Presidents--Election--Public opinion

In a letter to his friend and novelist Owen Wister, President Roosevelt reviews his recently won election victory in the presidential contest of 1904. Roosevelt highlights some of the accomplishments of his first term and notes that his Democratic opponent, Alton B. Parker, proved to be a poor candidate. Roosevelt expresses gratitude for members of his Cabinet, and he believes that he won the election because of the support of ordinary citizens.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1904-11-19

In an e-mail interview with Gregory A. Wynn of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, John M. Thompson, author of Great Power Rising: Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy, discusses his personal background, his decision to write about Theodore Roosevelt, and the sources he used in completing his study. Thompson also details Roosevelt’s careful cultivation of the press, especially newspaper reporters, and he asserts that Roosevelt mastered the process of cultivating support for his foreign policy in the domestic arena. Thompson also notes Roosevelt’s efforts to win the support of German-Americans, and he offers his opinions about the shortcomings in Roosevelt’s record as a diplomat.

A photograph of Thompson and the front cover illustration of Great Power Rising supplement the text of the interview.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

A procession carries an embalmed James Gillespie Blaine to a place among other embalmed Republicans in an Egyptian tomb. Among those previously embalmed are Thomas Collier Platt, Stephen W. Dorsey, Thomas Brady, Ulysses S. Grant, Roscoe Conkling, George M. Robeson, Joseph W. Keifer, William P. Kellogg, and William Belknap. Among those carrying the embalmed Blaine, labeled “Nominated June 6, Embalmed Nov. 1884” are William W. Phelps, Whitelaw Reid, William H. Robertson, Powell Clayton, and Joseph Medill. Caption: The wire-pullers have nominated him; but the people will send him where they have sent the others.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-06-11

Theodore Roosevelt replies to W. Phillips’s request for input on a particular bill and informs him of his rule to not comment on the drafting of individual items.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-10-24

President Roosevelt expresses to James Sullivan Clarkson his wish for the sincere and free willed support of constituents in the Southern States, in particular African Americans. Roosevelt also critiques the media, specifically The New York Times and the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, for their sensationalization of his political motives.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1903-03-13

Editorial criticizing a San Franciscan correspondent of the Oakland Tribune for saying Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was at a party trying to ascertain everyone’s presidential preferences.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say the magazine he writes for, The Outlook, has been feeling the effect of his defeat in the presidential election and he is not sure he can make the Progressive Party permanent. He adds that he will begin work on his autobiography next year.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-12-07

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna Roosevelt about current happenings in Oyster Bay, New York. The Roosevelts have been entertaining guests and playing tennis and polo. Roosevelt also discusses the upcoming election and thinks that Benjamin Harrison will be a good candidate.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1888-07-30

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary writes to Samuel May with a rebuttal to the arguments made by Winslow Warren about Roosevelt’s actions in establishing a third party following the loss of the Republican nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-12

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary encloses a copy of the leaflet “Lest We Forget,” printed by Frank Andrew Munsey. He suggests that Oscar K. Davis have a member of the campaign hand it casually to newspaper men across the United States, so that it might be printed and remind people of Roosevelt’s Presidential record.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-23

Alonzo H. Cox writes that somebody should “muzzle” Senator La Follette. Cox believes that La Follette is jealous of Theodore Roosevelt and that Roosevelt should remain steadfast and remember that he has the support of the public. Cox thinks Roosevelt has as good a chance as Governor Wilson in the upcoming election, maybe even better, and has bet $5 that President Taft will not get as many votes as the socialists.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-16

Alonzo H. Cox received Theodore Roosevelt’s letter and will forever treasure it, both because Roosevelt was president for seven years and because he will be president again. Cox believes that the public will show their dissatisfaction with the way President Taft has treated Roosevelt when they go to the polls, and the Democratic Party will blunder and lose their chance like always. If a Taft nomination is forced on the people then Roosevelt should run as an independent and secure “the biggest vote ever given to a candidate.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-13

Stonewall J. Gardner tells Theodore Roosevelt that it is his duty to recognize that the country needs him for president. He points out that he does not belong to any political organization, desires no office, and controls only his one vote. His view is from a business standpoint, and he tells Roosevelt that he would run circles around any candidate from either party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-27

Henry M. Minor tries to convince Theodore Roosevelt to accept the nomination for president as his duty to the Republican party and country. He insists that neither President William H. Taft and Senator Robert M. La Follette cannot be elected and will be defeated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-26

George H. King tells Theodore Roosevelt that the Republican party is divided and he is the logical presidential candidate. It is his duty to party and country to accept. King mentions an article he wrote and sent to Roosevelt predicting “Roosevelt and Beveridge, 1912.” He became a Roosevelt man after hearing his address at Cooper’s Institute.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-23

Riley S. Young congratulates Theodore Roosevelt on his recent article in The Outlook. Young believes the current age requires capital in order to do business and therefore size should not be restricted by vague laws. Young hopes Roosevelt will allow his friends to nominate him for president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-22

Reverend Matthew H. Frank tells Theodore Roosevelt a story of his four-year-old son wanting to see ‘Teddy Wosevelt,” and says that both he and his son would like to be able to vote for Roosevelt in 1912.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-14

Senator Bourne argues that President Roosevelt must run for another term as President, using excerpts of letters, newspaper clipping, and his own strong opinion on the matter to convince Roosevelt not to leave office at this critical point in history.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-07

James D. Elliott describes a trip he took to Denver and the impressions he gathered of the political sentiment there as suggested by Seth Bullock. Elliott encountered many people from many walks of life and details how all were strong supporters of President Roosevelt and his re-election. Although Elliott says he personally likes Secretary of War William H. Taft, the people he met did not support him. Elliot is strongly in favor of re-electing Roosevelt in 1908. Elliot describes the “bank situation” in the West as being similar to the situation in the rest of the country, but in his town demands for currency are being met.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-04

Arthur I. Vorys includes information from Judge Henry A. Melvin in Alameda County, California about the appointment of Charles E. Thomas as postmaster of Berkeley as well as the impact the appointment could have on the candidacy of Secretary of War William H. Taft. Melvin believes that President Roosevelt should not appoint someone else as postmaster because it would be a “serious blow” to major political leaders there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11