Hitt, Robert R. (Robert Roberts), 1834-1906

Several vignettes illustrate the difficulty of catching a vice presidential candidate, including offering some “Possible Premiums,” such as a “Cabinet Portfolio,” a “Carnegie Hero Pension,” use of the “Vice Pres’ yacht Tailenda,” and a “10 years lease for pedestal in the Hall of Fame.” Caption: What’s the matter with the Vice-Presidential Chair?

comments and context

Comments and Context

As the presidential nominating conventions of the political parties approached in 1904, Puck asked a question regarding the vice presidency that was not only humorous but legitimate. The country had been without a vice president since Theodore Roosevelt succeeded the assassinated William McKinley in September of 1901.

President Roosevelt has met with Representative Joseph Gurney Cannon who is concerned that Congress’s foreign policy prerogatives are being overlooked. Congress is apparently sensitive on the subject and Secretary of State Hay should consult with Representative Robert R. Hitt whenever Congress’s power of action is in question.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-07

President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt send their sympathies to Sarah Ann Reynolds Hitt upon the death of her husband, Representative Robert R. Hitt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-21

President Roosevelt writes to his son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., about his trip to Rock Creek Park, and his recent political and exercise activities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-14

Senator Platt and Congressman Alexander support the appointment of Adam Rinewalt as consul at Fort Erie. President Roosevelt is favorable if Robert Hitt’s man can be sent elsewhere.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-19

Rudolph Forster informs Benjamin F. Barnes that Secretary of State Hay believes Representative Hitt is “very ill.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-18

Albert Shaw sends President Roosevelt a copy of a letter from Senator Beveridge. Shaw discusses potential vice-presidential nominees. He says that there is “absolutely no public sentiment” for Charles W. Fairbanks and recommends Illinois congressmen Robert R. Hitt or Joseph G. Cannon as vice-presidential choices.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-03

Elihu Root is working on his convention speech and wants to highlight the achievements of Theodore Roosevelt’s administration. Root is contacting the department heads to get their ideas and requests that William Loeb create a list from Roosevelt’s perspective. Root discussed the vice presidential nomination with Mr. Black, who is in favor of Joseph Gurney Cannon, and Root supports Robert R. Hitt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-31

President Roosevelt holds a violin and has “The Life Strenuous” sheet music as he looks at the chair beside him with a sign that reads, “Wanted: Some one to play second fiddle.” Illinois Representative Robert R. Hitt looks at the “vice-presidency” violin while Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks looks at the bow.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-08

President Roosevelt hits a baseball with Illinois Representative Robert R. Hitt’s face on it over the “vice presidential fence.” Caption: Teddy: I guess that’s a safe hit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-18

A Republican elephant holds out a dish of beans, including one marked “vice presidency,” to several blindfolded men, including Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Illinois Representative Robert R. Hitt, and Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-15

Illinois Representative Robert R. Hitt holds up his hands as he hides behind a bush. President Roosevelt holds a firearm and stands on top of an elephant that has a “president” and “vice president” seat. In the background, several other men run away into the woods. Caption: Congressman Hitt—”Don’t shoot, I’ll come aboard.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-18

Horace White asks President Roosevelt to notify Senator Eugene Hale of an omission in the Diplomatic and Consular Bill of appropriation for the third secretary at Rome. White has been working on a diplomatic appointment for William Blumenthal for some time, and this place would be appropriate for Blumenthal to fill. White asks Roosevelt to speak with Hale on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-16

President Grover Cleveland and British Prime Minister Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury, are dressed as Native Americans, smoking peace pipes filled with “Common Sense Tobacco.” Sitting with Cleveland, also dressed as natives, are Richard Olney, Robert R. Hitt, Charles A. Boutelle, Nelson Dingley, George Frisbie Hoar, William E. Chandler, John T. Morgan, and Henry Cabot Lodge. Sitting with Salisbury are Joseph Chamberlain, Arthur James Balfour, George Joachim Goschen, and the Duke of Devonshire, Spencer Compton Cavendish. In the foreground is a hatchet in a hole, to be buried, possibly over the Venezuela boundary dispute.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-01-22

A large group of members of the Fifty-fourth Congress are pictured. Many are dressed as natives, with some wearing grass skirts. Most are armed with spears or clubs, while some have shields. Four are reading the “Reminiscences of John Sherman,” one turns the crank on a spit where John Bull is being roasted, and Thomas B. Reed is standing on a platform on the left. A statue labeled “Jingoism” appears at center. Grover Cleveland appears in effigy with several spears or arrows stuck in him. Joseph G. Cannon sits on the floor on the right.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-05-27

President Roosevelt speaks at Rochelle, Illinois, about Congressman Hitt. He also discusses his foreign policy and the Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-03

Assistant Secretary of State Loomis acknowledges communicating with Senator Cullom and Mr. Hitt concerning the resolution.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-08

Pages three and four of the December 2, 1903, issue of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, with the article “The government’s policy toward Panama” noted. In the article, Congressman Hitt refutes the accusation that the Roosevelt administration recognized Panama too quickly or played any role in that country’s secession from Colombia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-02