Your TR Source
President Roosevelt does not believe Secretary of War William H. Taft could meet with Wyndham Robertson Meredith during the summer of a presidential election, but will arrange for himself and Taft to meet with Meredith’s committee to discuss a potential address for Taft to make.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-31
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-30
George E. Miller encloses an article he thinks Theodore Roosevelt might be interested in. Miller has spoken to many people who believe Robert M. La Follette is politically dishonest and President William H. Taft has not made good on tariff-related promises. Many people say that Roosevelt is the only Republican who can be elected next year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-07
A. W. Graves expresses sorrow upon hearing of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s accident and hopes she is well recovered by now. Graves also shares concern for corruption in local government and hopes Theodore Roosevelt will accept the Republican Nomination for President as Graves believes Roosevelt is the only man who can bring harmony as president.
Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt had been thrown from her horse on September 30, 1911, causing her to hit her head and remain unconscious for several days.
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-02
Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt continues his previous letter to his father, Theodore Roosevelt, on President William H. Taft’s reelection campaign. He plans to leave politics once the current municipal race is over. He will publicly support Taft, but he will not actively campaign for him. According to Ted, the California legislature has been inconsistent, passing some useful and some silly measures in the most recent session. This has caused the public to lose some confidence in government leadership. Roosevelt’s wife, Eleanor, and daughter, Grace, are doing well. Ted hopes his father and mother will be able to visit them soon. He looks forward to reading the article written by his brother, Kermit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-29
Robert B. Roosevelt was glad to hear from Hallock. Roosevelt has always been a Democrat, but William Jennings Bryan’s populist antics forced him to support William McKinley in the past, and Bryan has become crazier since then. He also considers Theodore Roosevelt to be “half a Democrat,” and thinks Roosevelt will help keep the administration in line.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-28
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-26
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-23
R.M. Wanamaker informs Theodore Roosevelt that Republicans of Ohio are dissatisfied by the current presidential administration and are not likely to vote for William H. Taft. He wonders what Republicans can do to improve their party. He asks if he could meet Roosevelt during the first week of October in New York, possibly at The Outlook Office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-18
George A. Nowland offers to resign his government position and work for Theodore Roosevelt if he decides to run for presidency in 1912.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-16
Timothy L. Woodruff updates William Loeb on New York State politics in anticipation of the next year’s presidential election. He and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes do not agree on the wording of a resolution, especially because many New Yorkers want Roosevelt to run for reelection. Woodruff asks Loeb to decide what wording the resolution should use.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-20
University of California President Wheeler tells President Roosevelt that most Californians are eager to show their support for Secretary of War William H. Taft’s presidential bid. The Alameda County, California, political machine generally opposes Taft, but William F. Herrin has instructed these men to support Taft. Wheeler praises Roosevelt’s skillful handling of the Berkeley, California post office matter, which Wheeler believes has secured California’s delegation for Taft. He updates Roosevelt on other happenings in California state politics and advises him to do nothing for now.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-20
University of California President Benjamin Ide Wheeler sends William Loeb information regarding Secretary of War William H. Taft’s recent trip to Washington state. Wheeler discusses a letter from Judge Henry A. Melvin to Arthur I. Vorys in which Melvin says the existing political machine in Alameda County, California, will support Taft in the upcoming primaries. Wheeler believes Melvin wrote this letter because he is indebted to William E. Dargie and George W. Reed for his judgeship. Wheeler feels that these men are truly in opposition to Taft and Roosevelt, but are supporting Taft because his victory seems inevitable and they want to be on the winning side.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
Reverend Millican invites President Roosevelt to a black bear hunt in the mountains of Texas and promises that it will be as public or private as Roosevelt likes. He says that everything will be taken care of for Roosevelt and that he is sure to get a bear because they always do. Millican concludes by praising Roosevelt’s presidency, urging him to run for another term, and asking God’s protection over the president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-12
Arthur I. Vorys informs William Loeb that Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon or Leslie M. Shaw are the second choice of Florida Republicans if President Roosevelt does not seek another term. This is unlike the rest of the country, which largely supports Secretary of War William H. Taft after Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-09
Timothy L. Woodruff sends William Loeb a New York Times clipping which includes an interview of Lucius Nathan Littauer, a former representative from New York. Woodruff also discusses various political officials in New York that are for and against “us.” He encourages Loeb to see Littauer and inform Woodruff on what he can expect from the former congressman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-07
Senator Lodge informs President Roosevelt about his sister-in-law’s health and comments on dealings among several political figures, including Secretary of War William H. Taft and Senator Joseph Benson Foraker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-13
L. Clarke Davis sends President Roosevelt two editorials from the Philadelphia Public Ledger. Davis then explains to Roosevelt that he thinks Senator Hanna is no longer against Roosevelt, that Hanna’s loyalty to Roosevelt will be valuable, and that, although Roosevelt can win without Hanna, the victory will be greater with Hanna’s support.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-28
Katherine Lowell Roosevelt Bowlker congratulates President Roosevelt on his landslide re-election and rhapsodizes over the country’s faith in his character. She wishes Alfred (her first husband and Roosevelt’s cousin) had been alive to witness it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-10