Black, Frank Swett, 1853-1913

Letter from John A. Sleicher to William Loeb

John A. Sleicher hopes the president will rescind oppressive regulation of small newspapers. Conde Hamlin of the St. Paul Pioneer Press agrees. Hamlin thinks William Jennings Bryan has “queered himself” but will be nominated nonetheless. Governor Frank S. Black and his wife Lois are returning from vacation. Sleicher hopes Black will be a delegate at the New York state convention and also recommends Herbert Parsons for the state committee. Sleicher tells Loeb to take pictures on an upcoming trip out West.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-21

Letter from John A. Sleicher to Theodore Roosevelt

John A. Sleicher updates Theodore Roosevelt on the overall political situation of New York. Governor Black is not interested in “sitting down in a game” with people who have “cards up their sleeves” or who use “double-dealing methods.” Sleicher reminds Roosevelt that he once said the party needed to do “housecleaning,” and believes that Roosevelt’s hand on the scale brought about such housecleaning in New York, which ultimately prevented consideration of many “unwholesome” bills. Sleicher also believes that the revival of William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst’s desire to be a key Democratic politician in New York show that the Democrats are struggling.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-01

Letter from J. Sloat Fassett to William Loeb

J. Sloat Fassett writes to William Loeb about his recent trip to Canada. He comments on a sawmill there, and thinks that Loeb would be impressed with its work. He writes about the political situation in New York and that the “plain folks” are against Benjamin B. Odell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-20

Letter from Lucius Nathan Littauer to Theodore Roosevelt

Congressman Littauer writes to President Roosevelt regarding James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr.’s candidacy and the state of the Republican Party in New York. Littauer states that he is “pleased” that “clean, able men … unschooled in the Platt and Odell system of political management” are dealing with the Republican crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-21

Letter from Edgar Truman Brackett to Theodore Roosevelt

Edgar Truman Brackett writes to update President Roosevelt on a reorganization that had been discussed previously. Brackett stresses the need to take excess power from a chairmanship, and calls for the resignation of Senator Depew.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-15

Letter from J. Sloat Fassett to William Loeb

Representative Fassett writes to President Roosevelt’s secretary William Loeb that Governor Higgins is creating problems with the New York Railroad Commission. The Corning Postmaster, Kennedy, will be elected to the board leaving a postmaster vacancy. Fassett requests that Loeb advise Roosevelt to delay appointing a new postmaster until Fassett can propose a name. Fassett congratulates the president on the appointment of Elihu Root and writes that the only way for the Republican Party to succeed in New York is through politicians like Root and Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-11

Letter from John A. Sleicher to William Loeb

John A. Sleicher hopes that Leslie’s Weekly will have the chance to report on the formal notification of President Roosevelt on July 27 and that Mr. Wallace will be allowed to take some photographs of the president and his family at Oyster Bay. Former New York Governor Frank Swett Black wants to meet with Sleicher, and Sleicher would like to speak with Roosevelt before such a meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-18

Letter from John A. Sleicher to Theodore Roosevelt

John A. Sleicher praises Frank Swett Black’s convention speech and recommends to President Roosevelt that he actively campaign in New York and in any states where a Roosevelt win is doubtful. Sleicher passes along information from Amos Parker Wilde that the political situation in Wisconsin is not good. He informs Roosevelt of his plans to travel to the Democratic National Convention and asks to see Roosevelt on his way home.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-28

Letter from John A. Sleicher to Theodore Roosevelt

John A. Sleicher discusses his expectation that President Roosevelt will receive a majority of the votes in New York in the upcoming election. He has an idea for the governorship of New York, and he tells Roosevelt that the investigation into the General Slocum accident has interfered with Tammany Hall election plans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-25

Letter from Winthrop Chanler to Theodore Roosevelt

Winthrop Chanler congratulates President Roosevelt on winning the presidential nomination and shares his opinion of Elihu Root’s and Frank Swett Black’s speeches. Chanler wishes he and Roosevelt could spend the 4th of July together and remembers past celebrations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-25

Letter from John A. Sleicher to Theodore Roosevelt

John A. Sleicher writes to President Roosevelt about the upcoming Republican National Convention including the speech to be made by former New York Governor Frank Swett Black and strategies to ensure that Roosevelt will be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-09

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler agrees with President Roosevelt that James Speyer ought to be invited to discuss relations between Mexico and Cuba. Butler also comments on Frank Swett Black’s interview about a “vice crusade” in light of the Western Telegraph Union Company’s relationship with poolrooms. Butler encloses a newspaper cartoon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-23

Getting ready for the big fight

President Roosevelt stands in the middle of his campaign office. He is looking over the shoulder of Frank Swett “Black,” who is typing a “Nomination Speech” using material from Roosevelt’s many books, lying near his desk. At other desks behind them, Senator Lodge is writing “The Platform” on a long roll of paper, while Secretary of Commerce and Labor Cortelyou develops “Campaign Plans” on a map of the “U.S.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904

Letter from Charles S. Francis to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles S. Francis suggests postponing a meeting with John A. Sleicher and Mr. Bunnell concerning publication and distribution of political bulletins until Francis returns from Europe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-09

Scores “National Guard ring” and lauds burgesses

Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner recently testified in front of the New York State Assembly regarding its Burgess Corps of Albany, alleging that it is being systematically attacked by a “National Guard Ring.” He was supported by several letters from men who had been with the corps for years who joined when there was better martial spirit, and state that the dues paid for membership were not a form of political graft. New York Adjutant General William Verbeck opposed Gardiner, and hopes to disband the Corps, as it is largely useless and a joke.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-19

Black says Roosevelt is sure of election!

After having lunch with President Roosevelt at the White House, former New York governor Frank Swett Black reports that Roosevelt is certain to win the delegates from New York. The article also discusses the potential of Black becoming the newest U.S. Senator from New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-06

In command

President Roosevelt, Frank Swett Black, New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell, and New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt all call for donations. Republican National Committee Chairman George B. Cortelyou holds a “cash contributions wanted!!!” flag. They call down from the “Republican breastworks” toward “General Apathy.” A number of men surround the general and lie on the ground.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-26

Next!

President Roosevelt pets a cat with New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt’s face as he holds a “list of smoothed downers” in his other hand: “Morgan. Hill (J. J.) Gould. Harriman. Addicks. Black. Odell. Payn. Platt.” On the wall is a sign: “Oyster Bay. Notice. Smoothing down done with neatness and despatch. T. R.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-17

The last—and the limit?

President Roosevelt is dressed as an angel and blesses Louis Frisbie Payn. Beside Roosevelt is a “list of the forgiven”: “Morgan. Hill (J. J.) Gould. Harriman. Addicks. Platt. Black. Odell.” The door reads, “White House private—admittance by invitation only. T. R.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-01

“I come not to bury Caesar, but to praise him”

President Roosevelt reclines on a stage in “Chicago” and points a revolver up at Frank Swett Black.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-24