Press and politics

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends William H. Taft a copy of the letter he sent to Treasurer of the Campaign Committee George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign contributions, after a complaint from Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt asks Taft to take more aggressive action against William Jennings Bryan, perhaps giving a speech like the one recently given by New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Many have suggested that T. Coleman DuPont should not be in charge of the Speakers Committee, and if it were up to Roosevelt he would be removed. Roosevelt has given the press a copy of a letter from Taft to Arthur I. Vorys in which Taft’s independence is full display, to counteract the press coverage of the supposed reconciliation with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt advises Taft, in his speech, to speak about the connection between William Randolph Hearst and the Democratic National Committee. In a postscript, Roosevelt advises Taft to remove Sheldon if he did in fact solicit the donations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt assures Attorney General Bonaparte not to worry about press generated from the “Electric Combine” (presumably General Electric) situation and agrees with Bonaparte’s ideas for managing the effects from the distribution of the Appeal to Reason. Roosevelt is not surprised that Leslie M. Shaw, former secretary of the treasury, is acrimonious, and thinks the conservative party he describes would gain very little support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt asks if William H. Taft can generate pointed publicity around the situation with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker to position himself as a foil to Foraker’s corrupt corporate alliance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel S. Slater

President Roosevelt has Samuel S. Slater’s letter and awaits the affidavit. Roosevelt clarifies that concerning Panama, and his administration, he strives for transparency and public disclosure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lawrence F. Abbott

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

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Pearl Wight

President Roosevelt explains to Pearl Wight that he tried to convince William H. Taft and the rest of the cabinet to prevent William Jennings Bryan from causing issues with the bank deposit situation. Both Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root have responded to Bryan in The Outlook. His banking plan would be deeply problematic, as is evidenced by the failed attempt at a similar plan in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott

President Roosevelt informs Lyman Abbott of The Outlook about the situation with New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Although the major papers covered Hughes as a figure in stark contrast to Roosevelt, he was in fact originally nominated on Roosevelt’s suggestion, and dependent on him for reelection. Politicians such as Hughes have often catered to the press and refused to work beside others in their party, and it has weakened their ability to serve. Even with these misguided acts, Roosevelt investigated the situation thoroughly and felt that Hughes had been a good governor, which is why he intervened for his renomination. Any resentful action Hughes takes to upset Roosevelt does not hold power now, as Roosevelt will never run for office or request anything from Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John A. Sleicher

President Roosevelt asks John A. Sleicher to please show the four articles by Charles M. Harvey to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock as potential campaign materials, and says he is glad the situation surrounding the New York Governorship is going well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells William H. Taft that his playing golf is causing a public stir, and he hopes Taft will avoid it until after the election. Roosevelt agrees with Jones on the religious topic, and sends a letter from John Sleicher with an article by Charles M. Harvey, which might garner support among Jewish voters. Roosevelt feels the East will see a mostly positive political outcome, with the railroad situation being handled fairly and a top man being put in charge at the Chicago headquarters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt is pleased to be of assistance to William Dudley Foulke. Roosevelt is having a difficult time getting Governor Charles Evans Hughes renominated in New York, as Hughes has insulted working politicians for positive press from The Evening Post and its crowd and now requires outside interference to succeed. People have accused Roosevelt of having dictated the nomination of William H. Taft for president, but Roosevelt says that he has been working harder for Hughes than he did for Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Moore

President Roosevelt is glad to hear what Charles A. Moore says about New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Roosevelt was open about his actions for William H. Taft, and Hughes could have read such information in any paper. He supports Hughes in New York, even if initially he felt the campaign lacked strength. For the success of both Taft and Hughes, remaining available spaces on the ticket should be filled with “straight organization men.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Melville Elijah Stone

President Roosevelt believes that if an announcement were made now, it would hurt William H. Taft’s campaign, and tells Melville E. Stone of the Associated Press that he hopes the matter is kept “absolutely quiet.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Regis Henri Post

President Roosevelt informs Regis Henri Post, Governor of Puerto Rico, that the journalist Stephan Bonsal will be visiting Puerto Rico on behalf of the Chicago Tribune. Roosevelt asks that Post make sure to show Bonsal every bit of hospitality, but confidentially expresses that he should also keep his guard up.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles E. Magoon

President Roosevelt informs Provisional Governor of Cuba Magoon that the journalist Stephan Bonsal will be visiting Cuba on behalf of the Chicago Tribune. Roosevelt asks that Magoon make sure to show Bonsal every bit of hospitality, but confidently expresses that he should also keep his guard up.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

President Roosevelt is glad Joseph Bucklin Bishop, Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission, approves of his handling of the situation with Grover Cleveland. Privately, he feels that Cleveland and Henry Loomis Nelson both deviated from the truth, but no man has “peeped” on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Watson Gilder

President Roosevelt agrees with what Richard Watson Gilder says about Harold Irwin Cleveland’s article. However, he does not understand the connection made to Brown’s article. Brown’s statements, especially regarding Roosevelt, are entirely and deliberately false.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Sowden Sims

President Roosevelt advises Admiral Sims not to pay attention to anything printed in The Herald.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James E. Sullivan

President Roosevelt thoroughly enjoyed visiting with James E. Sullivan and the Olympic victors. He encloses a copy of the letter and requests that Sullivan only shares it with a few intimate friends and ensure that it does not get into the papers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt will send William H. Taft a copy of his letter to Representatives Henry C. Loudenslager and William Brown McKinley. He wonders if Taft has seen George W. Alger’s recent article on Taft, which Roosevelt believes should be widely circulated. Roosevelt agrees Taft should give a number of big speeches in several states and earnestly wants Taft’s personality to be more evident. Regarding Governor Charles Evans Hughes, Roosevelt still thinks he should be renominated. He discusses the guaranty of bank deposits but can offer no advice on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel R. Smith

President Roosevelt thanks Samuel R. Smith, president of the Bank of Long Island, for the complimentary letters. He doubts The Sun will publish the one Smith sent to them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29