Nebraska

Magazine article featuring a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay recounting his trip west in 1903.

Collection

Grand Canyon National Park

Creation Date

1951-12-10

John O. Yeiser explains to Frank Harper the reason for his telegram asking permission to publicize some of his correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt. Yeiser is anxious to make Roosevelt a candidate and would appreciate being able to share something to help the movement succeed. Roosevelt’s name will be on the Nebraska primary ballot which will provide a poll of the voters preference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-17

Petition to join The Great Unpledged Republican Club which will be composed of citizens of Nebraska who support Theodore Roosevelt to lead the Republican Party but who are not opposed to William H. Taft being renominated if it becomes impossible to induce Roosevelt to accept the nomination. A banquet will be arranged in cities of Nebraska for the opening meeting of the club.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911

John O. Yeiser is sending a petition along with this letter hoping the recipient will talk with a few trusted friends and begin to obtain membership to the club, though Yeiser does not want it getting out yet in order to reduce rival efforts. The effort is being started in prominent cities of Nebraska to bring good men together to choose who they will vote for. If Theodore Roosevelt will not be nominated, they need to decide who they will choose, even if it is William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-23

Benjamin F. Beazell tells Theodore Roosevelt that he has traveled through many midwestern states and all republicans he meets are dissatisfied with William H. Taft and will not vote for Taft even if nominated. Beazell states the dissatisfied businessmen and farmers are true blood republicans, not insurgent republicans. Beazell believes the office will seek out Roosevelt despite Roosevelt not seeking office and offers to help in any way he can.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

John O. Yeiser tells Theodore Roosevelt he has taken the responsibility of mailing out petitions to get an idea of what people are thinking about the presidential nomination, though he is being cautious. Yeiser does not need Roosevelt to approve of the endeavor, but Yeiser does ask if Roosevelt might consider coming to Nebraska to speak at one of the banquets he plans to hold. Any correspondence between them is strictly confidential unless Roosevelt authorizes Yeiser to mention it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-23

President Roosevelt thanks Columbia University President Butler for alerting him to a particularly disagreeable plank in the Nebraska Republican Party’s platform. Roosevelt believes these ideas are “the worst type of Jeffersonism.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-27

President Roosevelt disagrees with the Nebraska Republican Party’s platform, as he believes the restrictions it proposes placing on the federal judiciary would be tantamount to eliminating the federal government. The resolution is as bad as secession, even if it was well-intentioned. He does not want Senator Burkett to publish his letter and bring greater attention to the matter, but he may share it with leaders of the convention as needed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-27

President Roosevelt shares his thoughts regarding the upcoming presidential election and the land fraud case against Idaho Senator William Edgar Borah with William Allen White. Roosevelt outlines his personal reasons for supporting Secretary of War William H. Taft for president as well as the political considerations necessary to secure his nomination. In the case of Borah, Roosevelt would like White to come to Oyster Bay to discuss the matter with him and Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte; Roosevelt thinks it would look bad for Borah to come himself, and asks White to bring Borah’s lawyers on August 9.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-30

President Roosevelt always hopes to agree with a state’s senators in the appointment of judges, but believes it would be helpful to hear from the bar and bench about the various candidates. He thinks there should be another judicial district in Nebraska, but is unsure if the bill will pass.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-08

President Roosevelt sits at his desk with a paper in front of him and a sign that reads, “My busy day.” His “big stick” is leaned against the desk. All around him are bouquets from various states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and “John T. Graves, Georgia, 3rd term.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Hugh J. Doyle, the longtime Philadelphia cartoonist, drew this cartoon probably in response to anti-Roosevelt rumblings in the Republican Party at the time. There were few, but influential, men who had personal reasons to snipe at the president.

A number of men offer papers to President Roosevelt that read, “latest roster of Roosevelt’s cabinet,” “the message to Congress,” “the President’s Southern tour,” “reorganized cabinet,” “what the President will do to Congress,” “outline of Roosevelt’s foreign policies,” and “Roosevelt and 1908.” There are also three barrels beside him: “good advice from Neb.,” “good advice from Nebraska,” and “more good advice from Nebr.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-02

President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for the editorial. Roosevelt comments on the position of the “revolutionary Senators,” saying public opinion is not on their side. He mentions that the Nebraska State Convention has just declared support for his position.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1902-06-20

Article offers a brief history of cattle ranching in North Dakota.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1920-1960

Train pilot standing outside a locomotive engine

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-06-23

President Roosevelt speaking to a crowd from the back of a train

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-10-13

Ray H. Mattison thanks Roy P. Johnson for his hard work gathering and sending him research materials regarding the authenticity of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross cabin. The information Mattison has gathered from interviewing old timers backs the authenticity of the cabin thus far, although he still has more people to interview. Mattison believes Hermann Hagedorn is incorrect in saying that Roosevelt went to Red River country in Nebraska in 1882, because there is Red River in Nebraska. He notes a paragraph in Roosevelt’s 1920 autobiography in which the President talks about his first trip to Fargo, North Dakota in 1883, not 1882.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-07-23

The train carrying President Roosevelt

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-06-12

A crowd welcoming President Roosevelt

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-06-12

President Roosevelt looking out at the crowd from the back of the train

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-07-28