Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt has already written to William H. Taft about the matter concerning George Rumsey Sheldon, and cannot understand George W. Perkins’s objection to him. Roosevelt agrees with Taft’s conduct regarding contributions to his campaign. He has been looking over William Jennings Bryan’s campaign platform, and will write Taft a letter about it soon. Roosevelt also sends a letter from Lyman Abbott, and asks if there is anything he can do in the weeks following Taft’s speech. He agrees with Taft’s actions in the matter concerning James A. Hemenway. It appears that Bryan will base his presidential bid in the states in the Mississippi River Valley, and Roosevelt advises Taft to pick a vice presidential nominee who could help him in this region.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Medill McCormick

President Roosevelt believes that the Democratic party will adopt a plank satisfactory to the Newspaper Publishers Association because they will adopt any platform whether it can be put through or not. Roosevelt maintains that Bernard H. Ridder is a devotee of William Jennings Bryan and, in opposing Republican policies, wishes to discredit the Republican party. Roosevelt believes that the only effective action against trusts must come through legislation which increases the federal government’s control over interstate commerce. Roosevelt concludes by stating he is expressing his personal opinion and it is not for quotation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt thinks that William H. Taft is correct, and is glad that they have spoken to Frank B. Kellogg and William L. Ward, as it appears that Frank H. Hitchcock is becoming the favorite. Roosevelt believes Hitchcock will be a very good choice to help run Taft’s campaign. Roosevelt also responds to a letter from Taft regarding Frank Maximilian Steinhart, and comments on some business involving telephones.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White

President Roosevelt thinks Ambassador White’s view as to what he should do in connection with the presidential campaign is proper. Roosevelt tells White that Henry Cabot Lodge’s handling of the convention was very good. He also believes that the presidential campaign will be difficult, as many plutocrats think there is not much difference between the policies of Roosevelt and Taft on the one hand, and William Jennings Bryan on the other.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt promises to take up the ship business that Senator Lodge mentioned with Luke E. Wright. Roosevelt has heard of Lodge’s great success as chairman of the Republican National Convention, and thanks him for it. President Roosevelt also reflects on the upcoming presidential election, and thinks that the Republican party is in good shape, although there are some areas that could be more secure. He has begun preparations for the African safari he is planning to take once he leaves office, and hopes to be able to make it a scientific expedition rather than just a vacation. Roosevelt wants to “remain a man of action as long as possible,” even after leaving the presidency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Grafton D. Cushing

President Roosevelt was very touched by the letter from Grafton D. Cushing, and feels just as he does. Many people in Roosevelt and Cushing’s social circles do not realize the fervor with which many Americans demand a change in the social order. If progress is not made under reasonable leadership, there is a risk of approaching revolution or tyranny, as occurred in France during the French Revolution. Likewise, if leadership is given to radicals like William Jennings Bryan or Eugene V. Debs, Roosevelt thinks that they will try to enact impossible programs and fail, leading once again to revolution. Roosevelt agrees with Cushing’s statement that the government must be concerned with the primacy of justice and the equality of opportunity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Paul Morton

President Roosevelt tells Paul Morton that the things that Roosevelt wanted to talk to him about are not enough to warrant him coming back. Roosevelt had been feeling angry over some of the antics of Standard Oil and the Edward Henry Harriman crowd. Roosevelt believes that Morton is correct in what he said about Secretary of War William H. Taft and William Jennings Bryan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

President Roosevelt is glad to have received Arthur Hamilton Lee’s letter. He does not need a rest and would rather stay in the fight, but a leader must understand those he serves and maintain their belief in his honesty. He has had to fight against both the mob mentality of the poor and the overwhelming wealth and greed of the powerful. Though his course of action did not cause the panic, it may have hurried its occurrence, and the press, mostly controlled by Wall Street, could sway the public toward William Randolph Hearst or William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt continues striving to “keep the left center together.” There will likely not be any issue with Great Britain, and while issue could arise with Japan, the Pacific states, Australia, and British Columbia feel the same as the United States does. Roosevelt asks Lee to give an introduction to Fülöp Laszlo, the painter, to see if there will he time to have a portrait painted, as Lee requested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to David Gray

President Roosevelt thanks David Gray for his kind words about Kermit Roosevelt’s sportsmanship. He is glad Gray wrote about Algernon Edward Sartoris, as the situation has been troublesome. Roosevelt wanted to appoint him, but the situation was complicated and he has turned it over to Secretary of State Elihu Root. Gray’s agreement on the economic situation pleases Roosevelt, but he knows many are angry over the depression. He stands equally against union labor tyranny and capitalist tyranny, and hopes the newspapermen and reactionaries will not succeed in stoking a sentiment against him. Gray’s fox hunting is of great interest. Roosevelt now has two good hunting horses, replacing Old Bleistein, who has been retired to a buggy. He hopes Gray will visit, though he does not promise excitement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt always expects representatives of bank interests to try to discredit him, especially in times of economic depression. He denies Benjamin B. Johnson’s suggestion that Roosevelt secretly supports New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes’s presidential campaign over Secretary of War William H. Taft’s.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Olive Grace Kerr

President Roosevelt offers his condolences to Olive Grace Kerr for the death of her husband, Henry Scanlan Kerr. However, Roosevelt feels he must object to Olive Kerr publishing the article she encloses, since he feels that Henry Kerr would not have recalled Roosevelt’s statements accurately or may have misunderstood what he meant. Roosevelt also feels that it would be inappropriate to publicly recount details Henry Kerr might have overheard at a private luncheon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

President Roosevelt thinks Joseph Bucklin Bishop has accurately assessed the character of Austen G. Fox when he called him a “skate.” Roosevelt thinks the clipping Bishop sent is interesting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about the funeral of former President McKinley’s widow Ida McKinley. He then describes his trip on the train out west as he passed through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Michigan. Roosevelt closes by saying he needs to talk to Kermit about his hunting trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert J. Beveridge

President Roosevelt liked Senator Beveridge’s speech in Galena, but likes the articles Beveridge is writing in response to William Jennings Bryan even more.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt reports that he is reluctant to accept Lyman Abbott’s invitation to speak at a banquet generally, but if he did it would be on Monday with Elihu Root and Governor Charles Hughes. In all likelihood, he will not speak, but could send a letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt asks Senator Lodge to review his speeches, and states that it is best to attack “Hearstism” and “Moranism” without naming anyone. For Roosevelt is aiming his criticism “more at agitators, at corrupt or sinister or foolish visionaries, at reckless slanders in the newspapers and magazines, and at preachers of social unrest and discontent,” rather than any political movement as a whole, because he sees that all matters, of labor or capital, should be met fairly. Roosevelt also shares his thoughts about Republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes and the upcoming election for governor of New York. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt congratulates Senator Lodge on his speech, as well as one from former Governor of Massachusetts John Lewis Bates. Roosevelt recently gave a speech in Harrisburg, and although he would not denounce his opponents by name, he calls out the “demagogs” and “agitators.” Roosevelt is concerned that the “corporation men” are swayed to vote for the Democratic candidates, believing the Republican party is likely to impose government regulations opposed to their interests. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Carter Rose

President Roosevelt thanks United States Attorney John Carter Rose for the letter and for understanding what he is trying to do in “working a revolution in the relations of the government to the big corporate interests.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt is delighted with the army’s preparations under Secretary of War Taft. He thanks Taft for sending Judge Advocate General George B. Davis’s opinion on the right to intervene in Cuba. However, if intervention is necessary, he would “not dream of asking the permission of Congress.” He regards the treaty as the law and he “shall execute it.” Roosevelt requests Taft give speeches in Colorado and Idaho.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the interesting letter. He comments on William Jennings Bryan’s recent speech, uncertain if he should “feel more irritated or sympathetic.” Roosevelt hopes to “persuade the Cubans to act decently” and continue in self-governance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-24