Your TR Source
President Roosevelt is sorry to hear of Harry W. Nash’s death. The Philippine bill was the best that could be accomplished due to fierce Democratic opposition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-26
President Roosevelt does not favor altering the tariff but due to widespread public support believes that something needs to be done. Roosevelt would like to pass the reciprocity treaties and perhaps appoint a commission to investigate the tariff in order to avoid “partisan agitation.” Roosevelt hopes that the Democrats decide on a tariff policy that allows the Roosevelt administration to “beat them out of their boots.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-12
President Roosevelt addresses southern party politics and believes it is necessary to accept former Democrats into the Republican Party if the Republicans are to appear respectable in the south. Roosevelt is also having difficulties with a New York Times correspondent that he describes as a “particularly malicious and slanderous liar.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-08
President Roosevelt thanks Senator Hanna for sending Captain John Capers’ letter and has no intention of appointing Democrats. Roosevelt will consult with Capers but must take into account the opinion of other individuals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-24
President Roosevelt refuses to recall a nomination and cannot appoint Mr. Stewart because he recently ran for an office as a Democrat.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-13
President Roosevelt requests information on the political situation in Alabama. He does not know where to get reliable information due to the fighting among and between the Democrats and Republicans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-12
President Roosevelt is happy Curtis Guild will be writing about him for Harvard Graduates’ Magazine. Even after the reactions to his dinner with Booker T. Washington, Roosevelt will not be swayed from his policy of appointing the best candidates for positions in the American South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-28
Gifford Pinchot writes to Republican Committee Chairman Will H. Hays about the importance of farmers to the Republican Party. He believes it is the farmers of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Illinois that will be most vital to the next presidential election, not those of New York and Pennsylvania. Pinchot feels the danger that the Democratic Party may end up becoming the progressive party in the United States, particularly if it draws in the returning veterans of World War I. For the Republicans to attract them, the party must offer more than policies that the veterans will accept; Pinchot says that it must “label those policies with the names of men whom they will follow.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-09-04
Gifford Pinchot outlines the direction the country must take after World War I: the creation of a progressive platform, a victorious election, and progressive laws passed. Pinchot believes the election of 1920 is second in importance only to the peace treaty itself, and he desires a platform that can “secure to our people the full fruits of their great war sacrifice.” If the “Old Guard” forms the platform, they will not be successful; “the Republican party cannot win in 1920 unless it is genuinely progressive.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-19
Gifford Pinchot writes to N. Winslow Williams about the direction the country must take after World War I: the creation of a progressive platform, a victorious election, and progressive laws passed. Pinchot believes the election of 1920 is second in importance only to the peace treaty itself, and he desires a platform that can “secure to our people the full fruits of their great war sacrifice.” If the “Old Guard” forms the platform, they will not be successful; “the Republican party cannot win in 1920 unless it is genuinely progressive.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-19
Gifford Pinchot writes to Joseph O. Thompson about the direction the country must take after World War I: the creation of a progressive platform, a victorious election, and progressive laws passed. Pinchot believes the election of 1920 is second in importance only to the peace treaty itself, and he desires a platform that can “secure to our people the full fruits of their great war sacrifice.” If the “Old Guard” forms the platform, they will not be successful; “the Republican party cannot win in 1920 unless it is genuinely progressive.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-19
Gifford Pinchot writes to Everett Colby about the direction the country must take after World War I: the creation of a progressive platform, a victorious election, and progressive laws passed. Pinchot believes the election of 1920 is second in importance only to the peace treaty itself, and he desires a platform that can “secure to our people the full fruits of their great war sacrifice.” If the “Old Guard” forms the platform, they will not be successful; “the Republican party cannot win in 1920 unless it is genuinely progressive.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-19
Although William Dudley Foulke has an “utter abhorrence” of President Woodrow Wilson, he fears that the Republican Party offers even worse alternatives. Foulke disagrees with the Republican Party about tariffs and the formation of the League of Nations and discusses the challenges facing railroad and communications privatization now that the war has ended. He also believes that momentum is with the nationalization of industries and that America cannot go back to “reduced wages, longer hours.” As when he was advocating for Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive principles, Foulke believes that the greatest security against “the menace of socialism” is offering equal opportunity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-24
Gifford Pinchot reports in this news release about a speech he gave to the Young Republican Club of New York City. In the speech, Pinchot recalled that the Progressive Party was established from the Republican Party, and it is to the Republican Party that progressives should turn to for cooperation. However, the “old guard” of the Republican Party must change if it wants to win future elections.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-01-08
Gifford Pinchot writes Theodore Roosevelt that everywhere he goes there is regret that the Wilson Administration refused Roosevelt’s offer to raise a division to fight in World War I. Pinchot thinks “the Nation itself has been double-crossed” in this matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-05-22
Richard M. Boyd believes that the only way to unite the Republican Party is to right the wrong done at the 1912 Republican National Convention. In a handwritten note to Theodore Roosevelt, Boyd explains that he is sending the above letter to Justice Hughes and expresses his support for Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912
Dewitt Clinton Dewitt requests a meeting with Bainbridge Colby and Theodore Roosevelt as he will be traveling for business to New Jersey and New York. Dewitt believes that Roosevelt and Governor Johnson did the best they could in a short amount of time but wanted a larger effort to divide the Democratic vote.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-20
William Allen White is continuing the organization of the party in Kansas. He agrees that George W. Perkins has done good work for the party and should remain in a leadership position. White does not believe that Woodrow Wilson can succeed as president and his failure will damage the Democrats to a degree that will provide great opportunities for the Progressives in 1914 and 1916.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-25
Senator Bristow agrees with Theodore Roosevelt’s views on the Texas appointments. There should not be a problem as long as Senator Culberson continues to oppose all confirmations. Culberson is arguing that the vacancies will prevent Democrats from carrying out their rightful patronage.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-14
J. J. Russell encourages President Taft to withdraw from the presidential race as the Republican vote will be split and Governor Wilson, William Jennings Bryan, and the Democrats will win. Since Theodore Roosevelt will not withdraw, Taft must leave the race to maintain Republican leadership of the country. Such an act will place Taft in an excellent position for the 1916 presidential election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-27