Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Judge Hinebaugh’s friendship, but nothing can be done with Roosevelt as a candidate. Roosevelt hopes Hinebaugh will come over before he leaves for the West.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-02
President Roosevelt tells Ambassador to Italy Griscom that his and Elizabeth Bronson Griscom’s son, Bronson W. Griscom, has a chance to become president. Although he was born in a foreign country, Griscom can become president because his father was serving the United States as a diplomat.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-11
President Roosevelt comments on and advises Kermit Roosevelt on his athletic abilities and pursuits. He is “up to my ears in work,” which includes dictating speeches. Archibald “Archie” Roosevelt commented that it seems Roosevelt is currently under attack more than at previous times. Roosevelt felt it best to “attack aggressively and fearlessly” in his letter to the Moyer-Haywood Defense Association. He finds comfort in having Secretary of War William H. Taft and Secretary of State Elihu Root with him and hopes Taft will be nominated for president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-23
President Roosevelt tells John A. Sleicher that “Congress has got to get so that it will and can act on the tariff before any action on my part would do more than split the Republican party wide open.” If the executive branch were the only party involved the tariff would be revised immediately. However, Roosevelt cannot act without Congress and he is not sure if a revision on the tariff will be possible before the next presidential election. He reminds Sleicher that he will not consent to being the next Republican candidate, and that the issue will therefore be taken up by his successor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-11
President Roosevelt believes Ambassador Reid has acted admirably in every case, and treated William Jennings Bryan well while he visited England. Roosevelt reflects on the Democratic party and Bryan’s role in it, and believes that Bryan will be the party’s presidential candidate in 1908. Because of Bryan’s travels around the world, however, he has been “broadened,” and “would be a far less dangerous man now then he would have been ten years ago.” While Roosevelt feels that Bryan is shallow, he admits that he is also kind and well-meaning, and while he would be a poor president, he would not be such intentionally. Roosevelt additionally thanks Reid for the consideration he paid Silas McBee during his visit to England, although he wishes there were not so many Americans who were enthusiastic to meet royalty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-27
President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge of his sorrow at the death of John Hay, who, while not flawless as Secretary of State, he greatly respected. He believes Elihu Root will be a good Secretary of State. Roosevelt updates Lodge on the progress of arranging peace talks between the Japanese and Russians, as well as his part serving as an intermediary between France and Germany. Newspapers are speculating that Root agreed to join the cabinet as a step towards the presidency, but Roosevelt feels that Secretary of War William H. Taft may make a better candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-11
President Roosevelt believes that the Democrats can only win in the west, particularly Montana, by pushing William Jennings Bryan forward. Coincidentally, Democrats can only win in the east by pushing Alton B. Parker’s victory, which means the end of Bryan as a candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-14
President Roosevelt is not sure what the outcome of the election will be. He thinks the Republicans have 216 electoral votes. According to current vote calculations, they may win by a small majority. Roosevelt is keeping busy as president and as a presidential candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-06
Theodore Roosevelt believes that it would be wrong to use the same campaign techniques as the Democrats. Roosevelt will not permit his opponents to make “Odellism” the issue. He will keep things focused on the presidential campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-29
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Elihu Root about the possibility of him becoming the Governor of New York. If this were to happen, then Root would be the likely Republican nominee for president in 1908. Roosevelt would also like Root to come to Oyster Bay and help him with his letter of acceptance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-02
President Roosevelt writes to the Democratic candidate running against him for president, Chief Justice Alton B. Parker. He is autographing the letter for Parker and sends well wishes from himself and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to Parker and his wife, Mary Louise Schoonmaker Parker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-21
President Roosevelt hopes what Nicholas Murray Butler said is true. He will be sorry if Judge Parker is not the Democratic candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-05
President Roosevelt never made public General Nelson Appleton Miles’s proposition about the Presidency, and he never intends to. Miles would deny the proposition and Roosevelt does not want to “get into an issue of personal veracity.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-27
President Roosevelt needs to call an extra session of Congress to consider the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty and would like to see some minor financial legislation. Roosevelt agrees with Senator Quay that Gray would be a strong candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-27
President Roosevelt is trying not to concern himself with renomination and hopes that his work as President will secure the Republican nomination for him. Roosevelt disagrees with F. Norton Goddard on regulating beef duties and strongly defends the record and actions of Attorney General Philander C. Knox and Secretary of War Elihu Root.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-14
Vice President Roosevelt shares his opinions about Senators Marcus Alonzo Hanna, Matthew Stanley Quay, Thomas Collier Platt, and George W. Dunn. His main supporters are farmers, upper class mechanics, small businessmen, and others who oppose populism.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-08-27
While in agreement on Gifford Pinchot’s ideas, Joseph O. Thompson believes that “a progressive candidate is more to be thought of than a platform at this time.” Theodore Roosevelt should be the Progressive candidate; he is “a platform within himself.” Thompson feels that the “Old Guard” in the South is ready to support Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-23
John Callan O’Laughlin informs Theodore Roosevelt that John M. Harlan, a previously outspoken critic of Roosevelt, would support him if he were to run for re-election. Many other Republicans have also inquired about whether Roosevelt will seek re-election. O’Laughlin requests that Roosevelt publicly reject Secretary of State Robert Lansing’s treaty with Latin America that would include territorial integrity and prohibitions on shipments of munitions. O’Laughlin fears that this would keep the United States from acquiring any more territory in the future and would have a detrimental effect on relationship between the United States and South American countries.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-24
Ora J. Parker proposes that, if the Democratic National Convention selects a candidate opposed to the principles advocated by William Jennings Bryan, a new party be formed led by Bryan and Roosevelt. Parker suggests Bryan as the presidential candidate and Roosevelt for vice-president. Though writing to both men, Parker, a self-proclaimed “stalwart Republican,” specifically implores Roosevelt to approach Bryan about joining forces.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-24
On behalf of American Magazine, Ida M. Tarbell requests permission for Arnold Genthe to photograph Theodore Roosevelt for an article on the presidential candidates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-10