Your TR Source
President Roosevelt is disappointed that the situation in the Philippines has convinced William H. Taft to remain as Governor of the Philippines and not accept an upcoming vacancy on the United States Supreme Court. However, Roosevelt admires Taft for his decision.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-29
President Roosevelt suggests Lloyd Wheaton Bowers for a position in the Philippines as Bowers’s views would likely align with Governor Taft’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-08
There will be a vacancy on the Supreme Court in January and President Roosevelt would like to appoint Governor Taft if he still desires a judicial career.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-25
President Roosevelt wants to move forward on the friars issue because the Catholic population and most of the Catholic authorities are against the friars. Roosevelt also supports Governor Taft’s plans regarding schools in the Philippines. Taft has been previously considered for appointment to the Supreme Court and Roosevelt would like to have him appointed because he believes that Taft can do more good in the Supreme Court than as governor of the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-21
President Roosevelt encloses documents recommending Leahy for a legal position in the Philippines. Leahy is a Catholic, speaks Spanish, and served as a Rough Rider.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-26
There has been a great deal of Catholic opposition in the United States to William H. Taft’s negotiations with the Holy See regarding the withdrawal of the friars from the Philippines. President Roosevelt fears that the situation will be damaging politically but understands that little can currently be done. Roosevelt agrees that teachers in the Philippines should not express their religious preferences and he does not want any more clergymen appointed as teachers. Roosevelt would also like to appoint a Catholic to the Philippine Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-31
President Roosevelt suggests that Governor Taft make his return to the Philippines overland through Russia and Manchuria.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-12
President Roosevelt sends his sympathy that William H. Taft’s son has come down with scarlet fever.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-24
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-11-26
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt regrets to inform Judge William H. Taft of W. Hallett Phillips’s death due to drowning after being knocked into the water by the yacht’s boom. Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge is deeply affected by Phillips’s death, and Roosevelt dreads informing Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. Phillips was a kindly soul who did not think of himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks William H. Taft for his condolences regarding the death of W. Hallett Phillips. Roosevelt praises Phillips as a great man. The Roosevelt family and Phillips’ friends are thankful to hear from those who also knew and loved him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-05-18
Minister Bartlett of the First Presbyterian Church in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, requests President Taft’s help to raise money for his indebted church.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-21
J. J. Russell encourages President Taft to withdraw from the presidential race as the Republican vote will be split and Governor Wilson, William Jennings Bryan, and the Democrats will win. Since Theodore Roosevelt will not withdraw, Taft must leave the race to maintain Republican leadership of the country. Such an act will place Taft in an excellent position for the 1916 presidential election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-27
Charles E. Landis is interested in President Taft’s intentions regarding the Ohio delegates-at-large since Theodore Roosevelt won the Ohio primary. Landis believes that Taft should release the delegates and recommend that they support Roosevelt in order to reflect the will of the people of Ohio. Roosevelt performed a similar action in Massachusetts when the state supported Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-05
L. Martin encourages President Taft to leave the presidential race as he no longer has the support of the people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-13
Herman Geschke sends a rambling, profane letter to William H. Taft accusing him, Theodore Roosevelt, and Robert M. La Follette of conspiring to murder him to conceal his “six year wrongful impressment.” According to the letter, Geschke was warned by the Madison, Wisconsin, chief of police not to send Taft more letters full of “insanity,” but Geschke was not arrested as threatened.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-18
Joseph St. Julien Yates is dissatisfied with President Taft’s denial of charges leveled at Henry Lincoln Johnson and Benjamin Davis, both of whom are Taft delegates in Georgia. Yates questions whether the charges have been investigated or dismissed and is distressed that Taft would be represented by such characters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-06
W. J. Oliver extends his sympathy to President Taft upon the death of Major Butt, Taft’s military aide. Butt was lost during the sinking of RMS Titanic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-18
Joseph St. Julien Yates reveals the fraudulent methods that Taft supporters are using in Georgia to secure Taft delegates to the Republican National Convention. Yates is confident in President Taft’s “purity of character” and hopes that he will repudiate such tactics and men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-15
Norman H. White contends that steamers paralleling railroad routes are contrary to the Sherman Act. He finds it odd that the case would be pursued by the Roosevelt administration and then dropped by President Taft and Attorney General Wickersham. White would like to hear Taft’s or Wickersham’s views on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-08