Presidential candidates

Letter from Charles W. McMurran to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles W. McMurran sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of his article Boosting Things and states that he believes if only politicians would let up, prosperity would be more abundant. McMurran prays Roosevelt will have good health and many years more to enjoy the fruits of his labor while mankind benefits from his actions. McMurran adds he will support Roosevelt for President and would like to come to Oyster Bay for a conversation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Creator(s)

McMurran, Charles W. (Charles Wesley), 1860-1940

Letter from Paul V. Collins to Peder Hjelmstad

Paul V. Collins thanks Peder Hjelmstad for his letter, which they will publish without the mention of Hjelmstad’s choice of presidential candidate. Collins asks Hjelmstad what the farmers of North Dakota think of Theodore Roosevelt. Hjelmstad apparently replies on the bottom of the original letter stating that if Roosevelt were to declare himself as a candidate, he would most likely win the farmers of North Dakota, but since he is neither running nor endorsing another candidate, Hjelmstad believes La Follette will win North Dakota.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Collins, Paul V. (Paul Valorous), 1860-1931

Letter from Paul V. Collins to Theodore Roosevelt

Paul V. Collins gives Theodore Roosevelt the names of the men who submitted an article on reciprocity to be published in The Outlook and confirms that Roosevelt gave the men a word limit for the article. Collins writes of his experience trying to get the editor of the Saturday Evening Post to print an article contrary to the line the magazine had already taken on reciprocity and says most publications have only printed one side of the story. Collins thinks there is likely to be a “stampede” at the Republican National Convention and Roosevelt will be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Collins, Paul V. (Paul Valorous), 1860-1931

Letter from John L. Davis to Theodore Roosevelt

John L. Davis informs Theodore Roosevelt the people want him to be the next president because he is able to meet with kings and emperors as well as farmers. Davis believes the voters will pick Roosevelt, if they have the chance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Davis, John L. (John Lincoln), 1867-1922

Letter from Peder O. Evensen to Theodore Roosevelt

Peder O. Evensen tells Theodore Roosevelt he is promoting the Republican Progressive Party among the Scandinavian community in Chicago. Evensen asks Roosevelt to consider giving him a loan to restart his publication, the Varden. Evensen also shares his opinions on the presidential race what he thinks of William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-08

Creator(s)

Evensen, Peder O. (Peder Olavs), 1843-

Hopes rest with Roosevelt

After having lunch with Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Knox gives an official statement that Roosevelt is not and will not run for the nomination to become a candidate for president. Many Republicans hope Taft will turn down the nomination so Roosevelt might step up and save Republicans by becoming the Republican presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he admires his willingness to sacrifice his own interests for a principle, but encourages him to avoid talking about delicate subjects where his words could be twisted. Roosevelt is glad that Taft understands the situation with another potential presidential candidate, Governor Charles Evans Hughes, remarking that he has a “distinct strength with the people.” The president believes that Taft will get the majority of the delegates in the West on the first roll and that the majority of people in New England are for Taft. Finally, Roosevelt notes that the New York papers are “almost insane” in regard to his actions, suggesting that Judas Iscariot and Benedict Arnold were “pretty good citizens by comparison.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Longworth

President Roosevelt is pleased with the letters from Representative Longworth and his wife, Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Roosevelt tells Longworth he feels positive about the “Taft business,” but friction with the Japanese, and the outcome of the Big Bill Haywood trial, are causing him anxiety.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Allen White

President Roosevelt shares his thoughts regarding the upcoming presidential election and the land fraud case against Idaho Senator William Edgar Borah with William Allen White. Roosevelt outlines his personal reasons for supporting Secretary of War William H. Taft for president as well as the political considerations necessary to secure his nomination. In the case of Borah, Roosevelt would like White to come to Oyster Bay to discuss the matter with him and Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte; Roosevelt thinks it would look bad for Borah to come himself, and asks White to bring Borah’s lawyers on August 9.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Moses A. Gunst to Theodore Roosevelt

Moses A. Gunst emphasizes his loyalty to Theodore Roosevelt. In Gunst’s opinion, William H. Taft will be nominated for U.S. President but will not win the election. Gunst summarizes recent San Francisco and wider California election results, and says he hopes to see Roosevelt in San Francisco soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-13

Creator(s)

Gunst, Moses A., 1853-1928

Letter from Frank W. Stetson to Theodore Roosevelt

Frank W. Stetson sends a request that Theodore Roosevelt run for president again. It is clear Roosevelt will win, while Stetson does not believe William H. Taft or Robert M. La Follette will be able to win. Stetson shares reasons why Roosevelt is the best choice and why Roosevelt owe’s it to the country to run.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-02

Creator(s)

Stetson, Frank W.

Letter from Henry M. Hutchinson to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry M. Hutchinson writes to Theodore Roosevelt to express his concerns about the upcoming election. Hutchinson is confident that President William H. Taft will lose the next election, so the Republican Party must select another candidate. He believes Roosevelt should run again to save the party from defeat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-26

Creator(s)

Hutchinson, Henry M. (Henry Milton), 1843-1929

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of a speech given by George W. Goethals to Congress. Goethals is extremely grateful to Roosevelt, and Bishop suggests Roosevelt send him a line of acknowledgment. Goethals is pleased with the progress on the canal project. Bishop has just seen news of Canada’s rejection of reciprocity, which will worsen William Howard Taft’s prospects. Bishop believes Taft’s weak character has been revealed and both he and Woodrow Wilson will likely be replaced at the convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-23

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Letter from George A. Nowland to Theodore Roosevelt

George A. Nowland offers to resign his government position and work for Theodore Roosevelt if he decides to run for presidency in 1912.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-16

Creator(s)

Nowland, George A., 1853-1928

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid sends President Roosevelt an article from a British newspaper discussing the American presidential campaign that, unlike most others, “shows a more intelligent knowledge of the situation.” Reid shares that Liberian President Arthur Barclay is in London concerning foreign interests and Liberia, a matter which Reid previously reported on to Secretary of State Elihu Root.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from James Sullivan Clarkson to William Loeb

Surveyor James Sullivan Clarkson tells William Loeb about a secret movement in Tammany Hall to put General Ulysses S. Grant’s son, Jesse Root Grant, on the democratic ticket for 1908. All the states involved in organizing the movement so far are in the West and Northwest, and the idea is to “head off” William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst. Clarkson thinks it is “a pretty smart game” and emphasizes how important it is to keep it from going public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-24

Creator(s)

Clarkson, James Sullivan, 1842-1918

Letter from Joseph M. Dixon to Frank Harper

Senator Dixon introduces J. F. Byrnes who is setting up a series of films of the presidential candidates. Dixon would like Theodore Roosevelt to “submit to the ordeal” as the film could reach several million voters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-23

Creator(s)

Dixon, Joseph M. (Joseph Moore), 1867-1934

Theodore Roosevelt speaking to a group of men from the porch at Sagamore Hill

On May 27, 1916, groups of men, the 7th Regiment Band, and several children march on the road from the Oyster Bay railroad station to Sagamore Hill to demonstrate their support of Theodore Roosevelt for the 1916 Presidential nomination. Views of Roosevelt addressing the large crowd assembled on the lawn of Sagamore Hill. The rally was organized by the Roosevelt Non-Partisan League of New York City.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1916

Creator(s)

Unknown

Hill and Parker

According to Frank Campbell, state Democratic party chairman for New York, Judge Alton B. Parker will not be a candidate for president if David B. Hill decides to run. Parker and Hill are longtime political allies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02

Creator(s)

Unknown

Roosevelt versus Parker

In this letter to the editor of The Globe and Commercial Advertiser, the writer compares the personal characteristics of President Roosevelt, including “quickness of perception and reflection” as well as “firmness and combativeness,” with those of Judge Alton B. Parker. The writer believes Roosevelt demonstrates, while Parker lacks, the qualities necessary for the presidency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06

Creator(s)

Unknown