Political campaigns--Corrupt practices

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George von Lengerke Meyer

Theodore Roosevelt tells George von Lengerke Meyer he is not sure there is anything to be done to make things better in politics. Roosevelt believes Republican leaders “stole the nomination” in Chicago, Illinois, and that such action “creates a train of evil consequences so extensive that it is almost impossible by any single act afterwards to undo the evil.” It was extraordinary to see men such as Bishop William Lawrence and President A. Lawrence Lowell of Harvard University “explicitly or implicitly, endorse the lowest forms of political immorality.” Roosevelt compares the Progressive platform to that of Abraham Lincoln and the early Republicans, and accuses the men who object to these principles of being the “spiritual heirs of the Cotton Whigs.” He believes that what happened in Chicago makes it likely that Woodrow Wilson and the Democratic Party will win the fall presidential election. When Roosevelt returns, he would like for Meyer and Frank B. Kellogg to visit him.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1913-10-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George von Lengerke Meyer

Theodore Roosevelt thanks George von Lengerke Meyer for the salmon and for what he said regarding the libel suit. Roosevelt would like to arrange a visit with Meyer and Frank B. Kellogg, but does not see what can be done about “getting the Republicans and Progressives together.” Roosevelt feels that the Progressives are “sundered” from the Republican Party by two causes. The first is the “utter dishonesty” of men such as Boies Penrose, William Barnes, Winthrop Murray Crane, Elihu Root, and their associates who “stole the convention” last summer. The second cause is that the Progressive Party, unlike the Republican Party, have in their platform “applied the principles of Abraham Lincoln to the present day.” Roosevelt will never again work with a party controlled by the men guilty of the theft last June or with any party that “does not take in their entirety the principles of Abraham Lincoln applied to the needs of the present day.”

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1913-06-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert S. Hadley

Theodore Roosevelt writes Governor Hadley regarding the ballot and William Howard Taft’s nomination in Chicago, contending that he is the rightful Republican nominee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-15

Mr. Roosevelt pays his respects to Penrose and Archbold

Theodore Roosevelt discusses the duty of the American people to stand up and be heard if they believe in the Progressive cause. He explains the corruption that both the Republican and Democratic parties have allowed to enter into American politics and how a vote for the Progressive Party will combat that. He also explains recent testimony in Congress given by Pennsylvania Senator Boies Penrose and John D. Archbold of Standard Oil Company. While those two men were testifying against Roosevelt, they were in fact testifying for actions taken by Cornelius Newton Bliss when he was treasurer of the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1912-09-22

Facts in Harriman campaign fund controversy told by Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss to Herald before his death

Article discusses the Roosevelt-Harriman controversy in which Theodore Roosevelt was said to ask for campaign funds from certain donors while running for his second term as president. With quotes from George B. Cortelyou and George Rumsey Sheldon, it concludes there was no impropriety on behalf of Roosevelt.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1911-12-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edwin A. Van Valkenburg

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Edwin A. Van Valkenburg about the presidential election. He asserts his belief that he should run on a separate Progressive ticket rather than support President Taft’s Republican candidacy in a race against the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson. He contends that Taft’s nomination at the Republican National Committee was won by corrupt means.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. S. Wright

Theodore Roosevelt thanks W. S. Wright in receipt of a list of resolutions. The letter also discusses media corruption and the need to present more truthful news about the Progressive campaign to the public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John M. Bruce

Theodore Roosevelt agrees that the Democratic “crooked bosses” in Baltimore are no better than the Republican ones in Chicago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles E. Landis

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles E. Landis for sending him a letter and a copy of a telegram from Mr. Barnes, as well as Landis’ reply. Roosevelt remarks that “the case as regards Mr. Barnes” exemplifies the “discreditable” actions of William H. Taft supporters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Louis N. Litman

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Louis N. Litman for his letter. Roosevelt had already heard of “the antics” by the William H. Taft campaign in Indiana. Roosevelt does not believe the National Committee will endorse what the Taft people did. Roosevelt regretfully declines Litman’s invitation to La Grange, Indiana.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edwin M. Lee

Theodore Roosevelt writes Edwin M. Lee about the “magnificent result in New Jersey” and about the contests filed regarding Indiana related to the outrageous tactics by opponents.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fank C. Laughlin

Theodore Roosevelt writes Judge Frank C. Laughlin regarding the “great sweep” in New Jersey, which Roosevelt believes “gives final notice” to the National Committee that unfair tactics will not be tolerated by “the people of this country.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to S. D. Pierson

Theodore Roosevelt thanks S. D. Pierson for a telegram and wishes him luck with his run for the 7th district of Indiana. He expresses outrage at the tactics of Pierson’s opponents.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Morton C. Hartzell

President Roosevelt replies to Reverend Hartzell’s letter about Fred A. Busse. Roosevelt cannot speak to Busse’s personal life which his opposition has been attacking. However, Roosevelt can speak to his service as postmaster and believes that he has excelled in his duties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-22

Letter from A. T. Mahan to Theodore Roosevelt

Rear Admiral Mahan informs Theodore Roosevelt that the resolution passed at the end of his second term, but he suppressed it in the House. Mahan wrote to Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry to be prepared to express his opinion on the matter. He also wrote to Roosevelt with recommendations to President William H. Taft. He is glad Roosevelt likes his book, and he congratulates him on George Rumsey Sheldon’s letter, although he never doubted the falsehood of the claim.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-23

Letter from Theodore E. Burton to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Burton apprises President Roosevelt of a rise in progressive sentiment in Ohio that is being hampered by the coercive efforts of federal office holders to re-elect Senators Joseph Benson Foraker and Charles Dick. Those endorsing the senators give the impression that they have Roosevelt’s support. They have attempted to strong-arm county officials into obtaining delegates friendly to Dick, an action that drew at least one official’s resignation in protest. Burton entreats Roosevelt to make a public statement that he does not back one faction over the other, a neutral stance also adopted by Governor Andrew L. Harris.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-07

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop tells President Roosevelt that support in New York is shifting to Roosevelt after the newspapers’ and William Jennings Bryan’s assertion that moneyed interests were trying to buy the Democratic nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-29

Letter from Henry Van Kleeck to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Van Kleeck reports that federal rules prohibiting office holders from engaging in political activity are not being enforced in Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-10

Newspaper article from the San Francisco Chronicle

An article from the San Francisco Chronicle explains why state delegates going to the national convention are asked to “use all honorable means to secure the renomination of President Roosevelt.” The recommendation isn’t because of oppositions to Roosevelt’s bid for the presidency but this is the usual procedure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-15