Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of War Taft a marked editorial and notes that he still has a “patent on certain social, artistic, scientific, literary and other issues.” He also observes in a postscript that there is a campaign prepared against Taft due to the government covering the majority of his travel expenses. Roosevelt believes that they do not have a leg to stand on regarding Taft’s visits to the Philippines or Panama but encourages Taft to pay careful attention to all of his expenses as such accusations could be very detrimental to his campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt and William Loeb both think Secretary of War Taft’s chances of being elected are improving. Removing Kentucky Collector of Internal Revenue Edward T. Franks is delicate, and Roosevelt will consult with Commissioner of Internal Revenue John G. Capers. Roosevelt will echo Taft’s statement on the Philippines. The financiers are now attacking the Great White Fleet’s trip to the Pacific. Roosevelt sends an enclosure exemplifying Lucius Nathan Littauer’s behavior, and he has heard there will be support for Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt updates Secretary of War Taft on his conversation with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou in which he made clear that the nominee for president will be chosen based on what is best for the party. Men from various states have contacted Roosevelt attempting to convince him to run again and expressing whether they would support Taft. Evaluating the potential candidates, Roosevelt focuses on Governor Charles Evans Hughes, who is the biggest potential threat. Roosevelt says that Bishop Charles Henry Brent recently delivered a ridiculous sermon on the Philippines and that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte has been doing well this summer despite his difficult work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft regarding the street paving contract, but will wait for Taft to return before making decisions. The New York papers disparage Taft and Roosevelt’s speeches. Roosevelt admires Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s Provincetown speech and sends it to Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Taft to thank William Nelson Cromwell for his “service to the nation” in negotiations with Colombia regarding payment for the Canal Zone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft and has removed the reference to receivership from his speech. The “Philippine question” is the only point on which he remains uneasy. He details his thoughts and concerns about the United States’ continued relationship with the islands, including their strategic importance in the event of a conflict with Japan and the issue of granting autonomy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft of a recent report comparing army and navy fire control. He is concerned by the army’s “backwardness,” as evidenced by the report. Until recently, the navy showed a similar deficiency but has since improved, as can the army. Roosevelt requests Taft take up the issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt returns the enclosures to Secretary of War Taft and agrees that George W. Goethals’ plan seems best. Taft’s speech is admirable, and Roosevelt hopes the Republican Party will choose Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt introduces Secretary of War Taft to his friend and editor of the Emporia Gazette, William Allen White, whom he can trust implicitly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft regarding the tariff and employee negligence. Secretary of State Elihu Root has not said anything concerning Taft’s travels to Siberia or Japan, and Roosevelt suggests Taft make plans to go. He asks if Taft can meet on Tuesday with Root. Later, the president wants to meet separately with Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that his endorsement by the Republican Party of Ohio is already having an effect on the New York newspapers, which previously had been supporting New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes for president in the upcoming election. Roosevelt advises Taft to not hurry election matters too much, but after his return from the Philippines he should make an attack on Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt complains about Senator Eugene Hale’s efforts to curtail the navy’s attempts to repair battleships, saying Hale thinks that by keeping the United States unfit for war with Japan, war will therefore be averted. In a handwritten postscript Roosevelt tells Taft to avoid talking about tariff matters for the time being.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt would not have advised Secretary of War Taft to take the position of refusing to compromise with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker but, upon reflection, considers it “one of those fine and manly things” he expects from Taft. Roosevelt recommends changing one sentence in his letter, which reads, “It may be quite true that a Senator may act on his own conscience.” Roosevelt believes it would be better to use the specific example of the rate bill where Foraker “acted so as to outrage the consciences of all the best men.” If Taft is not to be the president, Roosevelt hopes he will be Chief Justice or a senator from Ohio.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends reactions to three letters from Secretary of War Taft. Roosevelt approves of an address Taft is preparing concerning the Brownsville Affair. The president is also pleased by what Taft tells him of the proposed Constitution for Oklahoma in preparation for admittance to the union. Roosevelt believes Jackson Smith will have to be let go from his position as Head of the Department of Labor, Quarters, and Subsistence in the Panama Canal. Finally, the president approves of Taft’s letter to Clarence Ransom Edwards regarding opium and believes Lebbeus R. Wilfley has “made good.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt insists that the United States will not establish a protectorate in Cuba, but will keep its promise to leave the island as soon as peace and order is established and a new government in place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he would like the enclosed information from General Wood made public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that General Hamilton Smith Hawkins and his family have had “more than enough” favors in their details already. He encloses a confidential letter from Stevens. He also encloses a letter from Theodore P. Shonts regarding James Alexander Scrymser’s telegraph company. Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root both disagree with Shonts that the telegraph industry should be “thrown open to all people.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-26

Letter from William Loeb to William Howard Taft

William Loeb forwards Secretary of War Taft the recent letter that Chicago Record-Herald editor Frank B. Noyes sent to President Roosevelt concerning the Brownsville affair. Roosevelt would like an immediate report on the topic from Major Augustus Perry Blocksom.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt forwards Secretary of War Taft a letter from Bishop Earl Cranston, which itself encloses a letter from Benjamin S. Haywood. Haywood is the Superintendent of Methodist missions in Puerto Rico, and he asks Cranston if abandoned military buildings could be used for orphanages. Roosevelt endorses Haywood’s idea to Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-16

Letter from J. Sloat Fassett to William H. Taft

Representative Fassett asks Secretary of War Taft how long he will be in Oyster Bay, and if they could meet in person soon. Recently Fassett heard a rumor about himself in Buffalo, that he was in support of Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Fassett only supported Hughes against Frank Wayland Higgins and Benjamin Barker Odell. Before appointments are made for collector of internal revenue or district federal marshal, Fassett would like a meeting with President Roosevelt. At present, Fassett has not yet spoken with Senator Frederick C. Stevens, though he has seen Senator William J. Tulley who is undecided.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-01

Letter from John F. Stevens to William H. Taft

Chief Engineer Stevens writes Secretary of War Taft about a misunderstanding which arose during the visit of a Congressional delegation to the Panama Canal Zone. Members of the delegation complained bitterly about what seemed to them an arbitrary enforcement of the quarantine procedures intended to prevent the spread of yellow fever. Some even suggested that the delay was orchestrated to keep them from reviewing conditions in the canal zone. Stevens explains that, on the contrary, he and his colleagues were prepared to receive the party and accompany them over “all or any part of the work to explain details.” Both the visiting delegation and the receiving party are very disappointed with what occurred.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-28