Nominations for office

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred Spring

President Roosevelt believes New York State Supreme Court Justice Spring correctly explained the situation. It would have been possible to find another candidate after New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes announced his refusal, but it is too late to do so now even though “to renominate him will do damage; but not to renominate him will do very much more damage.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Raines

President Roosevelt knows of no one who would sacrifice Governor Charles Evans Hughes, if renominated, to get votes for William H. Taft. While Roosevelt agrees with Senator Raines’ reasons for opposing Hughes’ renomination, he feels it would be worse not to. Roosevelt does not want Raines thinking he is interfering or dictating on the matter. He will stand by the decision and do what he can to ensure the ticket’s success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

Understanding it to be a vent to an irritation and not a serious question, President Roosevelt responds to Representative Parsons concerning his supposed opposition “to having the Republicans of New York County express their wishes in this matter on primary day.” The matter in question is the nomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lafayette B. Gleason

President Roosevelt hopes Lafayette B. Gleason, secretary of the Republican State Committee of New York, understands he is aware of the issues posed by renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Roosevelt will give his advice to those who request it, but will stand by whatever decision is made.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Sloat Fassett

President Roosevelt assures Representative Fassett that he does not want to force the nomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes. There will be heavy loss regardless of whether Hughes is or is not nominated. Roosevelt believes the loss will be heavier if Hughes is not nominated, but will support whoever the convention chooses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alston Gordon Dayton

President Roosevelt will meet with Zachary T. Vinson or whoever Judge Dayton sends. However, he does not like to interfere in state contests unless William H. Taft advises such.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. Miner Wellman

President Roosevelt appreciates A. Miner Wellman’s arguments against Governor Charles Evans Hughes. While Hughes’s actions weakened him as a candidate, Roosevelt believes more votes will be lost by not renominating Hughes than by renominating him. His feelings aside, Roosevelt hopes the convention will follow the judgment of the majority of New York Republicans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William L. Ward

President Roosevelt agrees with William L. Ward’s friend that while it hurts to renominate Governor Charles Evans Hughes, it will hurt more if he is not renominated. Roosevelt will stand by the party’s decision but strongly believes Hughes should be renominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Appleton Stewart

President Roosevelt is concerned to hear of John Appleton Stewart’s accident and wishes him a quick recovery. He has come to the conclusion that it is necessary to renominate Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Guy Murchie

President Roosevelt informs Guy Murchie that while he would like to appoint Lewis, he believes there cannot be another Massachusetts appointee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lloyd Collis

President Roosevelt gladly sends Lloyd Collis a letter of introduction to William L. Ward. While he cannot interfere in Collis’s bid for the nomination, he privately sends his good wishes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Barnes

President Roosevelt informs William Barnes that he will support the decision of the New York Republican State Committee. He has given its members, including Barnes, his best judgment, which he bases on canvasses conducted across the state. He feels that Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated, as it will hurt more not to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Luke E. Wright

President Roosevelt encloses a letter to Secretary of War Wright on behalf of Governor George Curry for a position in the Philippines if there is a vacancy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George H. West

President Roosevelt privately informs George H. West, chairman of the Saratoga County Republican Committee, that he has written other party leaders that he thinks it best to renominate Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Sprague Smith

After deliberation, President Roosevelt shares Charles Sprague Smith’s opinion regarding renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes and has told the party leaders. However, Hughes “has grave elements of weakness.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Andrew Lyon

President Roosevelt informs Cecil Andrew Lyon that he wrote to John Nicholas Simpson. He hopes Simpson can come, and is pleased he was nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt shares the same opinion as William H. Taft that governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated. Roosevelt feels that making a speech would do more harm than good. While William Jennings Bryan has a strong following for the “church vote,” Roosevelt believes Bryan’s approach is dangerous. He approves of Taft’s letter to John Wesley Hill and suggests that secretary of state Elihu Root review it before it is made public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt encloses a letter to Lyman Abbott, which he received from Chancellor of Oxford, George Nathaniel Curzon, inviting him to present the Romanes lecture in 1910. Roosevelt is frustrated over the issue of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur S. Tompkins

President Roosevelt informs Judge Tompkins of the New York Supreme Court that he “feel[s] at my wits’ end to advise in that matter.” He has received dozens of letters concerning Governor Charles Evans Hughes’s renomination, more for than against him. However, the strongest letters are anti-Hughes. Railroad men and Italian, Russian, and Hungarian populations strongly oppose Hughes, whereas clergymen favor him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Isaac H. Cocks

President Roosevelt finds Isaac Cocks’s letter interesting and enjoyed seeing Cocks’s son, Representative William W. Cocks. Roosevelt similarly feels that Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated, but does not feel that he should act to help Hughes. Roosevelt does “not want to seem to be continually interfering and dictating what shall be done.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-16