Letter from Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Bacon, Robert, 1860-1919, Ballinger, Richard Achilles, 1858-1922, Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Elections--Economic aspects, Hughes, Charles Evans, 1862-1948, International relations, Knox, Philander C. (Philander Chase), 1853-1921, Loeb, William, 1866-1937, National characteristics, American, Presidents--Election, Presidents--Public opinion, Presidents--Term of office, Root, Elihu, 1845-1937, Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Spencer, Selden P. (Selden Palmer), 1862-1925, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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Senator Bourne believes that President Roosevelt should run for a third term, and makes several arguments why this should be so. Roosevelt’s influence over the economy, his diplomatic abilities as demonstrated by his brokerage of peace between Russia and Japan, and his general popularity means that he should “sacrifice” himself for the country and obey the will of the people. Bourne argues that a win by Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan would result in years of business stagnation, that Secretary of War William H. Taft is not nearly as attractive to the people as Roosevelt is, that New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes could be a dangerous candidate, and that Selden P. Spencer is best ignored.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-06-20
Creator(s)
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
5
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 Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt. [June 20, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56293. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940. Letter from Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt. [20 Jun. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56293.
APA:
Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940., [1907, June 20]. Letter from Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56293.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
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. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
