Presidential candidates--Public opinion

President Roosevelt holds William H. Taft, who is depicted as a baby and holds a Republican elephant rattle. Uncle Sam, who has a cigar in his mouth, looks on. Caption: Uncle Sam–My, what a big boy! But Bryan says he can’t talk? Papa Teddy–Oh yes, he can! He repeats everything I say.

comments and context

Comments and Context

In 1908, James Calvert Smith was honing his cartooning skills and the incisiveness of his political commentary from the outpost of Jacksonville’s Times-Union. Soon he would become a magazine gag cartoonist and work for publications like Judge and Life into the 1930s.

The editorial columns of Leslie’s Weekly address numerous topics in a number of highlighted columns. These include predicting that enthusiasm for William Jennings Bryan’s 1908 candidacy for the presidential election will wane, reporting on the progress of Secretary of State Elihu Root’s trip to South America, commenting that attacks on President Roosevelt’s veracity in the railway-rate-bill discussion have been mild compared to past presidents, and examining the proposition of global disarmament.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-09

President Roosevelt greatly enjoyed having Representative Kent visit the White House, and hopes that he had a good time. Roosevelt was surprised at Arthur Twining Hadley’s choice of John C. Spooner and J. Pierpont Morgan to receive honorary degrees from Yale University, but does not think that it will do enough damage to William H. Taft to prevent him from winning the presidential election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-03

William H. Taft has received the letters that President Roosevelt forwarded from United States Representative William Kent, who he thinks is a bit of a crank. Taft was not entirely comfortable with J. Pierpont Morgan being praised at Yale’s commencement speech, but does not attach the same weight to it that Kent does, and does not think there was a conspiracy to make Taft appear as a reactionary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-11

Draft of an editorial describing a meeting between Frederick Morgan Davenport, a professor at Hamilton College, and Secretary of War William H. Taft. Davenport compares the current political and economic climate with that in 1812, with the patriotic and commercial interests at cross-purposes. The author trusts that the popular interests will prevail over the commercial ones, and goes on to relay Davenport’s thoughts on the election chances of both Taft and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-13

In Leslie’s Weekly, former New York City Mayor Seth Low writes about why he feels Charles Evan Hughes, Governor of New York, would be the best Republican candidate for president on 1908. In his view, Hughes has the best chance of winning New York given his strong record there as governor, and without New York the Republican chances of victory are slim. While Low holds many others in high esteem, he feels that Hughes is the safest choice for Republicans given the challenging election they will face.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-23

The League of Lincoln-Roosevelt Republican Clubs of California resolves that they will support President Roosevelt in upcoming presidential elections. However, if Roosevelt keeps his pledge not to seek re-election, the League will support William H. Tafts candidacy, believing that he will carry on Roosevelt’s policies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-17

Secretary of War William H. Taft seemed to be the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president, but his candidacy is losing support. Even thought President Roosevelt supports him, and he is personally popular with the public, he is a poor campaigner and is losing ground in several states to other politicians, including Roosevelt himself, whom some support for a second elected term.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-21

John Campbell Greenway has returned to Arizona and is working as a manager for the Calumet & Arizona and New Cornelia Copper Companies. Greenway feels that General Wood can count on the support of the Arizona delegates at the Republican National Convention. Although Governor Lowden is campaigning in the state, Greenway believes Wood has more support, particularly in regard to the cost of living, public expenditures, and the Mexican Revolution.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1919-08-19

General Wood requests John Campbell Greenway’s opinion, and that of as many representatives as Greenway can contact, whether Wood should resign from the Army or delay until he receives the Republican presidential nomination. Page 2 includes a tally, with the final count at 11 no, 8 yes.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1920-02-04

John Campbell Greenway spoke with eighteen prominent Arizona Republicans and the majority favored General Wood remaining in the army and not retiring before the Republican presidential nomination. Greenway believes the campaign is going well.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1920-02-07

General Wood requests John Campbell Greenway’s opinion, and that of as many representatives as Greenway can contact, whether Wood should resign from the Army or delay until he receives the Republican presidential nomination.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1920-02-04

John Campbell Greenway expects the Republican State Convention of Arizona and its delegates to be friendly towards General Wood. Greenway asks whether he can have Wood’s assurance, if he is elected, to safeguard American life and property in Mexico.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1920-02-23

William H. H. Llewellyn used a letter from Theodore Roosevelt in support of General Wood’s presidential campaign while speaking in Indiana. Llewellyn believes that Wood’s intimate knowledge of Latin Americans makes him especially suited for the presidency.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1920-05-13

Police Commissioner Roosevelt informs his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles that he is heading out west to his ranch. He describes the devastating effect of the recent heat wave, which has killed many people and horses. Roosevelt also points out that presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan has been such a “failure” at oration that he cancelled the rest of his Eastern trip.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1896-08-15

The Turkish consul, Edward J. Sullivan, wishes to counteract anti-Roosevelt coalition in New York by mobilizing strong support for the President.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-26

Harrington Fitzgerald predicts that Representative Hearst will be the Democrats’ presidential nominee in 1904. He says he has information on Hearst that will ruin his campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-22

Albert J. Beveridge sends a note of congratulations to President Roosevelt for his successful campaign as a Republican candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-05

Leslie M. Shaw informs President Roosevelt of public support for Roosevelt’s campaign in Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, and Chicago, IL. Shaw accepts a luncheon invitation extended by Mr. Edwards and plans to see Colonel Henry Lee Higginson as requested by Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-27

Governor Hadley encloses a memorandum with Missouri polling results provided by Colonel Nelson. He believes that this information will display whether there is a demand in Missouri for Theodore Roosevelt to be a presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-02-02