Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt
Secretary of War Taft responds to President Roosevelt’s offer to appoint him to the Supreme Court as a replacement for Justice Henry Billings Brown. While Taft sincerely wishes to accept, he believes he should stay as the head of the War Department for the time being, given the situation in Panama and in the Philippines. He addresses several issues, including an ongoing investigation into possible misconduct in the War Department. He summarizes the great progress that has been made in the Philippines, as well as some of the challenges that remain. Taft feels responsible for these issues and thinks he would be able to help push through measures in the next session of Congress that would benefit the Filipinos. Given his reluctance, Taft proceeds to give his opinion on other potential candidates to the Supreme Court. He favors the appointment of Horace H. Lurton over William H. Moody.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-07-30