Your TR Source
President Roosevelt congratulates Chief of the International Longshoremen’s Association Daniel J. Keefe on his accomplishments in keeping the Federation of Labor from becoming partisan. Roosevelt has sent Keefe’s letter to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock, and hopes to see Keefe if he is ever in Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-24
President Roosevelt says no letter has pleased him more than that of former Attorney General Olney. Roosevelt fully appreciates the burdens placed upon him and his purpose is entirely single: he wants to make a good president and to keep the administration upright and efficient for the benefit of the people. All party considerations are absolutely secondary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-23
Seth Low, possibly as Odysseus, raises a sword labeled “Nonpartisanship” to strike a sea monster labeled “Misrule,” as a woman labeled “Greater New York,” standing on rocks and chained to a rock labeled “Tammany,” tries to get away from the monster.
For a season the New York City municipal election profiled in this cartoon was a “perfect storm” for reformers. The corrupt Democratic “machine” was in decline, its “boss” Richard Croker foolishly having retired to his native Ireland to run the city from afar. Tammany lost local elections and was enmeshed in more scandals than usual. New York City had recently consolidated with the City of New York (hence the label “Greater New York”) and Seth Low, shown here wielding a sword, had been a reforming mayor of Brooklyn who now sought the mayoralty on a Citizens Union ticket. When the Republicans endorsed the independent candidate, he won handily. Two years later, Tammany, having licked its wounds, defeated him by running George B. McLellan, Jr., son of the Civil War general.
Theodore Roosevelt thanks A. L. Chaney for his interesting letter and advices him to remain quiet. While Chaney has the right to vote as he wishes, he cannot attract attention by partisanship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-13
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary writes that Roosevelt received the telegram on Judge Lindsey and bipartisanship from the editor of the Denver Post but is unable to respond, or else he would be required to respond to all newspapers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-24
Theodore Roosevelt regrettably agrees with what Ernest Harvier has to say about the Republican organization in New York City. Roosevelt believes that municipal affairs must be handled differently from national issues, and that a non-partisan approach is warranted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-05
Theodore Roosevelt agrees that all they can do is “remain in cold storage for a year” and see what happens. They may need to support a third candidate, and Roosevelt does not expect many of their former associates to support them. Roosevelt also feels that Woodrow Wilson and William Jennings Bryan have behaved dreadfully.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-26
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Florence Kelley about the preparedness movement. Roosevelt has not been able to get people to take an interest in the matter or to look at it his way when they do take an interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-13
Theodore Roosevelt informs Meyer Lissner that Victor Murdock, chairman of the Progressive Party’s national executive committee, had promised to meet with him and George W. Perkins, but the recent death of his mother required that he travel to Kansas. Murdock has since returned, and Roosevelt presumes the “choice” will be made at once, with as little publicity as possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-27
President Roosevelt thinks it may amuse Alexander Jeffrey McKelway to know that Roosevelt has been being criticized by William Garrott Brown. Brown dislikes that Roosevelt is appointing Democrats to government positions, thereby discouraging the growth of a healthy Republican party in the South. Roosevelt shares this information privately.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
Theodore Roosevelt hopes that the Republican party will take up the tariff. Roosevelt looks forward to the appearance of John Burroughs’s next volume, and asks if Burroughs has seen his two recent articles in Scribner’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-11
President Roosevelt tells August Belmont that he will not take part in the campaign in Pennsylvania, but that Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw has spoken in the state and U.S. Attorney General William H. Moody is supposed to as well. Roosevelt relates that Shaw says nothing on state issues and Moody will only speak of the work of Congress. Roosevelt also comments on their work to stay out of the fight in New York. He notes that Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon is paying careful attention to not offend Democrats who are “putting honesty about partisanship.” Roosevelt also mentions that Belmont’s suggestions on labor matters were acted upon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-19
President Roosevelt complains to Lyman Abbott about a number of matters that are being affected by partisanship. In particular, he is upset about partisan opposition to two of his nominations: Franklin K. Lane to the Interstate Commerce Commission and Joseph Bucklin Bishop as Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission. He is also frustrated that Democratic Senators are blocking the ratification of the Santo Domingo treaty “on mere partisan grounds,” and would normally favor the treaty if he were not a Republican president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-14
President Roosevelt tells Representative McGuire that he named John P. Blackmon Indian Agent because he was recommended by people who were the “best competent to judge”. If Blackmon acts as an “offensive Democratic partisan,” he will be removed from the position. Roosevelt believes that positions such as Indian Agent should not be used as rewards for political service to a certain party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-13
President Roosevelt responds to rumors that the District Attorneys and Marshals in Alabama are changing their deputies for political reasons. Any government office should be kept free of improper action on partisan grounds. Appointments to a position should be made on the basis of fitness only.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-09
President Roosevelt is pleased that Senator Hay is recovering. Roosevelt believes the Democratic opposition to the treaty is based on partisanship but will be defeated.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-25
John Burroughs appreciates Theodore Roosevelt’s recent message to Congress. Ever since Burroughs read Lloyd’s “Health Against Commonwealth,” the Standard Oil Company has been a special hatred of his. Burroughs wishes that “big scoundrels” would be punished adequately and bemoans the fact that Roosevelt will not take a third term, as this would make their lives “so miserable.” Burroughs further discusses immigration and tariffs, as well as his recommendations for the Republican Party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-08
A letter to the editor laments the state of the Republican Party in Tennessee, which the writer considers too corrupt and factionalized to warrant loyalty from voters. If the Party were to focus on its principles it would be more electorally successful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-30
Representative Williams asks President Roosevelt to act on behalf of Wiliams’ constituent Carl H. Shaifer who is officially part of the Government Printing Office but has been primarily doing work for the Department of the Navy. Williams fears that Shaifer’s membership with the Democratic Party and support of Roosevelt’s political enemies puts his future as a government employee in danger, particularly as his superiors in the Printing Office are not personally familiar with him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-22
Lafayette B. Gleason asks William Loeb for support in Orlando Hubbs’s campaign as the Republican candidate for assemblyman in the predominantly Democrat Suffolk County second district. Gleason fears a loss in the district would be particularly embarrassing given its proximity to President Theodore Roosevelt’s own.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-28