Democratic Party (U.S.)

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

Theodore Roosevelt comments on John St. Loe Strachey’s editorials on Roosevelt’s attempts as governor of New York, as president, and as a political figure to “strengthen the bonds of good will, regard, and sympathy” between the United States and England. He also talks on his former statements about the office of the presidency – how, if he had explicitly stated that he did not believe in a president’s holding a consecutive third term, then all his enemies would have believed he was announcing his bid for a second term before the first had finished. Likewise, Roosevelt believes that he could not honorably back out of his current presidential campaign due to a desire for moderate progress akin to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, William Pitt, Thomas Babington Macaulay, and the Whigs of the reform bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Harry Munro Ferguson

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Robert Harry Munro Ferguson for his letter to Kermit Roosevelt and wonders why Ferguson did not write up his trip to the Hudson Bay, as he is one of the few people who can “see clearly and beautifully and then write about what they have seen.” Roosevelt does not feel like he could shirk leadership at the present time, as too many people want him as a leader as well as some “decent” leadership. Although he does not believe he will be nominated as the Republican candidate for president, Roosevelt does not trust the Democratic party to solve the problems at hand. He also mentions the split within the Republican party: the “stupid and sometimes sinister reactionaries under the flabby leadership of President Taft” and the “foolish and violent extremists under the purely self-interested and demagogic leadership of Robert M. La Follette.” Finally, Roosevelt encloses a copy of the speech he made at Carnegie Hall and notes the safe return of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Ethel Roosevelt from Panama and Costa Rica.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-26

Letter to Jacob A. Riis

It will be very difficult to campaign successfully in Arkansas as it is a Democratic state and the Republican organization is controlled by Powell Clayton, a Taft supporter. Only if Roosevelt appears to be the likely presidential nominee will Clayton and his supporters change their position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is herself again, although she remains weak. Theodore Roosevelt was disappointed with Louis Adams Frothingham’s defeat and reflects on the recent elections in New Jersey, Ohio, and New York, including Theodore Douglas Robinson’s election as a New York assemblyman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hiram Johnson

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Johnson for the letter. He agrees with Johnson that the people are entitled to an open primary to express their views for the presidential nomination. Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about President William H. Taft in absolute confidence. Despite his misgivings, Roosevelt will support Taft if nominated since he sees no ground for permanent hope in the Democratic Party. He comments on the other presidential candidates and considers himself a weak candidate. Roosevelt examines how the New York judges’ decisions strengthen the Socialist Party. He reviews why he disagrees with Johnson’s estimate of the public’s opinion of himself and why he does not want to be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased that the Democrats and Republican insurgents, led by Senator La Follette, have split up. He is willing to help Senator Lodge with the arbitration treaty. Roosevelt will write a strong article on the matter and has contacted Captain Mahan about writing an article against the unamended treaty. He appreciated the telegram regarding his new grandchild, Ted Roosevelt’s daughter Grace Green Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lucius B. Swift

Theodore Roosevelt commends Lucius B. Swift’s excellent letter to President William H. Taft. One thing he most wants to avoid is mixing in purely state affairs where he can do no good. He has been supporting the reciprocity movement. While he sympathizes with the farmers, it is not enough to oppose the movement. Roosevelt agrees with Swift about the political situation in Indiana. However, New York is slightly worse. He discusses machine politics, especially as played out in the most recent election. In theory, the people of New York want Roosevelt to be involved in state politics, but in practice, it makes him suspicious. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt complains about misrepresentations in the press, such as publications appearing in Hearst’s American, and including a recent conflict with Governor Baldwin and previous battles with Senator Platt. He agrees with Senator Lodge regarding Canadian reciprocity and is distressed at the many contradictions in the potential treaty. Roosevelt believes that the Lorimer case is very clear. He views Senator Lorimer’s unexpected election, corrupt past, and the bribery confessions of Illinois legislators as sufficient proof of Lorimer’s guilt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitmell P. Martin

Theodore Roosevelt understands that the Progressive Party is in a poor position in the South. The Progressives tried to attract Southern Democrats but failed. They only found some limited success in Louisiana. Roosevelt regrets that the people refused to follow the Progressive lead and most party members have returned to their previous political affiliations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Pearl Wight

Theodore Roosevelt agrees that if he accepts a presidential nomination from the Progressive Party the reelection of President Wilson will be assured. He feels it to be his patriotic duty to stop Wilson’s reelection and will support the Republican candidate, Charles Evans Hughes, even though he has contempt for most Republican leaders. The Progressives only remain a viable party in California and Louisiana but that is primarily due to the influence of John M. Parker in Louisiana and Governor Johnson in California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Julian Street

It appears that President Wilson is drifting into war with Mexico without any preparations. Theodore Roosevelt hopes to raise a division and will stop being a critic once in uniform. Roosevelt wants to serve and be a public example of service even if the division is used to further the political goals of Wilson and the Democratic Party. Sending the National Guard to the border was a mistake that allowed the “hardships of war” without the “benefits of efficient war.” Many families are suffering as their men patrol the border.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-07-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Allen White

Theodore Roosevelt sends William Allen White, editor of the Emporia Gazette, two articles from the New York Times that he says represent the opinions of President Woodrow Wilson’s friends towards William Barnes. Barnes is a leading member of the Republican National Committee and editor of the Albany Journal. Roosevelt notes that the New York Times and Wall Street generally support Wilson, and that many Democrats support Barnes while many Republicans do not. Roosevelt notes that no thinking man can consider Barnes honest after Roosevelt successfully defended himself against Barnes’s libel suit. Roosevelt wishes well to White’s wife Sallie Moss Lindsay White, who helps White run the newspaper.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred Elliot Howell

President Roosevelt is glad that Alfred Elliot Howell was able to see Clive Metcalfe. Roosevelt is pleased to hear Howell agree with him on the matter. “The standpat Republicans are at sea, and I wish the Wilson and Bryan Democrats were in the Irish Sea.” Roosevelt has forwarded Howell’s letter to Perkins.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-02-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt feels out of sympathy with American public opinion. The Republican strategy to defeat President Wilson by remaining neutral regarding America’s international duty may be politically sound but Roosevelt doubts if it will be good for the country. President Wilson has received press praise for his non-partisan politics and self-defense strategy. However, Roosevelt thinks his defense plan is nonsense. Wilson continues to pursue half measures and Republicans will not argue for true preparedness. Roosevelt believes many Progressives will support Wilson but, under the circumstances, he supports the Republicans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Benjamin Parke De Witt

Theodore Roosevelt declines to give Benjamin Parke De Witt permission to publish Roosevelt’s comments on De Witt’s book about the progressive party. If Roosevelt were to allow it in this case, he would be obliged to grant the same to forty or fifty other progressive authors. Roosevelt is not sure if there is a future for the Progressive Party, as it might not endure long term. He will try to meet with De Witt when he returns to New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Sutherland

Theodore Roosevelt has been discouraged by the Republican and Democratic parties. The foreign policy of President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan has been the worst since James Buchanan was president. Roosevelt discussed stopping war in his recent book, America and the World War. To stop “international wickedness,” decent men must be “able and ready to use force in support of righteousness.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Knox

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Frank Knox that the problem is with Old Guard Republicans, who think the Democratic Party is so demoralized that any “reactionary stand-patter” stands a chance. Roosevelt does not believe William H. Taft should be nominated again as he lacks Republican support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Florence Kelley

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Florence Kelley about the preparedness movement. Roosevelt has not been able to get people to take an interest in the matter or to look at it his way when they do take an interest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ferdinand C. Iglehart

Theodore Roosevelt apologizes to Ferdinand C. Iglehart for not being able to attend church on Sunday due to a high fever. Also, he states that it is unlikely that he will donate money to the unemployed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Emlen Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt has always been in favor of an inheritance tax. Since there is now bipartisan support for an income tax, he did not oppose it. He thinks England and Germany provide a useful model for implementing the income tax.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-24