Odell, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Barker), 1854-1926

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Roosevelt expresses to Senator Lodge his thoughts and concerns for the upcoming gubernatorial and congressional elections. Roosevelt is worried about Hearst’s influence in New York and the changing attitudes in the labor movement. Roosevelt also gives updates on activities of Secretary of State Elihu Root and Attorney General William H. Moody, as well as his son, Ted, whose letter is enclosed. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

President Roosevelt is pleased with how Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is handling the packing men. The Congressional situation in Iowa concerns him. He comments on the political conditions in various states, concluding that upsets in local matters will lead to suffering in the general government. He feels Congress was unwise in its treatment of the labor people. Roosevelt believes “in refusing any unjust demand on labor just as quickly” as any such demands on capital.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt thanks Secretary of State Root for the humorous translation of a Spanish newspaper. He provides updates on the successful naval review, recent state elections, and the boiling pot of New York politics. Roosevelt finds that William Jennings Bryan’s eagerness for popularity causes him to commit “to preposterous positions,” as revealed by his recent speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alexander Lambert

President Roosevelt finds Alexander Lambert’s detailing of William Travers Jerome’s plan “interesting and characteristic.” Despite sometimes giving good advice, Roosevelt calls Jerome out as a lying “fakir.” Roosevelt has done all he can to help Representatives Parsons and Wadsworth, finding presidential interference does not help even in exceptional circumstances.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of State Root a letter of greeting and congratulations on the success of his recent trip to Central America. Roosevelt has enjoyed the rest he has had over the summer and is now beginning to work on the fall electoral campaigns. While the recent Congress has been very productive, Roosevelt fears that “the time has about come for the swinging of the pendulum,” and mentions some areas he believes the Republicans are weak. Secretary of War William H. Taft has decided to not accept a position on the Supreme Court, which may put him in the ranks of possible presidential candidates. Local New York elections for governor have shown Benjamin B. Odell as having an advantage over Governor Frank Wayland Higgins.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

President Roosevelt tells New York Representative Parsons that it “would be worse than mere folly” for him to get involved in New York gubernatorial elections. Roosevelt had previously tried to move Governor Frank Wayland Higgins to action, but was told that this had a negative effect and seemed as though Roosevelt was trying to dictate matters within the state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gilbert D. B. Hasbrouck

President Roosevelt wishes that Judge Hasbrouck had experienced what Roosevelt has gone through with regards to people advocating for candidates to be appointed to various positions. Roosevelt has pressures coming “from the President of the Senate down,” and is unable to always do what he is asked.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt would be pleased by Nicholas Murray Butler’s plan to have Roosevelt nominated as a senator after his term as president is over, but worries it would cause opposition to the ticket from both Thomas Collier Platt and Benjamin B. Odell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cornelius Newton Bliss

President Roosevelt hopes Cornelius Newton Bliss has not taken personally the baseless accusations thrown at him of late. Roosevelt does not believe there was any unusual or excessive expenditure in the 1904 election, and in fact there was less than what the British parliament spends on their elections. It was half of what was spent on the 1892 and 1896 elections, but the more important point is that the money was spent legitimately. Bliss has only given the president advice when he asked, and asked for nothing in return, and for that the president is grateful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Wayland Higgins

President Roosevelt congratulates Governor Higgins on his success and comments on the odd behavior of ex-Governor Benjamin B. Odell. Based on his actions, Roosevelt believes that Odell may have perjured himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth

President Roosevelt congratulates newly-elected Speaker of the New York Assembly James Wolcott Wadsworth on his victory. He offers Wadsworth “platitudinous” advice to try to make the Republican party useful to the public and the State by acting according to high ideals, and also to act without thinking of his own political advancement. Roosevelt also advises Wadsworth to show his appreciation to fellow Assemblymen James T. Rogers and Sherman Moreland, who “behaved very squarely” on Wadsworth’s behalf.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hamilton Fish II

President Roosevelt informs Hamilton Fish II that up until Governor Frank Wayland Higgins took action, he also would have chosen Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright for Speaker of the Assembly over James Wolcott Wadsworth. Former governor Benjamin B. Odell made his canvass a “savage and personal attack” on Roosevelt and had chosen to back Wainwright, and as such, a victory for Wainwright would have been seen as a victory for Odell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

President Roosevelt discusses the condition of the Republican party in New York state with Representative Parsons. Although he does not want to be directly involved in selecting the specific man who will serve as Speaker of the Assembly, Roosevelt believes it is important that a “clean man” be elected, rather than one who is beholden to party bosses or the “machine.” It is imperative that James Wolcott Wadsworth is elected, rather than Edwin A. Merritt, who appears to be under the control of ex-governor Benjamin B. Odell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

President Roosevelt evaluates the conflict between Representative Parsons and Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott, who have both declared their candidacy for chairman of the County Committee in New York. Although Roosevelt knows that both men are independent, the public perceives them as being representatives of opposing factions within the state Republican party. If Parsons issues a statement declaring his independence from both Benjamin B. Odell and Senator Thomas Collier Platt, Roosevelt will advise Olcott to withdraw from the race.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jacob Van Vechten Olcott

President Roosevelt tells Representative Olcott that a letter he received from Representative Herbert Parsons seems to cover the case. Roosevelt hopes that Olcott will now withdraw, and says that he can quote his language from the letter to Parsons if he leaves out the personal references to Senator Thomas Collier Platt and former New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Loeb to Jacob Van Vechten Olcott

William Loeb sends Representative Olcott the text of a letter in which President Roosevelt evaluates the conflict between Representative Herbert Parsons and Olcott, who have both declared their candidacy for chairman of the County Committee in New York. Although Roosevelt knows that both men are independent, the public perceives them as being representatives of opposing factions within the state Republican party. If Parsons issues a statement declaring his independence from both Benjamin B. Odell and Senator Thomas Collier Platt, Roosevelt will advice Olcott to withdraw from the race.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-01

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William R. Willcox

President Roosevelt asks Postmaster Willcox to speak with Senator Thomas Collier Platt and William Barnes to discuss withdrawing Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott from consideration for chairman of the Republican County commission in favor of Representative Herbert Parsons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Collier Platt

President Roosevelt frankly tells Senator Platt that he does not think it wise to continue supporting Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott for chair of the County Committee of New York if it becomes evident that most Republicans in the area do not support him. He believes that if Platt continues to fight for Olcott against a man as clean and broadly-supported as Representative Herbert Parsons, he could give the impression that Olcott’s election is “a machine triumph,” which is the very thing that they are trying to avoid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nevada N. Stranahan

President Roosevelt tells New York Collector of Customs Stranahan that in light of the testimony of James H. Hyde, it is clear that Governor Benjamin B. Odell has, directly or indirectly, used his office for personal gain and thus should not continue to be leader of the Republican party in the state. Roosevelt does not wish to make any public statement, as he “was elected President and not boss,” but he says that Stranahan can show this letter to New York Republicans Hamilton Fish and Frank Wayland Higgins.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt comments to Senator Lodge on the election results in various states. He is particularly pleased about the Massachusetts results. He wishes that Ambassador George von Lengerke Meyer had gone back to Saint Petersburg when the trouble started three weeks ago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919