Presidents--Influence

In his address at the National War College, James N. Mattis stresses both the inspirational power of Theodore Roosevelt and the United States. Mattis provides examples of presidents whose actions fit Roosevelt’s mantra of leadership, and he relates the story of a captured solider in Iraq who hoped to somehow immigrate to the United States. Mattis asserts that Roosevelt knew the value of power, but he also cultivated the diplomacy of inspiration, and Mattis concludes that inspiration trumps intimidation. Mattis also contends that the post-World War II “Greatest Generation” of American leaders took their cue from the example set by Roosevelt.

Four photographs, and a page devoted to pictures of Mattis with a brief biography, populate the address.

President Roosevelt read Senator Carter’s letter, and although he does not want to involve himself with managing the campaign, he will send it to Representative J. S. Sherman. Carter’s input could be helpful, and Sherman is sure to give good feedback. Roosevelt asks if he should take action regarding U.S. Marshall for Montana Arthur William Merrifield.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

President Roosevelt thanks Lawrence F. Abbott for his answer to R. T. Vann. The only way Roosevelt influenced office holders was by preventing them from nominating him for a third term. He details what candidates the office holders were mostly supporting in various states. Enclosed are two letters regarding Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, one from Mrs. Williams which Roosevelt would like to see published and one which has already been published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

President Roosevelt will do what he can to stop the parade form happening but encourages Representative Parsons to talk to others involved and to do his part to stop it himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-01

President Roosevelt hopes Nathan Bijur will accept the nomination to run for Congress to represent the East Side District of New York City.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-01

President Roosevelt can not work with the Lincoln Centenary Committee, though he is glad Mayor McClellan and the City of New York are working to properly celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Roosevelt will be going to Lincoln’s home town in Kentucky and giving an address to celebrate the event.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-29

Although President Roosevelt has a positive feeling towards Captain John T. Nance, he can not comment on the matter now.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-28

President Roosevelt has followed William Kent’s suggestion and asked Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to instruct District Attorney Robert T. Devlin as Kent wishes. Roosevelt has been working to put life into the campaign and to make sure that the public sees William H. Taft’s merit. Although William Jennings Bryan is nice enough, he is self-interested and not fit for presidency, as any bright individual would be able to see.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-28

President Roosevelt tells Representative Watson that he cannot go on the stump in just one state without going on in many, and therefore cannot meet Watson’s request. Roosevelt considers the work he has been doing more effective than giving stump speeches.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

President Roosevelt has received complaints about how the campaign is being managed by the the national and state committees. Roosevelt asks if Representative Sherman might be an intermediary for feedback so that he does not keep interfering with these politics, and asks if he can write to Sherman when he has something to suggest. This would also give Sherman a position where he could exercise his own judgement and influence with the campaign committees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

President Roosevelt agrees with William H. Taft’s view on tariffs but advises him to tread lightly and cautiously on all policy matters. Roosevelt also advises that Taft resist any attempts by George Barnsdale Cox to push him into the wrong positions, but that he remain on good terms, to avoid coming off as Governor Charles Evans Hughes does. Roosevelt advocates that Taft act as he did when in similar positions, avoiding conflict but fighting when necessary. Roosevelt believes he has taken a good shot at William Jennings Bryan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-24

President Roosevelt thanks Grosvenor A. Harper for the letter of praise, but asks Harper to consider William H. Taft. Roosevelt would not have said all he has of Taft if he did not firmly believe it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-24

President Roosevelt responds to Representative William Livsey Jones by assuring him that letters have been sent to Internal Revenue Collector Benjamin D. Crocker and United States Marshal George H. Baker. Roosevelt has informed them that any action against Jones will not stand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

President Roosevelt heartily approves of Representative Longworth’s speech and hopes it will be distributed widely. Roosevelt is pleased that his fight for the nomination of New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes paid off, but he is disappointed in the way William H. Taft’s campaign is going, and lists a few of the men he thinks could be responsible. He is anxious to see Taft show more investment and take a swing at Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, but he does not want to steal the spotlight by interfering too much.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

President Roosevelt thinks Secretary of State Root handled the Saratoga situation perfectly, and he has been glad to shape the political landscape in New York with Root since the 1893 Constitutional Convention. Roosevelt congratulates Root on his many years of public leadership and service, in which he has been extremely effective.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-17

President Roosevelt found the article sent by Lawrence F. Abbott on midwestern farmer Franklin Taylor to be an accurate portrayal of the type of man who will decide the election results in states like Kansas. Roosevelt does not think he should publish another piece in the midst of a campaign unless he absolutely must, and instead William H. Taft must convince the voters himself. Roosevelt agrees with Abbott that William Jennings Bryan would be worse for the country now than he would have been in 1898, and if Roosevelt does write another letter, he will follow Abbott’s suggestions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-16

President Roosevelt tells John A. Sleicher he is reluctant to appear to be a dictator or to force the nomination of Charles Evans Hughes for governor of New York. However, he has done, and will continue to do, all he can to impress upon leaders his “very strong personal judgement” that Hughes should be renominated. Doing otherwise would be a mistake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

President Roosevelt thanks Samuel McCune Lindsay for his letter. He is inclined to agree with Lindsay on the desirability of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes. However, he feels it is more accurate to call Hughes a reactionary than William H. Taft. The matter of concern is how far should he and Taft go in trying to force the renomination. Regardless, Roosevelt is unsure whether anyone would heed him in the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

President Roosevelt shares his thoughts on the difficulty of dealing with Ohio Representative Theodore E. Burton and the reasons for his African safari with William Allen White. Roosevelt asks White if William H. Taft will win the upcoming presidential election in Kansas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-10

President Roosevelt tells Caspar Whitney that he does not know if the telegraph office or authorities at Harvard leaked the contents of telegrams between himself and Harvard President Charles William Eliot concerning the punishment of two students on the Harvard rowing team.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08