Political parties

Theodore Roosevelt speaks on a platform in the middle of a crowd at the first Progressive Party Convention in the Chicago Coliseum. Banners and signs with state names are arranged around the arena.

Comments and Context

Following what he felt was the Republican Party’s unfair endorsement of William H. Taft for the 1912 presidential election, Theodore Roosevelt formed the Progressive, or “Bull Moose,” Party, running for president under its auspices.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

A brief overview of the use of the name “Progressive Party” in American politics. In addition to Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive Party, similarly named parties were created by Robert M. LaFollette, LaFollette’s sons Robert M. La Follette and Philip Fox La Follette, and former Vice President Henry A. Wallace. Each of these parties was distinct from the others of the same name.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1988

This article announces the publication of The Bull Moose Years: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Party by John A. Gable, the Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association. The article recaps the history of the Progressive Party, describes the contents of the book, and quotes from a favorable review of the work.

A political cartoon showing Theodore Roosevelt shaking hands with California Governor Hiram W. Johnson, Roosevelt’s running mate on the 1912 Progressive ticket, accompanies the article.

This radio documentary describes Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 presidential campaign, highlighting his progressive policies. Although Roosevelt was unsuccessful in this campaign, the progressive movement gained much from his leadership. Many of the issues he strove to address are ones with which America still wrestles today.

Collection

America

Creation Date

2012

The article describes a speech on the Senator floor, in which Senator Robert M. La Follette attacked President William H. Taft for ignoring former president Theodore Roosevelt’s policies. La Follette argued that Taft was elected by promising to continue Roosevelt’s agenda, but has not done that. In particular Taft took issue with the firing of Gifford Pinchot, the reciprocity bill, and the Taft administration’s railroad legislation. He also noted that Taft barely mentioned Roosevelt in his first message to Congress.

Comments and Context

The article includes underlines and comments from Mary E. Wiswell, who mailed the clipping to Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Recounting a letter from Bela Tokaji to the Times, the author quotes Tokaji’s positive views on the popular government and his surprise “that independent voters do not show greater enthusiasm in what he terms the propaganda […] for popular government.” Tokaji remarks on the ways in which political machines in New York have “ceased to be a dominant factor in the body politic.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-31

Former Representative from Massachusetts William H. Gifford says that he put Westport, Massachusetts, on the map years ago, and that Edward W. Burt does not need to form a new political party for that purpose. Gifford compares Burt to Theodore Roosevelt, and “says he had better be careful or he will get some ‘dry rot’ into his party at the very outset.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-13

Creator(s)

Unknown

Bernard Shandon Rodey comments on the recent New York elections. He believes Theodore Roosevelt is the “ablest man of modern times of any country.” He argues that people did not vote against Roosevelt and that the Republican loss would have been greater had he not joined the campaign. Instead, they voted against the corruption of the Republican Party, which reflects the will of selfish men working through party machinery and not that of the rank and file.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-30

An editorial from the Jewish Morning Journal considers the divergences in the wings of the political parties and the differences between politics in the East and West.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-25

Robert M. Stevenson, President of Westminster College, Utah, quotes an article from Pearson’s Magazine on Theodore Roosevelt’s alleged “bargain with the Mormon Church” to deliver electoral votes in exchange for policies favoring the Church’s practices and representatives. Stevenson comments on whether the Democratic party will show a “greater regard for national welfare than for party advancement” and if the country will finally recognize the importance of a Federal marriage law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-22

Two highlighted clippings from the New York Globe discuss the Republicans’ electoral hopes in the upcoming election. The first advocates nominating current Secretary of War Elihu Root to run for governor of New York in response to the Democrats’ nominating Judge Alton B. Parker for the presidency. The second clipping points out that with things going well in the country, Republicans are right to urge voters to reelect President Roosevelt and maintain the status quo. The Democrats have no better alternatives to offer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-30

The writer responds to an editorial in the Wichita Beacon stating that eventually men like Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and Senator Nelson W. Aldrich will be “read out” of the Republican Party before Theodore Roosevelt returns and is made president again.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909

Senator Lodge agrees with President Roosevelt that the outcomes in Illinois and Oregon were better than expected, showing that the Republican vote is strong in the northwest. Lodge asks if Roosevelt spoke to Henry C. Payne about becoming chairman, and notes that it would be awkward to turn down now that the matter has gone so far. He would like to see Roosevelt in June, either in Oyster Bay or Washington. In a handwritten postscript, Lodge notes that it will be a shame to lose Philander C. Knox as Attorney General, but Knox’s becoming Senator is a good thing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-10

Patrick H. Kearney objects to the action of the Republican convention held in Poughkeesie and the prevention of General William S. C. Wiley being a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago. He reports, however, that the action of the convention has generated some votes for Roosevelt, as Reverend William Livingston, pastor at the St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Poughkeepsie and a self-identified Democrat, said from the altar that he was planning to vote for Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-03

Following a confusing and contentious ballot, Harry B. Smith was elected chairman of the Republican county central committee in Indianapolis. After the counts on the initial ballot were confused, Smith’s rival, Robert Metzger, requested that Smith be elected by acclamation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-08

Former president Grover Cleveland’s endorsement of Alton B. Parker for the Democratic presidential nomination has caused many Democrats to reflexively oppose Parker. The writer of the article questions why Democratic papers are not more supportive of Cleveland’s views.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-07

The article strongly criticizes August Belmont’s control of newspapers and the Democratic Party. It particularly blasts Adolph S. Ochs and Charles Ransom Miller of the New York Times, stating that the paper is Belmont’s mouthpiece.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-07

At a joint meeting of the National Republican Editorial Association and the Republican Editorial Association of New York State, National Association president James A. Sleicher spoke about the importance of newspapers and magazines in American life, and praised the continuing success of the Republican Party. He expressed support for President Roosevelt’s continued success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-06

The article outlines efforts made by a coalition of “Wall Street Republicans,” Democrats, and trade unionists to stop President Roosevelt from being nominated for the next presidential election. The Democrats have been agitating labor groups over an incident at the Government Printing Office involving the discharge and subsequent reinstatement of William A. Miller, the assistant foreman of the book bindery.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-16

Fragment of an article opining that Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna should extend his overseas vacation for the good of both his health and the health of the Republican party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-02