Du Pont, T. Coleman (Thomas Coleman), 1863-1930

President Roosevelt writes to Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock of the Republican National Committee regarding T. Coleman Du Pont, head of the National Republican Committee Bureau of Campaign Speakers. Roosevelt believes Du Pont’s resignation would have had a better effect if it had happened when initially suggested. He instructs Hitchcock to guard against the opposition’s use of the situation in their campaign and explains the differences in the seemingly similar cases of Du Pont and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell. There has been distressing feedback from New York State, especially concerning the renomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes and the dissatisfaction of the labor crowd, and Roosevelt outlines persons who should be brought in to assist with securing New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks if Republican National Committee Chairman Hitchcock has received his letter and the letter from William H. Taft. If the resignation of T. Coleman Du Pont from his positions as Director of the Republican Party’s Speaker Bureau and member of the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee will not be announced that same day, Roosevelt requests an immediate meeting with Hitchcock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Republican National Committee member William L. Ward that he has written to Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock to have T. Coleman Du Pont removed. Roosevelt wants Du Pont to know that he should resign immediately, as a preemptive strike against possible actions by Oklahoma Governor and Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee Charles Nathaniel Haskell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock demanding that Chairman of the Speakers Committee T. Coleman Du Pont resign due to his connection with a trust that is currently under investigation. Roosevelt understands that Du Pont is willing to step down, and says that if that is the case, then it must happen immediately in order to partially undo the damage that was already done by his appointment

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to Lyman Abbott that while they should not be aristocrats, they should be “gentleman democrats.” Roosevelt occasionally gets frustrated with the William H. Taft campaign, and argues for a more aggressive fight, especially against Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt discusses Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon’s error in requesting a contribution from John D. Archbold. The China article will count towards what Roosevelt has agreed to write for the Outlook, and so he returns the check.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends William H. Taft a copy of the letter he sent to Treasurer of the Campaign Committee George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign contributions, after a complaint from Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt asks Taft to take more aggressive action against William Jennings Bryan, perhaps giving a speech like the one recently given by New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Many have suggested that T. Coleman DuPont should not be in charge of the Speakers Committee, and if it were up to Roosevelt he would be removed. Roosevelt has given the press a copy of a letter from Taft to Arthur I. Vorys in which Taft’s independence is full display, to counteract the press coverage of the supposed reconciliation with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt advises Taft, in his speech, to speak about the connection between William Randolph Hearst and the Democratic National Committee. In a postscript, Roosevelt advises Taft to remove Sheldon if he did in fact solicit the donations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt discusses matters relating to the upcoming election with William H. Taft including campaign contributions, a talk he had with Frank H. Hitchcock, and the problem with the renomination of Charles Evans Hughes as governor of New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Robert S. Waddell shares his low opinion of President William H. Taft with Theodore Roosevelt, especially in relation to Taft’s stance on Powder Trust cases. He believes, from talking with many people across the United States, that if Taft is nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, he will be defeated, and urges Roosevelt to not tie his support too tightly to Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-07

Creator(s)

Waddell, Robert S. (Robert Stuart), 1850-1915

William L. Ward tells President Roosevelt that Governor Charles Evans Hughes of New York will only speak at his own events and not at those with William H. Taft. Ward hopes Roosevelt has tackled the situation with T. Coleman Du Pont of the Speakers Bureau, and reports that Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon will follow directions regarding Standard Oil.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Ward, William L. (William Lukens), 1856-1933

William H. Taft writes to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Hitchcock to ask for the resignations of both Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon and Head of the Speaker’s Bureau T. Coleman DuPont, on the grounds that Sheldon solicited funds from trust affiliates and DuPont is currently involved in a trust suit. He suggests possible replacements for DuPont, and asks for a system of campaign funding that solicits small subscriptions through western cities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

William H. Taft sends President Roosevelt a letter he has sent to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock, and asks Roosevelt to meet with Hitchcock about it. Taft has been frustrated with T. Coleman Du Pont’s position in the Speakers Bureau, in which he has not been very useful, and Taft reminds Roosevelt that he was not the one who appointed Du Pont.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

President Roosevelt confidentially shares with William H. Taft his feelings on the Republican National Committee’s lack of accomplishment. He believes Taft’s idea for making speeches is wise and counsels Taft to actively put himself in the campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William H. Taft humbly thanks William Nelson Cromwell for his generous donation to Taft’s election campaign, but cannot accept it. Taft reminds Cromwell that while he has no doubt of Cromwell’s disinterested support, such a large donation would be a liability to the campaign, and would limit the two to only friendly, non-official relations in the future due to the appearance, however unfounded, of impropriety.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-06

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

William H. Taft describes the reception of his acceptance speech in Cincinnati to President Roosevelt, which was well attended and generally met with great approval. Taft mentions that he is having trouble with Frank H. Hitchcock, who is headstrong and has appointed his executive committee without any of Taft’s input. Taft was pleased that Frederick Dent and Ida Grant attended the speech. William Jennings Bryan has taunted Taft in the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-31

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

The June 17,1911 edition of Collier’s. The articles “Coming and Going,” “North Dakota,” “Are They Dead?,” and “Guidance,” are marked in a square shape. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-17

Creator(s)

Unknown

President Roosevelt holds several letters in his hands and others are around him: “weekly sermon to voters,” “why Taft should win,” “credentials for Crane,” “5000 words of abuse of Bryan,” “letter ordering dismissal of Du Pont,” and “letter denouncing Foraker.” Roosevelt says, “This is my heir, my campaign, my man, the the best friend labor ever had.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-28

A man rows a boat on tempestuous water with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, and T. Coleman Du Pont. President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan stand on a cliff on the edge of the water.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-27

President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Bonaparte that he does not want to any action concerning the southern railroads without knowing all the facts and is confident of a win. He believes Judge Peter Stenger Grosscup’s decision will be vital to the issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919