Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Professor Lynch about his campaign and the Baltimore ballot against the Democratic Party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-06
Theodore Roosevelt confirms with T. J. E. Yocum that he will continue to work with his current campaign staff.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-06
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary encloses a letter from Mr. Cuthbert as representative of several letters sent to Roosevelt regarding delegates from Pennsylvania. Roosevelt finds the claims of these letters difficult to believe but wants it understood that since Senator Boies Penrose “and the others” were defeated they should not be sent to Chicago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-25
Theodore Roosevelt writes a letter to introduce his old friend D. M. Barringer to Ambassador Reid.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-19
Because of the court ruling, President Roosevelt cannot give George von Lengerke Meyer his most vital evidence. Roosevelt is prepared to have a suit brought against him, which he believes will make Barnes happy. He asks if Meyer noticed that Penrose denied what Roosevelt was told by Meyer in 1904, mainly that the National Committee would make Penrose the chairman. Roosevelt is grateful for what Meyer did.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-03
Theodore Roosevelt would like Langdon Elwyn Mitchell to spend a night at Sagamore Hill, along with Thomas Robins, Owen Wister, and Dr. White. Roosevelt agrees with Mitchell’s view about President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan and would rather have Boies Penrose in their place while also believing William H. Taft to be just as bad as Wilson and Bryan. Roosevelt asks Mitchell if he has read Roosevelt’s book America and the World War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-13
Theodore Roosevelt sends J. P. Bryston a photograph and expresses regret that the Bull Moose Party is not strongly supported in the south. Roosevelt also notes interest in Bryston’s previous comment that local federal offices in Virginia are being filled with “Penrose” or “Barnes” type men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-03
Theodore Roosevelt thinks that Pennsylvania and New York are strange states. The bulk of working class men in Pennsylvania voted for Senator Boies Penrose, and in New York they voted for William Barnes’s candidates, “without caring for positive proof of their attitudes in such matters as the Workers’ Compensation Act and the like.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-07
Theodore Roosevelt denies making statements describing Richard R. Quay as a coward for showing Senator Boies Penrose a personal letter Roosevelt sent to Quay. Penrose was shown the letter and challenged Roosevelt to publish it. Roosevelt regrets that Penrose saw the letter but is willing to have it published. He claims to have done no wrong to Quay but to have been wronged when Quay referred publicly to a private letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-09
Theodore Roosevelt was happy to run into Arthur H. Samuels the other night and also compliments him on his article about Penrose.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-10-02
California and Louisiana were election bright spots for the Progressive Party. The reelection of Governor Johnson was also a great success. Theodore Roosevelt attributes the general failure of the party to the public getting tired of reformers and himself. The wealthy, the educated, and the workingmen all returned to their previous parties and political machines. Roosevelt is reluctant to take further part in politics as he believes his participation will be a detriment to the causes he cares about.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-06
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Charles J. Bonaparte for the articles he has written on the Monroe Doctrine and the European war. However, Roosevelt believes that the United States should “act under the Hague Treaties in connection with Belgium.” The treaties were signed and must be acted upon. The Progressive Party was too advanced for the average man and attracted too many cranks. America’s two party system has become too entrenched to overcome. In 1912 the economy was the major issue; a workingman “was not interested in social and industrial justice.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-07
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Henry F. Cochems regarding public opinion of himself, Cochems, and the Progressive party. He invites Cochems over to talk about the future of the party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-07
Theodore Roosevelt assures George Bridges that he backs the Progressives of Pennsylvania “in any course” and that the prime issue is to do away with “the Penrose machine” in the state.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-09-17
Theodore Roosevelt approves of what William Draper Lewis has done and will support the Progressives on the position they take. Roosevelt will come to Pennsylvania to support Gifford Pinchot. However, Roosevelt cannot leave the campaign in New York to campaign in person in Pennsylvania.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-09-17
Theodore Roosevelt asks Albert J. Beveridge to attend the Abraham Lincoln birthday dinner. Roosevelt wants to emphasize that the Progressive Party are the heirs to Lincoln’s principles and policies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-14
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with President Wheeler of the University of California. Roosevelt believes that the Progressives will have a hard time unless the Democrats “make colossal blunders.” He is uncertain of how President Woodrow Wilson will handle the situation. Roosevelt also believes that Progressives can not join the Republican Party with William Barnes, Senator Simon Guggenheim, and Senator Boies Penrose in charge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-20
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles Edward Merriam for his work in the campaign and responds to Merriam’s observations about the Progressive Party. While he agrees with Merriam on social and industrial justice programs, the Progressives need to make sure not to “overpaint things” and appear insincere. He thinks the process for making the Progressive Party permanent should be by working with the rank and file of parties rather than with party bosses. Finally, while he does not believe that George W. Perkins should be called the “official and technical spokesman, the philosopher and exponent of progressive principles,” Perkins’ organizing power is a key part of the Progressive Party and their campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-23
President Roosevelt reviews for his son Kermit a poem and letter he has received and describes some pictures of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., and himself. The President describes the recent weather and assesses a political challenge from Senator Joseph Benson Foraker of Ohio and Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania in the wake of the Brownsville Affair.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-11
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