
He retired in Oyster Bay where he lived with his wife and son. He died Sunday September 19, 1937 in Glen Cove at age 70.
