Political conventions

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-16

Creator(s)

Hadley, Herbert S. (Herbert Spencer), 1872-1927

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt writes his sister Anna about the recent happenings at the Chicago Republican nominating convention. Roosevelt is very disappointed about the nomination of James G. Blaine as the Republican candidate for president. He is going to take a break from politics and spend time at his North Dakota ranch.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1884-06-08

George B. Cortelyou inquires as to whether President Roosevelt has contacted Senator Charles W. Fairbanks. Cortelyou recommends Roosevelt do so as soon as possible after the Democratic Convention in order to let him know when he should “come on.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-28

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he admires his willingness to sacrifice his own interests for a principle, but encourages him to avoid talking about delicate subjects where his words could be twisted. Roosevelt is glad that Taft understands the situation with another potential presidential candidate, Governor Charles Evans Hughes, remarking that he has a “distinct strength with the people.” The president believes that Taft will get the majority of the delegates in the West on the first roll and that the majority of people in New England are for Taft. Finally, Roosevelt notes that the New York papers are “almost insane” in regard to his actions, suggesting that Judas Iscariot and Benedict Arnold were “pretty good citizens by comparison.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

G. E. Dunham is sending Theodore Roosevelt a clipping from Utica Press regarding the Republican County convention at Herkimer, New York, in which Roosevelt’s nephew, Theodore Douglas Robinson played a prominent role.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-02

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-09

Creator(s)

White, John Barber, 1847-1923

Recipient

Baker, Bernard Nadal, 1854-1918

John Barber White expresses to Theodore Roosevelt his hope that he will speak at the Third National Conservation Congress in Kansas City, referencing a letter he sent to Bernard Nadal Baker and noting Baker’s involvement on the committee. White offers to arrange a special day for Roosevelt and consult with him on the program.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-09

Arthur I. Vorys is glad that William Loeb thinks the “Illinois matter” can be worked out. Vorys includes his thoughts on the Wisconsin situation and believes that a fight against Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Follette will capture a majority of the delegates as Governor James O. Davidson and Senator Isaac Stephenson will not support him. One poll suggests that 40 percent of Republicans in Wisconsin favor William H. Taft as their first choice, making it an important state to win. Vorys concludes by updating Loeb about Alaska.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-15

Attorney General Bonaparte has spoken to Assistant Postmaster General Frank H. Hitchcock about the political situation in Alabama, particularly regarding Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar R. Hundley and an open judge seat. One faction supports Hundley’s nomination because it would be a blow to a second disgruntled faction which wants to take control of the Alabama delegation to the National Republican Convention. This faction wants Shelby S. Pleasants chosen. Bonaparte also reports on a conference with James Clark McReynolds about the Tobacco Trust. Bonaparte will be ready to brief President Roosevelt on this matter on Monday or Tuesday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-08

The writer reports on the political situation in California, now that Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna has died. It appears likely that the Republicans will nominate President Roosevelt at their state convention next week. If William Randolph Hearst is nominated for the Democrats, there will be a fight to carry California, but it is likely Roosevelt will win the state. If Alton B. Parker or another conservative Democrat is nominated, it is all but certain that he will win it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04

A “third term” bear chases President Roosevelt into the “national convention 1908” canyon.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonists of the day, when pairing Theodore Roosevelt and bears, usually depicted bears as getting the worst of encounters; or, perhaps, shown as cuddly prototypical teddy bears of the stuffed variety. But Claude Maybell of the Democratic Brooklyn Eagle, routinely a cartoonist of mundane concepts, here broke molds of the craft and his own limitations.

Several items from the editorial page of the Commercial Advertiser are highlighted. They include comments on the current gridlock in the Senate, the Michigan Republican State Convention, which endorsed President Roosevelt’s policies, and a criticism of Secretary of War Elihu Root’s response to new information about an insurgency in the Philippines. An article from the Chattanooga Times criticizes the New Orleans Picayune’s criticism of Roosevelt’s social equality platform.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-07

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him about the Progressive Party convention where he spoke for two hours. He does not believe they can win the election and predicts Governor Woodrow Wilson will be victorious, with him and President William H. Taft nearly even behind. Roosevelt plans to start campaigning in September. Roosevelt says he and Mother agree that if going to Brazil to work appeals to Kermit, then he should go. He describes celebrating Ethel’s birthday.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-07-13

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to talk about the Progressive Party Convention and family members who are attending and helping with the campaign. He says there is little hope he will beat Governor Woodrow Wilson but hopes to do better than President William H. Taft and at least establish certain principles during the campaign.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-08-03

Theodore Roosevelt informs Henry L. Stoddard of the candidates chosen to be Women Delegates at Large. Roosevelt will accept whomever Stoddard chooses, but hopes that Stoddard will take the women’s choice into account.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1914-07-06

Thomas F. Walsh denied being a senatorial candidate and was reluctant to discuss Edward Oliver Wolcott’s limited role at the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-26

George von Lengerke Meyer informs President Roosevelt there is opposition to Secretary of Commerce and Labor George B. Cortelyou becoming the chairman of the Republican National Committee at the Republican National Convention. Meyer insists that Cornelius Newton Bliss arrive before Monday with word from Roosevelt that he supports Cortelyou.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-17

The Globe and Commercial Advertiser reports on the Republican National Convention which begins the following day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-20

Benjamin Ide Wheeler sends news from the Republican National Convention; including how Senator Fairbanks won the vice-presidential nomination, the resolution of a matter surrounding the Wisconsin delegation, and Wheeler’s opinion on the party platform.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-22

A telephone message from Elmer Payne explains that Postmaster General Henry C. Payne has fallen ill and Senator Nathan Bay Scott will take over Payne’s place in running the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-15