Elections

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. S. Sherman

President Roosevelt does not think that the Republican National Committee is doing anything about Eugene V. Debs’s assault on William H. Taft which has been published in the Catholic papers. Roosevelt does not believe it would take much money to handle the matter; they just need to convince the laypeople that the attack has been circulated by Protestants, Masons, and socialists.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt drops his son Ted a line to tell him that they are thinking of him as he starts out life in the “big world.” He reports that Ethel took his horse Roswell over the high hurdle twice before he made her promise not to do it again. Roosevelt’s leg has bothered him, but he thinks it is recovering now. He is being very careful with it so that he will start out well on his African safari. Ted’s registration in Oyster Bay has been worked out, and Roosevelt encourages him to make it down to vote.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt has received Senator Lodge’s letter and says that if Surveyor of the Port of Boston Jeremiah J. McCarthy appeals to him, he will reach out to Mr. Reynolds. Roosevelt discusses the presidential campaign and notes that New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes has been useful in the West, but it will be a challenge to “pull him through” in New York. However, if William H. Taft’s majority is big enough, it will happen. He discusses the Republican prospects in several states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Daniel J. Keefe

President Roosevelt returns the letter from James Duncan, which Daniel J. Keefe had sent. While Duncan is not doing as well as Keefe, Roosevelt is glad that he wrote to Samuel Gompers about James Wallace Van Cleave and notes that William H. Taft would not be influenced by Van Cleave.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank H. Hitchcock

President Roosevelt encloses a statement from a “Democrat of high standing” and asks Republican National Committee Chairman Hitchcock if it is possible to do something in Tennessee. While they likely will not need the electoral vote, Roosevelt would like to make everything “doubly and trebly sure.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Z. B. Campbell

President Roosevelt says that the article Z. B. Campbell sent is admirable, and he will send it to the National Committee to see if it can be distributed. He agrees with Campbell that the trouble is that corporations and “the great sinister moneyed men” want the Republican party to be beaten. Roosevelt complains about the damage the New York Sun and New York Times are doing to the Republicans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt doubts the advisability of William Dudley Foulke’s making a statement in favor of Representative James E. Watson without it appearing to reflect on Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon. Roosevelt is glad that Foulke thinks the campaign is going well but worries about opposition from labor parties and New York State.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gerrit J. Diekema

President Roosevelt is sorry to hear of issues in Michigan, but glad that the state will go for William H. Taft. Roosevelt is pleased that Representative Diakema agrees that William Jennings Bryan should be attacked with more force. In addition, Roosevelt feels that Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker should be disowned by the Republican party, as he is representative of corrupt practices between corporations and politicians.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dennis T. Flynn

President Roosevelt explains to Dennis T. Flynn, former member of Congress from Oklahoma that he receives more speaking requests than he could possibly fulfill, and that accepting one would obligate him to accept them all. Roosevelt would like for Flynn to be elected as a senator from Oklahoma, as he has always liked Flynn.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles H. Betts

President Roosevelt explains to Charles H. Betts that he and Secretary of State Elihu Root knew it was crucial that they fight for the renomination of New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, and he is glad Betts has come around on the topic. Now Roosevelt feels they must work on the larger ticket.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Wingate Sewall

President Roosevelt sends William Wingate Sewall a sock, and asks if Sewall can find him more pairs like it to take to Africa. Despite his predictions about the impact of the prohibition fight, Roosevelt thinks they did well in Maine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Barnes

President Roosevelt is pleased that William Barnes, Surveyor of Customs for Port of Albany, helped Governor Charles Evans Hughes achieve nomination. Roosevelt hopes to see Barnes in Washington, D.C., after the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Moore

President Roosevelt is glad to hear what Charles A. Moore says about New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Roosevelt was open about his actions for William H. Taft, and Hughes could have read such information in any paper. He supports Hughes in New York, even if initially he felt the campaign lacked strength. For the success of both Taft and Hughes, remaining available spaces on the ticket should be filled with “straight organization men.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Seymour Edwards

President Roosevelt agrees with William Seymour Edwards about Judge Nathan Goff, and though he wishes they could convince him to run, he thinks it would be unwise to attempt it, given that there is a factional fight going on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Hinchman Platt

President Roosevelt informs Frank Hinchman Platt that according to Cuban Occupation Governor Charles E. Magoon, there is likely not much they can currently do about the telephone issue. The election of the Cuban Congress should sort it out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Rudolph Garfield

President Roosevelt thanks Secretary of the Interior Garfield for the letter. He is glad Garfield is going to Maine, but tells him in confidence that he would not be surprised if a Democrat won the election there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alphonso Trumpbour Clearwater

President Roosevelt considers New York Supreme Court Justice Clearwater’s letter important and has sent it to Frank H. Hitchcock with instructions. Even though Governor Charles Evans Hughes has upset many statesmen, Roosevelt believes it is necessary to renominate him as it will cause damage not to.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the interesting letter, especially for the insight on Newfoundland. He is interested in what Secretary of State of India John Morley says about India, and discusses the intricacies surrounding “the control of thickly peopled tropical regions by self-governing northern democracies.” Roosevelt hopes to speak with Morley after presenting the Romanes lecture at Oxford. He asks Reid to inquire of the British statesman, Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, about conditional hunting on the reserves. The Vermont elections went well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

President Roosevelt thanks Representative Parsons of New York for the letter. Based on present information, Roosevelt believes “that of the two evil courses open to us, by far the least evil course is to renominate” Governor Charles Evans Hughes. He reminds Parsons that they must still consider the feelings of those republicans who do not participate in the primaries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Timothy L. Woodruff

President Roosevelt encloses letters to Timothy L. Woodruff, Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee. He believes the ones from Asa M. Steele and Walter L. Fisher are particularly strong. Roosevelt asks Woodruff what conclusions he draws from the primaries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27