Archbold, John D. (John Dustin), 1848-1916

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Abbott Lyman

President Roosevelt writes to Lyman Abbott that while they should not be aristocrats, they should be “gentleman democrats.” Roosevelt occasionally gets frustrated with the William H. Taft campaign, and argues for a more aggressive fight, especially against Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt discusses Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon’s error in requesting a contribution from John D. Archbold. The China article will count towards what Roosevelt has agreed to write for the Outlook, and so he returns the check.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends William H. Taft a copy of the letter he sent to Treasurer of the Campaign Committee George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign contributions, after a complaint from Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt asks Taft to take more aggressive action against William Jennings Bryan, perhaps giving a speech like the one recently given by New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Many have suggested that T. Coleman DuPont should not be in charge of the Speakers Committee, and if it were up to Roosevelt he would be removed. Roosevelt has given the press a copy of a letter from Taft to Arthur I. Vorys in which Taft’s independence is full display, to counteract the press coverage of the supposed reconciliation with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt advises Taft, in his speech, to speak about the connection between William Randolph Hearst and the Democratic National Committee. In a postscript, Roosevelt advises Taft to remove Sheldon if he did in fact solicit the donations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Rumsey Sheldon

President Roosevelt writes to Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign funds solicited from John D. Archbold and Edward Henry Harriman. As the head of the Republican Administration, Roosevelt expresses his disagreement with collecting money from anyone currently being prosecuted. He sends two letters that he wrote four years ago to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou, who was then chairman of the Republican National Committee, when money was contributed by Standard Oil. The first outlines the reasons that no contributions should be accepted which could be viewed as creating obligation to corporations. The second reiterates that the money should be returned especially in light of the public statements from Standard Oil about the company’s “political attitude.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt advises William H. Taft to publicly distance himself from Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, and to make it known publicly that Foraker has taken his negative position towards Roosevelt and Taft because of his own involvement with corporations, and not due to his feelings toward African Americans. For the good of the Republican party, Roosevelt feels that Taft must be strong in his resistance to Foraker, so as to show his opposition to politicians being bought by corporate interest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt explains to Lyman Abbott that the correspondence with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and John D. Archbold proves that Foraker is obscuring his true political goals. Foraker says he is against Roosevelt on issues related to African Americans, but this is actually a cover for his opposition to Roosevelt and William H. Taft’s anti-corruption stance regarding companies like Standard Oil.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to W. B. Winslow

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary defends Roosevelt’s rebuttal of statements made by Senator Boies Penrose and John D. Archbold. Such rebuttal does not indicate, as W. B. Winslow implies, an “inward admission that there may be something in what the other fellow is saying.” Rather, it is a necessary correction to false statements being made about Roosevelt. While Winslow asserts that no one believes Roosevelt has done anything wrong, Roosevelt’s secretary disagrees and asserts the importance of Roosevelt making himself understood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-13

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to L. Rinther

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks L. Rinther for his letter to Roosevelt. He agrees with Rinther that the corrupt practices of John D. Archbold and others are scandalous, trying to buy influence over Roosevelt by offering support for his campaign. Such actions have hurt those attempting them more than they have harmed Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-06

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to John Mulholland

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs John Mulholland that Roosevelt cannot choose who goes in front of the Senate Committee investigating the political contributions Standard Oil gave the Republican Party in 1904. Roosevelt only wants the facts to be known in the case. The secretary encourages Mulholland to continue talking with Walter F. Brown in order to do good work together.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-29

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Moses E. Clapp

As the Senate committee was unable to see him, Theodore Roosevelt offers his testimony in writing. He denies knowledge of requests for campaign funds directed at the Standard Oil Company for his presidential campaign of 1904. These requests supposedly promised lenient treatment and favors in exchange for large contributions. Roosevelt offers documentary evidence that in 1904 he instructed any money received from Standard Oil to be returned. Furthermore, according to campaign records, no funds were ever received from Standard Oil.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to John Callan O’Laughlin

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks John Callan O’Laughlin for the letter and telegram regarding John D. Archbold. Roosevelt has used the information in a press statement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-06

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Rumsey Sheldon

President Roosevelt chastises George Rumsey Sheldon, treasurer of the Republican National Committee, for soliciting donations from John D. Archbold and Edward Henry Harriman. Although Roosevelt is not the Republican candidate, he is head of the current Republican administration, which is prosecuting Harriman and Archbold. He notes the impropriety of Archbold and Harriman contributing to a candidate who, if elected, would name the Attorney General responsible for the prosecution. He includes the text of letters he sent four years ago regarding similar contributions from the Standard Oil Company, which he made George B. Cortelyou return.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Russell B. Harrison

President Roosevelt is glad to hear Russell B. Harrison’s views on the chances in Indiana. He also says that Delavan Smith of the Indianapolis News is a “lying blackguard” who is behaving exactly as he expected. He notes the relationship between Smith and the financier Daniel G. Reid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte on several matters including a conflict of interest involving Lycurgus H. Lingenfelter in Idaho, the pardon of Captain William H. Von Schaick, and matters relating to Gilbert D. B. Hasbrouck and John D. Archbold. Roosevelt thinks his letter about assistant attorneys general must have passed Bonaparte’s in the mail. Roosevelt expresses his concern for Alford Warriner Cooley, who has had to resign due to tuberculosis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt would like to discuss the recent decision by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals of Illinois in person with Attorney General Bonaparte and Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt feels that the fine Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis initially imposed on Standard Oil was excessive, but would have preferred to modify the fine rather than reverse the decision. In a postscript, Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte’s view regarding the Standard Oil Case, and sends a clipping about it. In a second postscript, Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte that John D. Archbold must have had advance notice of the decision. Roosevelt does not believe the railroads should raise their rates until December.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jonathan Bourne

President Roosevelt responds to a telephone message Senator Bourne left with William Loeb. As Roosevelt has told Bourne and John D. Archbold previously, he feels that it is a waste of time and unwise to try to carry on negotiations through Bourne, and says that the Standard Oil people should decide what course they wish to follow, and then communicate directly with Frank B. Kellogg or Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte. The letter from Bonaparte that Roosevelt previously read to Bourne was not meant to be specific guidelines, but was only meant to give Bourne an indication of the feeling within the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt forwards Attorney General Bonaparte a telegram from former Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock, and admits that his prejudice against Pliny L. Soper may have been a holdover from Hitchcock’s time in office. Roosevelt also encloses an unsigned letter that Secretary of War William H. Taft and Frank B. Kellogg discussed, and asks that Bonaparte discuss it with Milton Dwight Purdy and Kellogg. Roosevelt has heard of the matter, but thinks that little good would come from pursuing the matter currently, as it would get twisted to political purposes. Roosevelt will tell Senator Jonathan Bourne and John D. Archbold that they have to stop wasting time trying to negotiate through Roosevelt and comply with the opinion of Bonaparte and Kellogg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt responds to a letter from Attorney General Bonaparte, and comments on the actions of Senator Jonathan Bourne in trying to involve Roosevelt in a matter involving Standard Oil. Roosevelt plans to explain to Bourne and John D. Archbold that it does them no good to speak with him, and they need to communicate with Bonaparte and Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt suggests having Alford Warriner Cooley stop by Idaho on his way from Alaska and take care of some business involving United States Attorney Lycurgus H. Lingenfelter. In his postscript, Roosevelt says that he is glad that Bonaparte wrote to Meyer about Mr. Levely, as he had not heard anything about the matter. Roosevelt is glad that Bonaparte thought of John Carter Rose as a person to potentially be appointed, as Roosevelt thinks it is a very good suggestion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jonathan Bourne

President Roosevelt was interested in the letters that Senator Bourne sent, and is proud of Anne Mills Archbold Saunderson’s hunting prowess. He recently received a letter from Colonel J. H. Patterson, with whom she has been hunting, and who wrote that “she was delightful in every way and is plucky enough to tackle a trust king.” This amused Roosevelt, as she is the daughter of John D. Archbold, who is involved with trusts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Gifford Pinchot to Theodore Roosevelt

Gifford Pinchot sends Theodore Roosevelt correspondence from Henry Beach Needham about the appointment of a successor to John D. Archbold. Pinchot will look more into pardons made as part of a Nebraska land fraud case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1913-05-03

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Letter from Frank B. Kellogg to Theodore Roosevelt

Frank B. Kellogg of the Republican National Committee sends President Roosevelt a copy of his letter to Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon. Kellogg has raised the issue of contributions from trusts with Sheldon, as have William H. Taft and and William Loeb, but Sheldon continues his behavior. If John D. Archbold spoke out about the solicitation, it would cause problems for the campaign. Kellogg has already told this to the Executive Committee, and now writes to Roosevelt with all the facts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

Creator(s)

Kellogg, Frank B. (Frank Billings), 1856-1937