Your TR Source
President Roosevelt discusses the best strategies for Republican victories in the upcoming elections in New York with Representative Sherman. Roosevelt believes that gubernatorial candidate Charles Evans Hughes represents his policies “as regards internal affairs of the nation” and sees the possible election of William Randolph Hearst “as a smashing defeat.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-14
President Roosevelt thanks Elsie Worthington Clews Parsons for the letter and comments on her husband, Representative Herbert Parsons, as a “mighty useful public servant.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
President Roosevelt writes to candidate for governor of New York Charles Evans Hughes about getting “prominent Catholics” on his campaign committee and gives a list of men who he believes should be considered.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-04
President Roosevelt encloses information about “young Gates” and advises United States District Attorney Stimson to speak to Representative Herbert Parsons about Gates’s possible appointment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-05
President Roosevelt congratulates Senator Lodge on his speech, as well as one from former Governor of Massachusetts John Lewis Bates. Roosevelt recently gave a speech in Harrisburg, and although he would not denounce his opponents by name, he calls out the “demagogs” and “agitators.” Roosevelt is concerned that the “corporation men” are swayed to vote for the Democratic candidates, believing the Republican party is likely to impose government regulations opposed to their interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08
President Roosevelt asks New York Police Commissioner General Bingham to review and return the enclosed, confidential item. He requests that if Bingham is required to take action, he be impartial and “show all ruffians” that they will be “sternly required to observe the law.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-08
President Roosevelt finds Jacob Gould Schurman, Chairman of the US Philippine Commission, has insightfully stated his own views and showed Schurman’s letter to Representative Herbert Parsons. He asks Schurman to tell Charles Evans Hughes not to commit to the governorship until he can speak to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-01
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27
President Roosevelt gladly allows Oscar W. Ehrhorn to name the newly-formed Republican Club of the Seventh Assembly District after him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-27
President Roosevelt feels it is necessary to send Senator Platt one more letter on the matter of appointing a judge to the Southern District of New York, given Platt’s previous letter. William Loeb has not written to friends of J. Addison Young on the necessity of saving face for Herbert Parsons, and would not have had any authority from Roosevelt if he had done so. Roosevelt was concerned with pleasing Parsons, but was more concerned with Platt’s opinion, and would have been pleased if the facts had shown J. Addision Young to be a better candidate than Charles M. Hough for the position. Roosevelt emphasizes, however, that he has put no one’s opinion on the matter above getting the best candidate, and has not been trying to humiliate Platt in any way.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-18
President Roosevelt promises to look into a matter that Cornelius Newton Bliss mentioned, but does not think he could appoint a Westchester County man, as it would be “an awful blow” to Herbert Parsons and others in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-05
President Roosevelt thanks F. V. Greene for his testimony about Davis, and says that he has not yet made up his mind about who to appoint. He is leaning towards choosing Charles M. Hough, and comments that Representative Herbert Parsons is anxious to have his advice followed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-05
Representative Herbert Parsons has spoken with President Roosevelt about the House measure that New York Attorney General Mayer wrote about, and Roosevelt thinks it is “a great deal better than nothing.” He advises Mayer to handle the matter of the New York City mayoral election by writing William Randolph Hearst to tell him that he will allow a quo warranto proceeding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-21
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-29
President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root judge that Representative Herbert Parsons’s statement “absolutely meets the requirements” of the case per his and Roosevelt’s agreement with Representative Olcott. Roosevelt believes Olcott should “come out” for Parsons. (Olcott and Parsons were both vying for Presidency of the Republican County Committee in New York.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-30
President Roosevelt encloses both Representative Herbert Parsons’s telegram and his reply to it for Secretary of State Root. Roosevelt approves of Parsons’s statement and believes that Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott should “come out” for Parsons. If he does not, Roosevelt will do so, and will publicly announce that Olcott had agreed to withdraw in favor of Parsons if Parsons made a statement like the one just released.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-30
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-01
President Roosevelt informs Senator Platt that several well-known Republicans in New York do not believe that Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott is the proper man to put forward for Chairman of the Republican county organization. Roosevelt makes it clear that he does not want to dictate who should be chairman and is merely providing his opinion. He believes that whoever is chosen should be “a man of the highest character and reputation” who possesses the independence necessary to conduct the affairs with efficiency and integrity. Roosevelt believes it is more important to focus on finding a man of this type, rather than on naming a specific person.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-23
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-24
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-25