Political conventions

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Sandford Martin

While President Roosevelt wants to prevent a stampede towards him at the Republican National Convention, he believes that any further public statements will hurt Secretary of State William H. Taft’s candidacy. He is enclosing letters that he sent to Frank H. Hitchcock, Judge Alston Gordon Dayton, and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, which they are to use if there are delegates that show doubt. However, Roosevelt believes that Taft will be elected on the first ballot, and if there is a stampede “no human being could prevent it.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elbert F. Baldwin

President Roosevelt responds to a clipping Elbert F. Baldwin sent him from the Sun. He notes that while he approved of the choice of Senator Albert J. Beverage for chairman of the Republican convention, he was not hostile to Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver. He also expresses his desire that a reactionary not be chosen to make the keynote address at the convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Pearl Wight

President Roosevelt regrets that Pearl Wight will not be able to send any “colored men” from Louisiana to the upcoming Republican National Convention, although one is going as an alternate from New York State. The attacks against Roosevelt for his actions regarding the Brownsville affair make him want to be careful to do right by “the decent colored man.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Parsons

President Roosevelt asks Congressman Parsons to name Edward Hubert Butler chairman of the New York delegation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ross Anderson Hickok

President Roosevelt wishes Ross Anderson Hickok had been with him in the regiment and mentions that William Walter Heffelfinger was a delegate for him at the National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Hampton Moore

President Roosevelt sends his greetings to the Republican National League convention and thanks its members for their support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George C. Rankin

President Roosevelt extends his greeting to the Illinois Republican Editorial Association that is meeting in Decatur to celebrate the first Republican state convention in Illinois in 1856. Roosevelt praises the state for endorsing Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and assures them that the party is still working in Lincoln’s spirit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt congratulates Senator Lodge on the platform and comments that the convention “went off well.” Roosevelt was surprised at the outbreak of feeling against Secretary of Commerce and Labor and Chairman of the Republican National Committee Cortelyou. There is “little active part” that Roosevelt can take in the campaign, except for his speech and letter of acceptance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William P. Frye

President Roosevelt informs Senator Frye that Cornelius Newton Bliss has refused the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. George B. Cortelyou is the next best choice for the position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nathan Bay Scott

President Roosevelt thanks Senator Scott for his letter and tells him to let Postmaster General Henry C. Payne do what he wants with the tickets, but advises he should hold a few tickets for last-minute demands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-14

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Cornelius Newton Bliss

President Roosevelt urges Cornelius Newton Bliss to arrive in Chicago, Illinois, by Sunday morning and explain that Roosevelt’s selection of George B. Cortelyou is “definite and irrevocable.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt advises Elihu Root about the speech that Root will make as temporary chairman of the convention. The chairman can take all the time he wishes, and Edward Oliver Wolcott spoke for about an hour in 1900. Roosevelt believes that the speech will go well, and Root will have everyone’s attention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt lets Senator Lodge know that he will not be able to meet with him on the 24th. Roosevelt also tells Lodge that Payne will serve as chairman. In a handwritten note, Roosevelt discusses getting the people in Wisconsin to put their differences aside before they affect the National Convention. Roosevelt also tells Lodge about a ride he recently took on his horse, Rusty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Sylvane M. Ferris

President Roosevelt writes to Sylvane M. Ferris expressing his congratulations on the news, from Ed Foley, that he will be an alternate to the Republican convention. President Roosevelt invites Sylvane Ferris to the White House following the convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Very Quarles

President Roosevelt expresses his anxiety and concern to Senator Quarles on the Wisconsin Republican Convention and the effects the outcome will have on Senator Quarles’s “political fortunes and of certain other of my friends.” President Roosevelt will allow the Convention to make the deciding judgement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. W. Babcock

President Roosevelt thanks Representative Babcock for his letter and expresses his concern for the national ticket regarding the seats of Congress and the Senatorship. President Roosevelt states that he will “take no hand one way or the other.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Nathan Cohen

President Roosevelt thanks William Nathan Cohen for his letter and asks that he keep in touch with Elihu Root, Nicholas Murray Butler, J. S. Cullinan, and Henry Cabot Lodge. Roosevelt feels they have a good platform.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leslie Combs

President Roosevelt is pleased with the outcome of the Kentucky State Republican Convention and hopes that there will be a harmonious effect on the national Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William O’Connell Bradley

President Roosevelt thanks William O’Connell Bradley for the unifying role he played at the Republican state convention in Kentucky.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ben Daniels

President Roosevelt is happy to hear that Ben Daniels is an alternate for the Republican National Convention. He wishes Daniels could be a delegate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-18