Political conventions

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Johnson for the letter. He agrees with Johnson that the people are entitled to an open primary to express their views for the presidential nomination. Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about President William H. Taft in absolute confidence. Despite his misgivings, Roosevelt will support Taft if nominated since he sees no ground for permanent hope in the Democratic Party. He comments on the other presidential candidates and considers himself a weak candidate. Roosevelt examines how the New York judges’ decisions strengthen the Socialist Party. He reviews why he disagrees with Johnson’s estimate of the public’s opinion of himself and why he does not want to be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Theodore Roosevelt expresses to John Barber White that his views on conservation are well known and unchanged since his recent speech in California. While Roosevelt supports the cause and purpose of the Conservation Congress, he declines to speak, explaining that he cannot continue making speeches for individual causes without committing to many others.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-12

Theodore Roosevelt informs Franklin A. Shotwell that his nomination as the Republican Party presidential candidate would be a “misfortune” for himself as well as “undesirable from the standpoint of the Party and the people.” Roosevelt wishes that his supporters would prevent any movement that would seek his nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-19

Theodore Roosevelt commends Lucius B. Swift’s excellent letter to President William H. Taft. One thing he most wants to avoid is mixing in purely state affairs where he can do no good. He has been supporting the reciprocity movement. While he sympathizes with the farmers, it is not enough to oppose the movement. Roosevelt agrees with Swift about the political situation in Indiana. However, New York is slightly worse. He discusses machine politics, especially as played out in the most recent election. In theory, the people of New York want Roosevelt to be involved in state politics, but in practice, it makes him suspicious. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-08

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Governor Hadley that Roosevelt’s itinerary for his visit to Jefferson, Missouri, is mostly complete. Hopefully, accommodations can be made at the Hotel Jefferson for Roosevelt and his party. News arrived that Roosevelt was elected temporary chairman of the Republican State Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-27

Theodore Roosevelt compliments his daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth on the way that her husband, Nicholas Longworth has grown as a politician. He thought a recent speech that Nicholas Longworth gave was “masterly.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-08-09

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Francis, Charles S. (Charles Spencer), 1853-1911

Dwight B. Heard’s letter about the Republican National Convention was the best that Theodore Roosevelt received. Charles Evans Hughes has weaknesses as a presidential candidate, particularly a lack of experience in international relations, but he was the best Republican candidate available. The Progressive Party has failed in the South as it could not attract enough Democrats. The only Progressive success was in Louisiana and that was mostly due to the popularity of John Milliken Parker. The party has become a small, derelict political organization. Roosevelt regrets that the people are not “advanced” enough to follow the Progressive lead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-07-03

Theodore Roosevelt thinks Hamlin Garland, Jesse Lynch Williams, Irving Batcheler, and others can do good work. He shares with C. S. Thompson that he does not think the Chicago convention will nominate him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-04

Theodore Roosevelt misunderstood W. S. Edwards and would like to see him as a Progressive delegate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-18

Theodore Roosevelt writes to E. W. Lincoln that he is mistaken about the executive committee having power in the situation. The power instead lies with the national convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-07

Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Horace G. Knowles liked his Plattsburgh speech. Roosevelt and Knowles also discuss Elihu Root’s presidential chances and refers to Root’s position at the 1912 Republican National Convention in Chicago. Roosevelt references the schooling of Knowles’ son Lewis Wallace Knowles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-14

Theodore Roosevelt gives Angus McSween his opinion about the current political candidates and asks that McSween not quote him. He believes that Theodore E. Burton is a less desirable candidate than Elihu Root because he is against national defense and only supports it as Woodrow Wilson does.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-27

Theodore Roosevelt believes that it is a falsehood to say there was any kind of controversy between himself and Herbert Hadley at the 1912 Republican National Convention in Chicago. He believes that the voting rolls were corrupted and asserts that had they not been, he would have supported the candidacy of Hadley, Albert Cummins, Charles Hughes, or any man nominated in “an honest fashion.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-12

While Theodore Roosevelt agrees with what Henry Litchfield West has said about him, he has a few things to point out. Roosevelt thinks West should tell the Republicans that it would be a bad idea to stop people like Roosevelt from joining the movement to oust the Wilson administration. Furthermore, in response to West’s editorial, Roosevelt is not responsible for the state of current affairs and he is not repentant. If someone is to blame, it is those who misbehaved during the 1912 Republican convention and stole the nomination for William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-10

Theodore Roosevelt does not think there is anything in that suggestion of a convention. They must sit tight and wait for events in the year to come.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-10

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with the stance taken at the Chicago Convention. Roosevelt would also like to discuss with Victor Murdock an element of the Progressive Party with which he does not agree, but whose point of view must be considered.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-09

Theodore Roosevelt will not be attending the Progressive Party conference in Chicago, Illinois. Governor Johnson’s election is the one great Progressive success and Roosevelt hopes Johnson will attend the conference to outline the future course of the party and help quell public quarrels. Roosevelt is concerned about Japanese discrimination in California and the drastic legislation that may be introduced. He suggests that the legislation is being supported by Germans in an effort to sour relations between the United States and Japan. Roosevelt suggests ignoring the “Japanese question” until the conclusion of the European war. He wants to treat the Japanese with courtesy but on the understanding that Americans will not immigrate en mass to Japan and the Japanese will not immigrate en mass to the United States. Roosevelt is distressed at the foreign policy of President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan. He wants a coherent foreign policy that takes “efficient steps to strengthen us.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-16

President Roosevelt encloses several letters for his son Kermit regarding their upcoming trip to Africa. Roosevelt discusses the guns that the two of them should bring, and tells Kermit that it is time to discuss when they should make the trip. He also includes a letter from Seth Bullock about the upcoming Republican National Convention. Roosevelt believes that Secretary of War William H. Taft can be nominated on the first ballot. Additionally, Roosevelt has heard from Endicott Peabody, the Rector of Groton school, and has decided that the best course of action regarding Archibald Roosevelt’s education is to hold him back a year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-06

President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War William H. Taft’s telegram to Chairman of the National Republican Committee Frank H. Hitchcock. He tells Senator Lodge that in regards to seating delegates, each case should be considered on its merits, rather than whether or not the man in question supports Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-07