Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James C. Martin
Subject(s): Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848, Catholics--Political activity, Catholics--Public opinion, Hale, Edward Everett, 1822-1909, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Political candidates--Public opinion, Protestants--Political activity, Religion and politics, Taft, Charles Phelps, 1843-1929, Taft, Helen Herron, 1861-1943, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Unitarians--Political activity, United States
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Following William H. Taft’s election as president, President Roosevelt responds to James C. Martin’s letter stating that many voters would not support Taft because of his Unitarian religion and perceived sympathy with Catholics. Roosevelt takes the opportunity to broadly state that he believes that the faith of political candidates is a personal matter that voters should not take into account. He believes that voting for candidates based on their religion violates the principles of religious freedom that America is founded upon.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-11-06
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Martin, James C. (James Clinton), 1849-1918
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Page Count
8
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James C. Martin. [November 6, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302693. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James C. Martin. [6 Nov. 1908]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302693.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1908, November 6]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James C. Martin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302693.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
