Hearst, William Randolph, 1863-1951

Letter from John Weaver to Theodore Roosevelt

Philadelphia mayor John Weaver assures President Roosevelt that he has not repeated any part of their conversation in any way that could lead to its publication. He has only mentioned Roosevelt’s comment on the tyranny of the newspaper political machines when he could be sure of making it clear that it was in the context of the New York political race. Weaver expresses his admiration for Roosevelt and would not want to do anything to jeopardize Roosevelt’s good opinion of him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-11

Letter from Frances M. Wolcott to Theodore Roosevelt

Frances M. Wolcott writes to President Roosevelt regarding the shipping of bobwhite quail to the estate of Count Pourtales in Silesia. Wolcott also recounts his attendance at the Democratic State Convention in Buffalo, New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-11

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge writes to President Roosevelt about a serious situation developing in Massachusetts politics. At a recent state convention of the American Federation of Labor, the group denounced Lt. Governor Draper and nine of the eleven Republican Congressmen. Lodge believes that “Gus”, his son-in-law Augustus Peabody Gardner, “is a good fighter, but with this labor attack and the character of his opponent he has before him a very severe contest.” His opponent was a man named Schofield, a “Native-american demagogue with a great deal of local popularity.” Lodge spoke yesterday at the state convention in Rhode Island where a “Hearst man” is giving Republicans a tough fight as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-12

Letter from Oscar S. Straus to Theodore Roosevelt

Oscar S. Straus updates President Roosevelt on the status of the campaigns in New York. Straus is assisting Timothy L. Woodruff, the Chair of the Republican State Committee in New York. He says that while he and Nathan Bijur have their “hands on the pulses on the Eastside,” he is sure that William Randolph Hearst will mislead the people over there. Straus says it is different this year, as Tammany Hall is behind Hearst rather than George B. McClellan. Straus commends Bijur for his work, and says that the leading newspapers of the Eastside are supporting Charles Evans Hughes for Governor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-12

Letter from Homer Davenport to Theodore Roosevelt

Political cartoonist Homer Davenport thanks President Roosevelt for his letter as it cheered him considerably in his recent illness. In Aleppo, Davenport acquired twenty-seven horses and mares of blood purer than he and Roosevelt have seen before. Aleppo’s governor was curious about “Americk,” a nation he had heard to be the greatest of them all, and he rejoiced that Davenport carried a letter of friendship from Roosevelt, “The Sheik of All Americk.” Davenport also notes that though William Randolph Hearst has offered to employ him, Davenport will refuse because he feels Hearst unfit for the office he seeks and because he desires “to plod where I know I am on the right side.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-13

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge feels that President Roosevelt’s denunciations of demagogues and agitators are often subsumed by his denunciations of trusts, and urges Roosevelt to pay attention to both in the upcoming elections. The question is how to defeat them without making the public feel they are just as dangerous as the demagogues. As an example, Lodge mentions General Stephen Minot Weld, who is the kind of man they depend on for support and who they do not want to frighten into thinking, rightly or wrongly, that they are as extreme as the Hearsts and Morans are.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-13

Letter from Timothy L. Woodruff to Theodore Roosevelt

Timothy L. Woodruff, Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, updates President Roosevelt on the campaign for the 1906 New York gubernatorial election between Republican Charles Evans Hughes and Democrat William Randolph Hearst. Woodruff agrees with Roosevelt that campaign events should not feature Republicans with national reputations, with the exception of Secretary of State Elihu Root, who is from New York. Woodruff says he attempted to prevent Speaker of the House and Illinois Congressman Joseph Gurney Cannon from campaigning for Republicans in New York and, that having failed, has asked that Cannon avoid discussing national Republican issues like tariffs or labor unions. Woodruff includes a letter from a local Democratic lawyer whom Woodruff feels represents many Democrats who oppose Hearst enough to cross party lines to vote for Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-13

Letter from Herbert Parsons to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Parsons has conferred with Timothy L. Woodruff, Representatives Olcott, Bennet, Calder, and Sherman, and Charles Evans Hughes about the matter in President Roosevelt’s previous letter. Parsons would like to bring in out-of-state speakers to enliven the campaign but hopes they will not discuss tariffs or labor unions. There was general agreement to have Joseph Gurney Cannon, Speaker of the House, give his scheduled speech but many think it unwise to have Secretary of State Elihu Root speak in New York because of his connection to Thomas Fortune Ryan, the “Equitable matter,” and corporations in general, and how William Randolph Hearst would portray it in his papers. Edward R. Finch agrees with Parsons that Root should still come and speak about stable government ensuring good business conditions, but would like Secretary of War William H. Taft to be his substitute if the Congressmen decide against Root.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-15

Letter from John St. Loe Strachey to Theodore Roosevelt

John St. Loe Strachey asks President Roosevelt what he ought to think of William Randolph Hearst. Is he truly unfit for public office, or is there a conspiracy by the trusts to blacken him more than he deserves? Strachey trusts Roosevelt to speak impartially and without regard to party politics. Strachey informs Roosevelt that he met Major Beacon, the American military attache in Sussex. Strachey is watching the American occupation of Cuba with great interest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-15

Hearst as a Democratic candidate

William Randolph Hearst has been nominated for Governor of New York by the Democratic party, a position which in five of the last ten national elections has led to the Democratic nomination for the presidency. The article notes that this will be Hearst’s first major political contest and predicts a hard-fought election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-06

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Cabot Lodge discusses the upcoming elections. He thinks the Republican Party will carry the House, but worries about Massachusetts and New York. The Republican National Convention went “without a ripple” thanks to Winthrop Murray Crane, William H. Moody, and others. There are still bad feelings around Representative Charles Curtis, though. Ex-Governor John Lewis Bates, who took his unmerited defeat in “the most manly way,” gave one of the best speeches Lodge has ever heard. Lodge discusses District Attorney John B. Moran’s treatment of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Moran, who is running for Governor of Massachusetts, supports William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst and his platform reads like a “manifesto of a Jacobian Club.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-06

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on the newspapers’ reaction to the measures taken in a shipping and fishing dispute in Newfoundland. Reid details his negotiations with Sir Edward Gray and Sir Charles Hardinge regarding the United States’ right to ship Newfoundland fisherman. Reid also discusses several books with Roosevelt, including one about Alexander Hamilton and a biography of Winston Churchill’s father, Randolph Churchill. Reid comments on Roosevelt’s offer to let the Cubans try self-government again, noting that it silences those who would paint Roosevelt as an imperialist. Reid does not think that the Cubans are ready for self-government, and he believes the United States should make Cuba one of its states. Reid updates Roosevelt on the political conflict between the Labor and Liberal parties in the United Kingdom. Reid notes that due to “bad blood” between the German and English press, it is difficult to trust English newspapers for accurate views of German positions. Reid also offers his opinion on domestic political issues, writing that those who vote for Hearst will be written off as from “the ignorant or dangerous classes.” Reid believes William Jennings Bryan has fallen out of favor, but he does not think they have seen the last of him. Finally, Reid has enclosed several books and clippings for Roosevelt to peruse.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Letter from Stephen Minot Weld to Henry Cabot Lodge

Stephen Minot Weld tells Senator Lodge that he does not support President Roosevelt’s positions on the income and legacy taxes. If Roosevelt does not soften his position, Weld will have to vote for another Republican candidate. He believes this issue is too radical and could destroy the party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Letter from Timothy L. Woodruff to Theodore Roosevelt

Chairman of the New York State Republican Committee Timothy Woodruff informs President Roosevelt of the political situation in New York regarding the nomination of state senate candidates and the gubernatorial campaign of Charles Evans Hughes. He lists the stops Hughes is making in his campaign speech circuit, and references the support Hughes has among Democratic labor union leaders, Catholic priests, and the Yiddish newspapers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Stephen Minot Weld

Senator Lodge writes to Stephen Minot Weld about rumors of an inheritance tax being proposed. Lodge points out that the country has a budget surplus and is not in need of raising money, but says that he finds inheritance tax to be one valid method of raising funds for civilized nations. Lodge thinks rich men should pay tax upon their property to even the burden. Public ownership of property, for which William Jennings Bryan, John B. Moran, and others are calling, verges on socialism and could cause disaster. Lodge is confident in President Roosevelt’s stand against government ownership.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-09

Letter from Ralph M. Easley to William Loeb

Ralph M. Easley shares with William Loeb the sentiments that a “very important labor man” expressed to him, feelings purportedly shared among all of the labor advocates who support Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Evans Hughes of New York. These men hope that Representative Joseph Gurney Cannon will not be brought into the campaign. Those Cannon would influence already oppose Democratic candidate William Randolph Hearst and, because of his conflict with Samuel Gompers, Cannon could do more harm than good.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-10

Letter from Frank Haverty to Theodore Roosevelt

Frank Haverty says the people of New York credit President Roosevelt with forcing the nomination of Charles Evans Hughes for the Republican Party, whom decent Democrats could support. He fears, however, that the proposed New York speaking tour of Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, and Senator Albert J. Beveridge, among others, will cause thousands of Democrats to vote for William Randolph Hearst or to not vote at all.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-10

Letter from Herbert Parsons to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Parsons believes that the Judiciary Nominator’s ticket could cost Republicans thousands of votes, specifically because there are no Orthodox Jews on the ticket and certain parts of New York City are not represented. Parsons also notes the absence of respected Judge Rosalsky and the fact that there are more Democrats than Republicans. A circular letter sent out by the Nominators gave the false impression that men active in politics are forever disqualified from being judges.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-03

Letter from Charles Sprague Smith to Charles Evans Hughes

Charles Sprague Smith does not believe that William Randolph Hearst is the right person to lead the Progressive movement. In Smith’s view, the people want progressive change and the Republicans should heed that and take progressive action.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-03

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler thinks Herbert Parsons showed far more power of leadership than he had anticipated, and the Republican party has been saved from making a critical blunder. Butler believes that the Republican party will win, but he recognizes the intensity of the political struggle ahead. Professor Hermann Schumacher gave a successful inaugural address, and Butler finds him personally very agreeable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28