Bird, Charles Sumner, 1855-1927

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-01-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927

Theodore Roosevelt asks Arthur Dehon Hill to convey his appreciation that Charles Sumner Bird will be running for Massachusetts governor as a Progressive.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-23

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Governor Bass of his desire for Bass’s father-in-law, Charles Sumner Bird, to run for governor of Massachusetts. Roosevelt compliments Bird’s son on his work in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-20

Theodore Roosevelt suggests several letters that Richard Washburn Child could quote. Roosevelt encloses a letter from October 1908 that might interest Child, and states that C. P. Connolly has another letter of interest. Roosevelt suggests John Sullivan as candidate for Governor of Massachusetts and Charles Sumner Bird or Fesdick for Senator, presumably for the Progressive Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-30

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Walter H. Foster for the letter and is sure Foster will understand that it is better for him not to comment on “the Massachusetts situation.” Roosevelt also asserts that the Progressives must give up the idea of running him for the presidency again. The most important thing is to get a “thoroughly good man upon whom the anti-Democratic sentiment can unite” as President Woodrow Wilson is, in Roosevelt’s eyes, “one of the worst Presidents we have ever had.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-25

Theodore Roosevelt thinks that Francis William Bird’s father, Charles Sumner Bird, has been “acting very wisely,” although Roosevelt is not willing to go on the record as saying such.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-07

Theodore Roosevelt asks Matthew Hale to check and see if Livingston received his letter. Roosevelt suggests that Charles Sumner Bird run in the Progressive primary instead of the Republican primary. However, Roosevelt does not wish to be an official consultant or else he will be asked to offer advice constantly. The only advice Roosevelt officially has to offer is that while each local community has special needs that deserve to be considered, nationally the country needs to be unified.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-02

Theodore Roosevelt informs Walter H. Foster that Charles Sumner Bird will not consider running for office. Roosevelt accepts this decision as final and thus will not publicly comment on it. Roosevelt feels it best that he stay out of the political arena, remarking that the only state in which the Progressives won in the last year was California where Roosevelt did not enter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-08

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Bradley Gilman for the kind letter but assures him that he will never enter politics again. Roosevelt also expresses his pleasure that Charles Sumner Bird has taken over The Advertiser.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-16

Theodore Roosevelt relitigates the circumstances surrounding the language and inclusion of the trust plank in the Progressive Party platform. Roosevelt states that he is planning to propose Francis J. Heney as Meyer Lissner’s proxy on the executive committee of the Progressive Party and expresses frustration about the tension between the moderate and radical wings of the party leading to dysfunction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-13

Matthew Hale asks Theodore Roosevelt to telegraph Governor Robert P. Bass, requesting him to speak at the public meeting of the progressive republicans of Massachusetts. Bass’s support is essential for the meeting’s success. Gifford Pinchot and Samuel McChord Crothers are also speaking at the meeting. Hale assures Roosevelt the movement is not tied to a particular candidate, especially not Senator Robert M. La Follette.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-10

Song sheet featuring patriotic and campaign songs for Theodore Roosevelt and his running mate, Governor Johnson, for the Progressive Party campaign of 1912. Cover page features photos of Roosevelt, Johnson, and the Progressive Party candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, Charles Bird Sumner and Daniel Cosgrove.

Collection

Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection

Creation Date

1912

Theodore Roosevelt believes it was “most unwise from every standpoint” to put his name on the Massachusetts ballot for the 1916 presidential ticket for the Republican party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-03

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Arthur Dehon Hill for the book and was particularly interested by the chapter about Ernst Lissauer’s “Hymn of Hate.” Roosevelt thinks Charles Sumner Bird and Augustus Peabody Gardner “got what was coming to them.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-03