Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Herbert A. Drake for the work Drake and the rest of the progressives in his organization did on the campaign. Roosevelt also highlights the need for continued education and promotion of the Progressive Party to the general public.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-21
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Thomas G. Pownall’s local progressive group and writes about the need to perfect the Progressive Party and continue their campaign of education.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-17
Theodore Roosevelt writes to thank Robert J. Montague and Walter D’Arcy for their work in the previous election in support of the Progressive Party in Minnesota. Roosevelt them reiterates the need to continue pushing for education of what the Progressive Party is to the general population.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-12
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Harwood E.O. Fish on becoming the first Progressive Party mayor elected in the country. Roosevelt also thanks Fish for his promise to conduct his job in line with the principles of the party by being a trustworthy and good faith actor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-12
Gifford Pinchot writes to Republican Committee Chairman Will H. Hays about the importance of farmers to the Republican Party. He believes it is the farmers of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Illinois that will be most vital to the next presidential election, not those of New York and Pennsylvania. Pinchot feels the danger that the Democratic Party may end up becoming the progressive party in the United States, particularly if it draws in the returning veterans of World War I. For the Republicans to attract them, the party must offer more than policies that the veterans will accept; Pinchot says that it must “label those policies with the names of men whom they will follow.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-09-04
Meyer Lissner reiterates his previously stated belief that George W. Perkins’s prominent position in the Progressive Party will hurt the party, this time supported by a failure in the presidential election. He suggests that Perkins reevaluate what his conduct should be in the progressive movement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-18
Judge Lindsey wants to make sure that Theodore Roosevelt receives his denial of a report regarding a movement supporting Lindsey as vice president. Lindsey is finding a lot of support for the Progressive Party while traveling through Texas and Oklahoma.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-06
Universal sentiment in Memphis, Tennessee, is in support of William Jennings Bryan and Theodore Roosevelt forming a new, progressive party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-24
G. Eugene Shelly expresses his devotion to the Republican party, and shares his plans to expand party support throughout the South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-17
William B. Jones encloses a clipping from the Buffalo Express that he feels expresses “so much damned good sense.” He strongly encourages Theodore Roosevelt to re-engaged with Republican politics and laments the direction that President William H. Taft is taking the party. He believes the party is doomed if Taft and his Cabinet remain in control.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-07
Secretary of State Root asks that President Roosevelt briefly redirect his attention from “Hippopotamuses & Anthropophageusses” to the enclosed Saratoga Convention speech, but that he not appoint anyone from it. Root thinks the threat to the campaign comes from the voter’s disappointment with the Republican party’s handling of their concerns, and although the same can be said of the Democrats, the ruling party gets the blame. Root is glad to know Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt has recovered.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-12
Although he is a Republican, Charles A. Bradley attended the Democratic National Convention, and tells President Roosevelt about his experience. While historically when the Republican party was mentioned at a gathering of the Democratic party, it would draw shouts, it seemed to Bradley that most of the assembly remained quiet when Roosevelt or the Republican party was mentioned. Bradley says that to have political opponents give this sort of respect is worth as much, if not more, than loud cheers from political allies. He plans to work hard to get William H. Taft elected in November.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-11
William H. Andrews encloses newspaper clippings related to the meeting of the Democratic and Republican Territorial Committees on joint statehood of Arizona and New Mexico, as well as two letters from O. D. M. Gaddis. He notes that Charles Henry Akers, publisher of the Phoenix Gazette, is anxious to provide his support for joint statehood but is also indebted to his paper. Andrews reports that he has heard nothing from Senator Boies Penrose regarding the matter of President John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-07
L. V. McKesson thanks Secretary of War Taft for President Roosevelt’s review of his letter. McKesson discusses the political situation in Toledo, Ohio, and states a political appointment for his friend was not the true purpose of the letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-30
John Appleton Stewart describes the dire situation of the Republican Party in New York and requests permission to meet with President Roosevelt to discuss a plan to salvage it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-10
Representative Fassett writes to President Roosevelt’s secretary William Loeb that Governor Higgins is creating problems with the New York Railroad Commission. The Corning Postmaster, Kennedy, will be elected to the board leaving a postmaster vacancy. Fassett requests that Loeb advise Roosevelt to delay appointing a new postmaster until Fassett can propose a name. Fassett congratulates the president on the appointment of Elihu Root and writes that the only way for the Republican Party to succeed in New York is through politicians like Root and Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-11
John Willis writes President Roosevelt that he will be voting for him in the upcoming elections and would be glad to lend his support in any way possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-28
A staff correspondent for the Chicago Tribune reports on President William Howard Taft’s recent visit to Kansas. Governor Walter R. Stubbs honored the president and accompanied him everywhere. Taft made friends with his smile and good humor, but there does not appear to be much change in political opinion after Taft’s visit. Many Progressives do not agree with his recent actions and policies as President such as the Payne-Aldrich tariff law, vetoing the wool, cotton, and farmer free list bill, and his Canadian reciprocity treaty. There is much opposition to Taft in Kansas, but it is not clear who else might have the vote in Kansas, perhaps Robert M. La Follette, Woodrow Wilson, or Albert Baird Cummins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-29
A staff correspondent reports on President William Howard Taft’s recent visit to Iowa. Taft was respectfully received and listened to, but it is not clear that public opinion was affected by his visit. Many farmers and small business owners were interviewed for their opinion and there was not a consensus for or against Taft among Republicans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-30
In his speech as temporary chairman of the Republican state convention in Connecticut, Senator Orville Hitchcock Platt reviews and praises the accomplishments of the Republican party during the last three terms. Platt also praises President Roosevelt, and vice-presidential nominee Charles W. Fairbanks, and believes that the Democrats’ attempts to make personal attacks on Roosevelt’s character will not be effective, as Roosevelt is a good, strong leader who was nominated by acclamation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-12