Political parties--U.S. states

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Collier Platt

President Roosevelt frankly tells Senator Platt that he does not think it wise to continue supporting Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott for chair of the County Committee of New York if it becomes evident that most Republicans in the area do not support him. He believes that if Platt continues to fight for Olcott against a man as clean and broadly-supported as Representative Herbert Parsons, he could give the impression that Olcott’s election is “a machine triumph,” which is the very thing that they are trying to avoid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William R. Willcox

President Roosevelt asks Postmaster Willcox to speak with Senator Thomas Collier Platt and William Barnes to discuss withdrawing Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott from consideration for chairman of the Republican County commission in favor of Representative Herbert Parsons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Collier Platt

President Roosevelt informs Senator Platt that several well-known Republicans in New York do not believe that Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott is the proper man to put forward for Chairman of the Republican county organization. Roosevelt makes it clear that he does not want to dictate who should be chairman and is merely providing his opinion. He believes that whoever is chosen should be “a man of the highest character and reputation” who possesses the independence necessary to conduct the affairs with efficiency and integrity. Roosevelt believes it is more important to focus on finding a man of this type, rather than on naming a specific person.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Schieren

President Roosevelt reminds Charles A. Schieren that he is President, and not a political boss, and he will not have anything to do with the speakership in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nevada N. Stranahan

President Roosevelt tells New York Collector of Customs Stranahan that in light of the testimony of James H. Hyde, it is clear that Governor Benjamin B. Odell has, directly or indirectly, used his office for personal gain and thus should not continue to be leader of the Republican party in the state. Roosevelt does not wish to make any public statement, as he “was elected President and not boss,” but he says that Stranahan can show this letter to New York Republicans Hamilton Fish and Frank Wayland Higgins.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Woodard

President Roosevelt thanks Colonel Woodard for his letter, and agrees with him about the appointment of George B. Cortelyou as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Roosevelt notes that Cortelyou is friends with Elihu Root and will run the election campaign according to the principles Roosevelt has applied to his own presidency. Roosevelt also appreciates Woodard’s assessment of the political situation in Wisconsin, about which Roosevelt had felt apprehensive.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Benjamin B. Odell

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Governor Benjamin B. Odell on “what has happened in New York.” Roosevelt does not think that there will be further trouble, but stresses that the interests are “too great” to allow anything to “imperil the success of the party.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Spencer B. Adams to Joseph M. Dixon

Attorney Adams laments the state of the Republican party in North Carolina since the election of William H. Taft and criticizes Taft’s treatment of southern Republicans. He also expresses enthusiasm for Roosevelt’s upcoming presidential campaign, to be led by Senator Dixon, and is confident of its success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-05

Creator(s)

Adams, Spencer B. (Spencer Bell), 1860-1943

Letter from Joseph O. Thompson to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph O. Thompson encloses clippings describing the “political waterloo” that led to him resigning his leadership in the Alabama Republican party. He hopes President Taft will rebuke P. D. Barker in the future for his “treachery.” Barker criticized Theodore Roosevelt in the 1910 New York gubernatorial campaign. Thompson offers to be of service to Theodore Roosevelt within the state of Alabama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-17

Creator(s)

Thompson, Joseph O. (Joseph Oswalt), 1869-1933

Letter from Leslie Combs to Theodore Roosevelt

Leslie Combs recounts the victories won by Progressive Republicans at the Kentucky state convention. Judge Edward C. O’Rear was nominated for governor, Senator William O’Connell Bradley’s candidate for lieutenant-governor was rejected, and O’Rear’s platform was largely adopted. Combs believes that if O’Rear wins, the Progressive Republicans will take control of the state party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-14

Creator(s)

Combs, Leslie, 1852-1940

Letter from Henry Beach Needham to Theodore Roosevelt

Collier’s Weekly has asked Henry Beach Needham for an article about Theodore Roosevelt’s views on the future proceedings of the Republican party. Needham asks if Roosevelt can speak to him on the topic. He also requests material mentioned in a previous letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02

Creator(s)

Needham, Henry Beach, 1871-1915

Letter from William H. Van Kleeck to Theodore Roosevelt

William H. Van Kleeck reiterates his continued support for and belief in Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership and ideals. He believes that one day the Republican Party will recognize and praise his work. Van Kleeck also asks to subscribe to The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-07

Creator(s)

Van Kleeck, William H. (William Henry), 1863-1943

Letter from E. Mont Reily to Theodore Roosevelt

E. Mont Reily has been elected state president of the Missouri State League of Republican Clubs. He believes this is a victory for Theodore Roosevelt and his supporters. Reily will be in Washington, D.C., and New York this week and will call on Roosevelt at the offices of the Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-05

Creator(s)

Reily, E. Mont (Emmet Montgomery), 1866-1954

Letter from William Loeb to Theodore Roosevelt

William Loeb asks Theodore Roosevelt to write to Mr. Hall in Texas about the possibility of an appeal being granted. He notes that President William H. Taft will need help on the Canadian reciprocity agreement, and worries that “selfish interests” will defeat it. Loeb provides his opinions on the current situation regarding Republican politics in New York State and notes that Henry L. Stoddard, editor of the Evening Mail, seems to have taken a liking to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-01

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from James A. Lockhart to Theodore Roosevelt

James A. Lockhart, a lifelong Democrat who has served in the North Carolina state legislature, is switching his support to Theodore Roosevelt if he wins the Republican nomination for president. Lockhart believes Roosevelt could carry the state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-01-16

Creator(s)

Lockhart, James A. (James Alexander), 1881-1928

Letter from William B. Jones to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-07

Creator(s)

Jones, William B. (William Bradford), 1855-1916

Letter from Charles S. Mellen to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles S. Mellen has spoken with Frank S. Streeter, Lucius Tuttle, and Benjamin A. Kimball about the political situation in New Hampshire. Mellen tells President Roosevelt that, while he is sure that the two wings of the Republican party in New Hampshire are both working on behalf of Secretary of War Taft, they are fighting each other and are being very antagonistic. Ultimately, however, Mellen reassures Roosevelt that Taft is the only candidate being considered.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

Mellen, Charles S. (Charles Sanger), 1851-1927

Letter from William Barnes to William Loeb

William Barnes provides William Loeb with an update on the political situation in New York. Former Senator Edgar Truman Brackett is antagonistic toward Barnes because Barnes was instrumental in defeating his renomination and instead nominating Senator William W. Wemple, who was a member of Barnes’ state committee district. Brackett’s district’s attitude in the National Convention will be a problem. Brackett has made arrangements with parties from various other districts for control. Barnes is concerned about the implications of this situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-17

Creator(s)

Barnes, William, 1866-1930

Letter from Herbert Parsons to William Loeb

Representative Parsons encloses a letter for William Loeb explaining the reasons for merging the New York County Republican Party with the Independence League. Parsons hopes that President Roosevelt will look it over if he has time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-26

Creator(s)

Parsons, Herbert, 1869-1925

Letter from Herbert Parsons to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Parsons believes that other men would have made better chairmen of the New York Public Service Commission than New York City Postmaster William R. Willcox. He expects Willcox to be ineffective and thus damage legislation’s chances for success as well as the Republican Party and laments the shortage of people to run for office. Parsons also advises against naming Edward Morgan as Willcox’s replacement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-29

Creator(s)

Parsons, Herbert, 1869-1925