Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Johnson for the letter. He agrees with Johnson that the people are entitled to an open primary to express their views for the presidential nomination. Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about President William H. Taft in absolute confidence. Despite his misgivings, Roosevelt will support Taft if nominated since he sees no ground for permanent hope in the Democratic Party. He comments on the other presidential candidates and considers himself a weak candidate. Roosevelt examines how the New York judges’ decisions strengthen the Socialist Party. He reviews why he disagrees with Johnson’s estimate of the public’s opinion of himself and why he does not want to be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Theodore Roosevelt informs Joseph G. Butler that he is unable to fulfill his request of writing a few words for him as he receives too many requests of this kind. Roosevelt suggests that Butler looks up the plenty of speeches he’s made where he speaks of William McKinley, he can use those as a quote and sign his name on it. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-24

Theodore Roosevelt thanks John G. Capers for the courtesy of sending the editorial about Abraham Lincoln. However, Roosevelt found the editorial nonsensical and does not understand why Capers thought he would want to read it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-25

Theodore Roosevelt found Charles Dwight Willard’s letter interesting, and thinks it is a wonder that Willard has lived this long with his health challenges. Roosevelt reflects on their being “within range of the riflepits” and reasons that all is well should they be hit as they have “fought the good fight and accomplished something.” He found the anecdote about Harrison Gray Otis at The Outlook lunch amusing, and it is true that he found it proper to leave Lyman Abbott’s correction to his article even though he believes that The Times building was dynamited. He is pleased with the success of Edwin T. Earl’s paper and comments on the corruption of other newspapermen. Roosevelt comments on the progressive contingency having to “use the curb quite as much as the spur” in dealing with the popular movement against big corporations and men of wealth. Willard’s compliments of his article pleased him, especially as he admits to sometimes feeling dispirited about them. As an ex-president, Roosevelt must balance standing up for what he thinks is right without appearing to censor the current president. However, he is “extremely indignant” that President William H. Taft vetoed the statehood bill for Arizona and New Mexico. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Theodore Roosevelt updates Cecil Spring Rice on the members of the Roosevelt family. Roosevelt feels that British politics are much more interesting than politics in the United States at the moment. He is disappointed in President Taft, and thinks that his leadership has divided the conservative and progressive streams within the Republican Party. However, Roosevelt would like to see Taft elected again. Roosevelt has “no sympathy with [Taft’s] arbitration treaty business” and believes the treaty should be strictly between Great Britain and the United States. Roosevelt also writes about his contentment with his life at the moment, writing for The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-22

Theodore Roosevelt feels he was unable to adequately convey the impression his trip to Wisconsin made in his articles. He commends Governor McGovern’s work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-04

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his assistant secretary says he never gave Victor D. Brenner approval to make a bas-relief of him and opposes it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-01

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary replies to G. Clinton Batcheller and sends him an excerpt from a speech by Roosevelt at the Twenty-fifth Annual Lincoln Dinner of the Republican Club of New York from last February. He spoke in support of President Taft, particularly with his efforts for reciprocity with Canada and to secure the Panama Canal. Roosevelt also argued that “it should always be a cardinal point in our foreign policy to establish the cleanest and most friendly relations of equal respect and advantage with our great neighbor on the north.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-07

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Leonard Grover that Roosevelt is too overwhelmed to read his article on President Lincoln or grant him an appointment. He is returning the magazine and enclosures under separate cover.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-30

Theodore Roosevelt strongly tells John O. Jackson that the author of the newspaper article he sent is deliberately lying and misconstruing Roosevelt’s speech. Roosevelt clarifies his statements about the Constitution and his response to anarchists.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-19

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Gutzon Borglum’s Seated Lincoln bronze statue in Newark, New Jersey. He is glad he had the opportunity to participate in the unveiling of the statue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-02

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary tells Ralph Emerson Lum that there are no people whom Roosevelt would particularly like to be at the unveiling of the Lincoln Monument on Memorial Day. Roosevelt will leave the distribution of the invitations entirely up to Lum. Roosevelt’s secretary also thanks Lum for sending the clipping from the Sunday Call.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-25

Theodore Roosevelt expresses his appreciation for Charles Dwight Willard’s frank and sincere letter, as well as his admiration for Willard’s work. Roosevelt discusses his “genuine sympathy” for the common, hard-working man and outlines his views on democracy as both a form of government and as an ideal. Roosevelt also discusses the pros and cons of initiative, referendum, and recall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-28

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Charles M. Woodbury for sending the booklet and the copy of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-22

Theodore Roosevelt opposes the Aldrich proposition. He is puzzled that Elisha Ely Garrison and Victor Morawetz oppose it with strong arguments yet contend that each other is wrong. Despite Garrison’s suggestion, Roosevelt is unwilling to lead the fight against the Aldrich Bill as he is less knowledgeable about currency issues and the tariff than about the military and corporate regulation, among other things.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Theodore Roosevelt believes that it is nonsense to say that people will never make a mistake with the initiative, referendum, or recall. He wants the government to respond to the desires of the people but their desires do not need to be fulfilled the next moment. Two copies. Letter is dated February 31, 1911, which may have been a transposition of February 13.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-13

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Reverend Ferdinand Cowle Iglehart of the New York Anti-Saloon League for sending the Lincoln story Iglehart wrote.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-16

Theodore Roosevelt discusses Charles Dwight Willard’s editorial and asks Tracy C. Becker to bring Willard to meet Roosevelt on the train in Los Angeles, California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-13

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary writes to Senator Smith regarding Roosevelt’s trip on “The Wolverine Express” from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to New York City. The Secretary discusses hotel arrangements and relays that he contacted the Chairman of the Program Committee at Grand Rapids who disclosed Roosevelt’s speech topic: “Lincoln and Progressive Republicanism.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-31

Theodore Roosevelt regrets he cannot be in Seattle, Washington, on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday but looks forward to speaking there in the spring. He is in “absolute sympathy” with the purpose of Rufus Rockwell Wilson’s Progressive Republican League regarding preserving the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-27