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Secretary of War Taft discusses appointments for four different offices, including the Secretary of Agriculture. He gives President Roosevelt his assessment of nominees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-17
President Roosevelt records the facts about his influence on the nomination of William H. Taft in the Southern states, countering reports in the press. Roosevelt analyzes the breakdown of support for candidates in each area of the country, and summarizes that the Northern officials followed the trajectories in their districts, and opposition to Taft in the Southern states was largely a result of the influence of outside interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt agrees with Albert H. Walker’s assessment of, and disappointment in, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Walker’s shot at Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell pleased Roosevelt
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-27
President Roosevelt is sure Senator Lodge has seen his statement about Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and his letter about William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt thinks Foraker’s situation is distressing, but corruption must be exposed. He is torn about William Randolph Hearst’s recent attitude. The amount of corruption in high places is shocking, but it has been natural for Roosevelt to fight it. Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park S. B. M. Young brought two such examples to Roosevelt’s attention, one regarding appointments tied to William McKinley’s election and one regarding the feelings of John Kean and Hamilton F. Kean about business interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
President Roosevelt asks Caspar Whitney if he can send the camp chairs, and he is glad Whitney agrees with his actions toward Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-24
President Roosevelt agrees with William H. Taft’s view on tariffs but advises him to tread lightly and cautiously on all policy matters. Roosevelt also advises that Taft resist any attempts by George Barnsdale Cox to push him into the wrong positions, but that he remain on good terms, to avoid coming off as Governor Charles Evans Hughes does. Roosevelt advocates that Taft act as he did when in similar positions, avoiding conflict but fighting when necessary. Roosevelt believes he has taken a good shot at William Jennings Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-24
President Roosevelt responds to William Jennings Bryan’s telegram regarding Democratic National Committee Treasurer and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s actions in Ohio, by discussing Haskell’s actions in Oklahoma, where he allowed the Prairie Oil and Gas Company to build against an attempted injunction by Oklahoma Attorney General Charles West. Roosevelt asks Bryan to contrast his actions towards Haskell with William H. Taft’s actions toward Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, and lists the reasons Haskell is unfit for any office. Such reasons include his actions on the child labor bill, land fraud cases, and educational taxes, all of which have been covered in the press. Roosevelt offers an analysis and criticism of Bryan’s “radical” propositions and plans for breaking up corruption, and concludes that it is Taft whose actions prove his ability to deliver for the American people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-23
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-22
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt heartily approves of Representative Longworth’s speech and hopes it will be distributed widely. Roosevelt is pleased that his fight for the nomination of New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes paid off, but he is disappointed in the way William H. Taft’s campaign is going, and lists a few of the men he thinks could be responsible. He is anxious to see Taft show more investment and take a swing at Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, but he does not want to steal the spotlight by interfering too much.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt is glad Charles Henry Grosvenor thinks Ohio will be alright. Roosevelt thinks New York will also be alright, because of the nomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes, but William H. Taft will still need to put up a fight and speak out against Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt does not think his stumping would be a wise idea, and he would rather see Taft’s personality on display in the campaign than his own.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt asks Anna Roosevelt Cowles to pass along his congratulations to Joseph W. Alsop on being newly nominated for Senator, and says he is a man with courage and sense. For the most part, Roosevelt is more interested in the politics of the Alsop types than the young men working in diplomatic positions. Roosevelt feels validated in his attitude towards Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, and wishes William H. Taft would be a more vocal critic of Foraker, as well as of William Jennings Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt asks if William H. Taft can generate pointed publicity around the situation with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker to position himself as a foil to Foraker’s corrupt corporate alliance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt advises William H. Taft to publicly distance himself from Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, and to make it known publicly that Foraker has taken his negative position towards Roosevelt and Taft because of his own involvement with corporations, and not due to his feelings toward African Americans. For the good of the Republican party, Roosevelt feels that Taft must be strong in his resistance to Foraker, so as to show his opposition to politicians being bought by corporate interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt agrees with William H. Taft about staying out of the situation with Kentucky, and he does not feel they should worry themselves much over the situation between Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and Standard Oil. If anything, Roosevelt feels it may benefit them by bringing Foraker’s intentions to light.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt writes about Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker to Senator Lodge. New information regarding Foraker’s motives provides proof that Foraker was working in the interest of the corporations, not for African Americans. Roosevelt feels this is the same reason Foraker was fighting the judgeship in Ohio.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt explains to Lyman Abbott that the correspondence with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and John D. Archbold proves that Foraker is obscuring his true political goals. Foraker says he is against Roosevelt on issues related to African Americans, but this is actually a cover for his opposition to Roosevelt and William H. Taft’s anti-corruption stance regarding companies like Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt believes it is unwise to give an interview to the newspaper. He agrees with William H. Taft’s opinion of the speeches given by J. S. Sherman and Secretary of State Elihu Root. Although he does not care for him, Roosevelt feels Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated. Roosevelt wants Taft to show his personality and offers words of encouragement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-24
President Roosevelt tells Senator Smith that he cannot discuss the statement Smith says he made, as he does not remember making it. Regarding the Brownsville affair, Roosevelt affirms his right to dismiss the officers and states that Senator Joseph Benson Foraker’s bill regarding the matter is “purely academic.” The investigation has shown that ten to twenty black soldiers committed the assault and many more of their comrades knew about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-24