Haskell, Charles Nathaniel, 1860-1933

While President Roosevelt agrees with William Dudley Foulke that Delavan Smith of the Indianapolis News is bad, the publishers of the New York Sun, New York World, and Evening Post are just as bad or worse. Certain newspapers publish so many lies about Roosevelt that if he were to respond to all of them, he would spend most of his time refuting lies. Roosevelt outlines several lies that have been printed about him in various papers, and invites Foulke to visit and look over the papers that prove them false. Roosevelt would like to speak with Foulke and Lucius B. Swift about whether or not he should respond to Smith and other publishers like him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-30

Senator Clapp describes Theodore Roosevelt’s victory in Massachusetts as “splendid” and believes it displays that the people are with Roosevelt. He suggests that the best course in the Haskell matter is to let it go unanswered.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-06

Senator Clapp congratulates Theodore Roosevelt on his success in the Massachusetts primary. He now believes that President Taft cannot win the Republican presidential nomination. Clapp encloses a newspaper clipping from Oklahoma in which Charles Nathaniel Haskell challenges Roosevelt to a debate. He suggests that this could be an opportunity for Roosevelt to give an interview declining Haskell and providing support for Haskell’s senate primary opponent, Senator Owen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-01

Charles E. Hunter sends Theodore Roosevelt an article “absolutely made out of whole cloth.” He includes a typewritten copy of his response to the editor and the published version, which differs significantly. Hunter denies meeting a man called “Phillips” and assures Roosevelt he never talked to anyone about the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company merger. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-10

C. W. Raymond, chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, invites Theodore Roosevelt to visit Oklahoma during his Western trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-28

Richard H. Taylor provides details to William Loeb about the investigation and court case about Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell. Haskell has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the government concerning town lots sold in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1902. Taylor has several character witnesses lined up to testify against Haskell. In association with this case, William T. Hutchings has confessed to forging the names of relatives and friends to thirty-one deeds. Haskell issued a statement to defend himself to the Associated Press. Taylor is concerned with President Roosevelt’s decision to align with William Randolph Hearst to “defame” Haskell while Roosevelt is enmeshed in a libel suit. Taylor believes that unless there is a “great miscarriage of justice,” Haskell will be sent to a Federal prison.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-24

G. W. Woodruff sends William Loeb a brief outline of a statement regarding the progress of an investigation concerning Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell of Oklahoma so that President Roosevelt is aware of the situation. Woodruff mentions the steps taken on the investigation thus far, as well as a number of the people involved with it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-04

Joseph Bucklin Bishop effusively praises and celebrates President Roosevelt’s political victory. In particular, Bishop is proud of how Roosevelt triumphed over the press and his political rivals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-08

William Dudley Foulke details the conditions which led to a Republican slump in Indiana during the election. Men such as Lucius B. Swift who offered their services to the Republican committee were boycotted. Foulke also believes that editorials and false articles in papers such as the Indianapolis News also contributed to a distrust of President Roosevelt and William H. Taft. He details a telephone conversation he had with editor Delavan Swift about a letter that Roosevelt had written about him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-07

G. W. Woodruff relates his efforts to support Republicans during the election in Oklahoma. The Governor, Charles Nathaniel Haskell, had threatened the oil men if they carried out their defense. Woodruff spoke with Native American chiefs of the Creek and Seminole nations, who agreed to send out runners to bring out votes for the Republicans. The Republican Charles E. Creager ended up winning that district.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-05

William Allen White apologizes to President Roosevelt for the “screed” which his new editorial writer, Walt Mason, published in the Emporia Gazette. White assures Roosevelt that it does not reflect his views. He jokingly blames the Republican party for the problem, stating that if times were not so good, the paper would not have been able to hire another writer. White also says that William H. Taft has made a good impression in Kansas, and he believes that Taft is the right man to meet the current crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-10

Arthur Hamilton Lee appreciates the friendly letters from President Roosevelt and asks that Roosevelt and his family leave ample time for their visit to England. It is unfortunate that Roosevelt will not be present for the deer-stalking. Lee is pleased Roosevelt will deliver the Romanes lecture at Oxford. The outcome of the election has seemed unclear from abroad, and Lee is glad to hear Roosevelt’s positive update on William H. Taft. Lee asks if Roosevelt will elaborate on statements from his letters about information that he wants to share in person. If the information could assist Lee in serving his country and there was no other way to discuss it, he would come to the United States, but he assures Roosevelt that a message could be transmitted safely through the embassy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-04

William Jennings Bryan responds to President Roosevelt’s accusations against Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell and the Democratic party itself for connection with the trusts, in political support and in campaign donations. Bryan questions Roosevelt’s actions in letting a steel trust absorb a rival and refutes his statements on contributions during the 1896 campaign. Challenging Roosevelt’s opposition to the publication of campaign contributions before the election, Bryan argues that the voters have a right to know if William H. Taft has been supported by financiers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-29

Arthur W. Weed, secretary and assistant treasurer at Douglas Robinson, Charles S. Brown and Co., details the facts of a case concerning rent payment by Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell and Joseph R. Megrue using stock in Standard Oil.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

William Jennings Bryan responds to President Roosevelt’s letter by defending Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s record as a politician, and by critiquing the past campaign contributions for Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Bryan compares the Democratic and Republican party platforms, the attitudes of trust leaders towards the presidential candidates, and the publicity and funding for the two opposing campaigns. Ethically, Bryan believes it is wrong for Roosevelt to use his position as president to influence the choosing of his successor instead of letting the candidate achieve success on merit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

Lawrence Abbott acknowledges President Roosevelt’s return of the China article payment, and appreciates his attitude in the matter. There will be editorial reviews in The Outlook on the situation between Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, which Abbott finds fascinating. Abbott worries that related corruption would permeate other areas of government if William Jennings Bryan is elected President.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

In response to William Loeb’s letter, Douglas Robinson explains that he does not have any affiliation with Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskel of Oklahoma, or anyone associated with Standard Oil. Robinson briefly knew William Rockefeller, but it was displeasing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

President Roosevelt wears an olive branch crown and rides in a chariot followed by “Trusts,” “Morgan,” “Foraker,” “Bryan,” “Rockefeller,” “Tillman,” “Harriman,” “Haskell,” “Hearst,” “Pulitzer,” “Congress,” a “stork,” “undesirable citizens,” “grafters,” “muckrakers,” and “nature fakirs.” A dove tries to escape the “peace” cage.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

President Roosevelt wears a mask and sits at a desk with Secret Service reports. On the wall are “Rogue’s Gallery no. 1–Members of Congress,” a “list of undesirable citizens–Harriman, Rockefeller, Foraker, Haskell, and Tilman,” and a March 1909 calendar. On the other wall is a sign–“Old Sleuth Hawkshaw & Co.: Private Investigations. Shadowing”–and some disguises, including “mollycoddle masks,” “Ananias masks,” “malefactors of great wealth,’ and a coat “for the frivolous judge disguise.” On the ground are “gum shoes” and a “Muck Rake” cat.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

William Jennings Bryan holds Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell depicted as an infant and sucking from a “Standard Oil” bottle. Bryan tells Roosevelt, “You shall not touch the che-e-ild!” Roosevelt replies, “Have a care! You will rue this day!”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division