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Senator Lodge updates President Roosevelt on the status of several issues at the Republican National Convention, including several planks in the party’s platform, and the status of the vice presidential nomination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-16
Senator Lodge wishes that he could speak with President Roosevelt in person, but as he is traveling to Europe shortly, he sends a letter instead. The Republican National Convention went well, and both nominated Secretary of War William H. Taft and endorsed a platform that is faithful to Roosevelt’s policies. Lodge thinks that J. S. Sherman’s nomination for vice-president was the best they could do, as none of the Western men suggested would have been good. Lodge praises the actions of Senator Winthrop Murray Crane who, while he did not want Lodge on the National Committee, used his influence well and for good purpose. Lodge believes his speech was a success, and feels that the convention overall was a success both personally and for the Republican Party as a whole.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-22
Senator Lodge writes to President Roosevelt from the Republican National Convention in Chicago to update him on some of the events that have occurred thus far. There was previously some talk of compromise with regard to the Kentucky cases, but after receiving Roosevelt’s telegram people accepted that each case had to be dealt with on its own merit. Lodge thinks that the Louisiana compromise was wise, as the Henry C. Warmoth delegates are the only real organization, but have also made declarations about white supremacy that Lodge thinks would not be good to tie the Republican party to. Secretary of War William H. Taft seems likely to receive most of the votes to nominate him to run for the presidency. Lodge will not have much say over the platform, as he will be presiding, but will do what he can. He is glad that Roosevelt’s fall from a horse was not serious.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-09
Senator Lodge has received the letter which President Roosevelt wrote to Judge Alston Gordon Dayton, which he has instructed Lodge and Chairman of the Republican Committee Frank H. Hitchcock to show to delegates if necessary. Lodge does not believe it will be necessary. Lodge discusses the nomination for the Vice-Presidency. Although he believes that the candidate should be from New York, he is obligated to nominate Massachusetts Governor Curtis Guild. In a handwritten postscript, Lodge writes that he feels sorry for Guild and will do his best for him. He also read about Roosevelt’s fall in the paper, and is glad that no harm was done.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-03
Senator Lodge writes William Loeb about two appointments at the Government Printing Office. He does not want to trouble President Roosevelt with the matter, but would like two men to be reinstated to their posts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-27
John Callan O’Laughlin provides President Roosevelt with an update on how he believes things stand regarding the Republican candidates for president for the 1908 election. He believes that Secretary of War William H. Taft is the choice of eastern Republicans–buoyed largely because of Roosevelt’s support–but provides a state-by-state breakdown of popular and governmental sentiment. O’Laughlin will cover the Midwest and the South soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-17
Senator Lodge is glad President Roosevelt approves of his statements at Malden and that they agree on Clifford Anderson Lanier’s comments. Louis Curtis recently expressed a positive outlook on Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou’s policies regarding stock speculation. Lodge touches on the difficulty with Henry K. Daugherty, the whiskey blenders, and the Standard Oil letters before discussing his feelings on Roosevelt’s term of office. Although he feels Roosevelt must stick to his word, Lodge wishes Roosevelt could run again and continue his service to the country. Lodge assesses support for Secretary of War William H. Taft, especially in relation to Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-24
Senator Bourne provides updates and encloses letters and clippings concerning William B. Hibbs, Senator Winthrop Murray Crane, and Bela Tokaji. Bourne apologizes for any trouble resulting from him misunderstanding Rear Admiral W. L. Capps’s visit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-12
Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt on the activities of the Republican Party in Ohio. Taft’s half-brother, Charles Phelps Taft, has heard that a resolution endorsing Taft as the presidential nominee in the upcoming election will pass. Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker is using the press to plant stories intended to hurt Taft’s chances at nomination. In a handwritten postscript, Taft reports that two members of the central committee would vote to endorse Taft if an endorsement of Foraker were defeated.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-27
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw has received President Roosevelt’s letter and hopes that he will take no definite action about the location of the Public Store in Boston until he has spoken with Senator Lodge, Senator Crane, and Shaw himself on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-30
Henry Cabot Lodge discusses the upcoming elections. He thinks the Republican Party will carry the House, but worries about Massachusetts and New York. The Republican National Convention went “without a ripple” thanks to Winthrop Murray Crane, William H. Moody, and others. There are still bad feelings around Representative Charles Curtis, though. Ex-Governor John Lewis Bates, who took his unmerited defeat in “the most manly way,” gave one of the best speeches Lodge has ever heard. Lodge discusses District Attorney John B. Moran’s treatment of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Moran, who is running for Governor of Massachusetts, supports William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst and his platform reads like a “manifesto of a Jacobian Club.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-06
Stephen Minot Weld tells Senator Lodge that he does not support President Roosevelt’s positions on the income and legacy taxes. If Roosevelt does not soften his position, Weld will have to vote for another Republican candidate. He believes this issue is too radical and could destroy the party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08
Senator Lodge is sorry that President Roosevelt has reached the time of life where physical exercise has ceased to be a rest. Lodge thinks that if William Randolph Hearst runs in any way in New York, the Republican party will be able to carry the state. The political situation in Massachusetts has revived Lodge’s hopes of retaining control of the House. The reciprocity revision movement appears less militant than last year, and higher wages in the cotton and wool industries has weakened agitation against Republicans on behalf of changing the tariff. Lodge thinks the unknown quantity in the Congressional elections is the labor vote under the direction of Samuel Gompers. Lodge agrees with Roosevelt that there is more baseless praise poured out over Thomas Jefferson than any man in our history.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-08
William Zebina Ripley offers his experience and expertise in regard to railroad legislation and encloses articles and a report on the same subject.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-14
Leslie M. Shaw returns Governor Crane’s letter and offers his observations. Free hides, suggested by Crane, would not increase revenue. Shaw says reducing the duty on iron and steel would not increase revenue and may go against the Republican party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-10
Senator Winthrop Murray Crane telephoned to caution President Roosevelt about dealing with Senator Weldon Brinton Heyburn regarding San Domingo. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is sensitive about the president “butting in.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-15
Senator Lodge thanks President Roosevelt for looking into the matter of a picture frame for him, but believes that the answer Roosevelt gave is slightly off base with regard to duties placed on the frame, as it is being brought in for a museum, which has traditionally been free from duty payments. The duty was assessed in Vermont, and not in Boston, so Lodge believes that the Department of the Treasury was somewhat disingenuous in placing the blame on George H. Lyman, who is Collector of Customs at Boston. Lodge has heard that the political situation in New York has improved, and believes that the Democrats will not be able to defeat Roosevelt in any northern state.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-18
Harvard President Charles William Eliot tells President Roosevelt that he likes Massachusetts Senator Winthrop Murray Crane, and is glad that Roosevelt trusts him and takes his advice. Eliot will always be glad to listen to Secretary of War William H. Taft speak on any political theme, but believes that the Philippines are no longer of the highest importance, having been supplanted by the tariff, civil service, and labor unions. He criticizes the Democratic party for not having a common conviction regarding these subjects.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-21
Senator Lodge reports to President Roosevelt about the Republican National Convention. He discusses possible cabinet appointments, the adoption of the party platform, the various speeches given, and the nomination of Senator Charles W. Fairbanks for vice president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-25
Senator Lodge discusses the possible appointment of George von Lengerke Meyer for a position in President Roosevelt’s administration and informs Roosevelt that Senator Crane is on the Republican National Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-19