Democratic Party (U.S.)

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 Mark Sullivan

President Roosevelt describes to Mark Sullivan the considerations that have gone into his selections for federal judgeships. Roosevelt reviews his appointments in detail, noting that some were made at the request of the local organization and some against their wishes. The goal in each case was to appoint someone “of the high character, the good sense, the trained legal ability, and the necessary broad-mindedness of spirit…essential to a good judge.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas G. Bush

President Roosevelt asks Thomas G. Bush about Judge Oscar R. Hundley, who Roosevelt is considering for a judgeship appointment in Alabama. Roosevelt likes to appoint Republican politicians to judgeships when there is someone fit, and sees it as particularly important to do so in the primarily Democratic South.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Evans Hughes

President Roosevelt congratulates New York Governor-elect Hughes on winning the election and commends him for his character. He believes Hughes will set New York right. He critiques the wealthy men who opposed the election of Hughes and the Democratic Party. Roosevelt empathizes with Hughes’s new position in politics. In a postscript, he asks Hughes to come stay with him and comments on William Randolph Hearst’s treatment of them in the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt does not know if he is more proud of what Secretary of State Elihu Root did in New York or what Secretary of War Taft did in Idaho. He describes some of the Democratic competition in New York. He proposes that the Democratic Party should dissolve because it has been shamed in New York and Idaho. Roosevelt sometimes wishes “I was not in the White House and could be on the stage and speak frankly!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

President Roosevelt must decline the letter for James L. Wells, and tells Representative Parsons that he must decline all such requests, as writing a letter for all Republican congressional candidates would be a “gross absurdity.” Roosevelt sends Franklin Lane to see Parsons and recommends “corking orator” John Irish who is a Democrat against the Democratic candidate for governor of New York William Randolph Hearst.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Milliken Parker

President Roosevelt responds to a letter from his friend John Milliken Parker. Roosevelt remarks on Parker’s “hysterical tone” suggesting that “increase of rape” and the “relations of the races” has anything to do with Roosevelt’s friendship with Booker T. Washington. Roosevelt does not believe he needs to speak to the press as Parker suggests and gives many examples when he expounded his beliefs on the matter of race relations. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene Gano Hay

President Roosevelt believes Eugene Gano Hay’s letter is so important, he has sent it to gubernatorial candidate Charles Evans Hughes. Roosevelt agrees with Hay’s assertion that political adversaries to trust regulation believe falsely that “the choice is between absolute lack of regulation of the trusts and Government ownership.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-07

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 J. S. Sherman

President Roosevelt is concerned over the accusations made by Edward Henry Harriman, a prominent railroad executive, particularly a “wilful untruth” concerning a request to raise money for the Republican party during the 1904 presidential campaign. Roosevelt tells Representative Sherman that he believes the dispute with Harriman stems from a dissatisfaction with regulations made on interstate commerce, particularly affecting railroads. Harriman is also disappointed that Roosevelt failed to appoint Senator Chauncey M. Depew as Ambassador to France as he had requested, and refuses to support the Republican party as long as Roosevelt’s policies dominate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leonard Wood

President Roosevelt tells General Wood that he recently spoke with Gordon Johnston, a former rough rider, who is “full of enthusiasm about [Wood] and not a little disgusted with the attitude of the southern Democrats in Congress,” who disapprove of Wood’s actions in the Philippines fighting the Moro bandits. Roosevelt has been resting this summer, although he sprained his ankle and has not gotten as much exercise as he wished. He feels that politically he has been successful the past several years, but “it is about time for the swing of the pendulum,” and comments on the strength of the Democratic party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt complains to Lyman Abbott about a number of matters that are being affected by partisanship. In particular, he is upset about partisan opposition to two of his nominations: Franklin K. Lane to the Interstate Commerce Commission and Joseph Bucklin Bishop as Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission. He is also frustrated that Democratic Senators are blocking the ratification of the Santo Domingo treaty “on mere partisan grounds,” and would normally favor the treaty if he were not a Republican president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt comments to Senator Lodge on the election results in various states. He is particularly pleased about the Massachusetts results. He wishes that Ambassador George von Lengerke Meyer had gone back to Saint Petersburg when the trouble started three weeks ago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry S. Pritchett

President Roosevelt fundamentally agrees with Henry S. Pritchett and James Ford Rhodes about the Southern question. Although Roosevelt believes it is unwise and impractical to repeal the Fifteenth Amendment now, he does agree it should not have been passed in the first place. The president can also agree with Pritchett and Rhodes that Congress should not press for active enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment; however, it cannot go too far with Mississippi Senator John Sharp Williams having more power than Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon. Roosevelt believes Southern states cannot enforce the laws themselves because they are trying to readopt slavery through peonage. Additionally, Southerners demand the exclusion of African Americans from offices, although Southerners have approved of Roosevelt’s choices for offices in the South on the whole even though the president has appointed some African Americans. Roosevelt insists he has tried Pritchett’s course of action, but it has not worked because the South has not met him even halfway. The president believes cooperation depends on Southerners, and the difficulty will vanish when they “quit lying.” Finally, Roosevelt says he has not observed outside criticism of the South and asks Pritchett how Congress needs to respond since it has not controlled the South. Roosevelt concludes by asking for one specific thing he is doing wrong, as he wants to learn.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Wharton

President Roosevelt tells Joseph Wharton there will be dangers whether or not the Republican Party amends the tariff, but “there are more dangers if we do not attempt to revise it” since the Republicans beat the Democratic Party “on the issue that protection was robbery.” Roosevelt includes a copy of a letter from Charles A. Schieren to show how a great number of “our best Republicans feel.” Roosevelt will abide by the Republican Party’s decision, but believes it will be a mistake not to amend the tariff.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt thanks Charles J. Bonaparte for his vote and explains his plans for the postmastership in Baltimore, Maryland. He wants to get the best man possible and would like to discuss the situation with Bonaparte in December if he cannot suggest someone offhand. The president also asks Bonaparte for his opinion on an enclosed letter, and inquires if Bonaparte can get Jacob H. Hollander’s opinions as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James A. Tawney

President Roosevelt wants to speak with Representative Tawney before the president says anything about the tariff. Roosevelt believes that an extra session of Congress—ideally held on June 1—would be the “most desirable.” The president is afraid if they wait until the regular session, the Democrats will discuss the issue for over a year until congressional elections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Cabot Mills Lodge

President Roosevelt writes an “egotistic letter” to Anna Cabot Mills Lodge about the election. He was overwhelmed by the election results, especially because they demonstrated the impotence of the Evening Post and other New York journalists Roosevelt dislikes. He intends to spend his next four years in appreciation to the American people. The president was, however, disappointed by the defeat of Governor John Lewis Bates in Massachusetts and Senator Francis Marion Cockrell in Missouri, whom he considers the best Senator in the Democratic Party. Roosevelt himself was prepared for defeat during the past two weeks, which were quite trying for him and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert J. Collier

President Roosevelt insists that he never said that he believes Joseph Wingate Folk to be a better man than Cyrus Packard Walbridge, the candidates for Governor of Missouri. Roosevelt fully supports Walbridge as the Republican candidate, but still believes Folk has done some political good in the past. Because of this, Roosevelt thinks Folk’s support of Democratic presidential candidate Alton B. Parker and Democratic candidate for Governor of New York D. Cady Herrick either a “grave error or a grave wrong,” as Roosevelt does not have a high opinion of either of them. Roosevelt believes it would be absurd to expect a Democrat to support a Republican in any election, or vice versa. Finally, Roosevelt expresses his belief that a Presidential election is ultimately of far more consequence than a gubernatorial election, and lists the accomplishments of his administration over the last three years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert J. Collier

President Roosevelt says he has received a letter from Dr. Albert Shaw explaining that he never said Roosevelt believes Cyrus Packard Walbridge to be a better candidate for Governor of Missouri than Joseph Wingate Folk. Roosevelt reproduces a part of Shaw’s letter for Robert J. Collier, which explains the situation. Roosevelt emphasizes that while Collier may show this correspondence to Norman Hapgood and Lincoln Steffens, he does not want the matter discussed in public and cannot understand how anyone could have misunderstood him in the first place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-27