Primaries

Letter from John O. Yeiser to Frank Harper

John O. Yeiser explains to Frank Harper the reason for his telegram asking permission to publicize some of his correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt. Yeiser is anxious to make Roosevelt a candidate and would appreciate being able to share something to help the movement succeed. Roosevelt’s name will be on the Nebraska primary ballot which will provide a poll of the voters preference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-17

Letter from Ernest Harvier to Theodore Roosevelt

Ernest Harvier writes to Theodore Roosevelt about the distinction of direct primaries. Harvier previously spoke on this topic with Governor Woodrow Wilson in Sea Girt, New Jersey. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt writes to his father, Theodore Roosevelt, about his family and the recent primary election. Ted, his wife, Eleanor Butler Roosevelt, and their newborn daughter, Grace Green Roosevelt, have just visited the country with Richard M. Tobin. The primary election in San Francisco, California, has just ended and Ted is confident that their candidate, James Rolph, has won. In response to Roosevelt’s concerns about William Kent, Ted clarifies the content of his conversation with Kent. Ted encloses an article from The California Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-26

Letter from Francis J. Lowe to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis J. Lowe asks Theodore Roosevelt for guidance as to whether or not he should help Gruber with the primary elections in New York. Lowe heard Gruber speak at Saratoga in 1910, but was not impressed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-22

Letter from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to William Loeb

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Letter from Herbert Parsons to Theodore Roosevelt

Herbert Parsons informs President Roosevelt that a few “fights” in the Republican organization at the primaries are very important, particularly in the First Assembly District. Parsons believes that Rocco Dalessandro is the better candidate for the party and notes that his brother, Antonio Dalessandro, is “the strongest republican amongst the Italians of the lower part of the city” and has done good work as chief watchman and immigrant inspector in New York. Parsons notes that Rocco’s opponents have leveled charges against Antonio, but Parsons does not believe them and encourages Roosevelt to go over the matter carefully if they are seriously entertained.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-18

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft agrees with President Roosevelt on Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s speech and on the negative press from the New York papers. He describes his trip thus far and makes predictions about his success based on what he has been told. In light of the gerrymandering involving Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, Taft asks Roosevelt to help defeat an inadequate constitution in Oklahoma. Taft has asked Joseph L. Bristow to form another report on Panama, and he mentions an editor named Joseph Ralph Burton who has been attacking Roosevelt. Taft discusses the political campaigns and conflicts in the states he is passing through, in particular the political campaigns in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Denver. Taft’s mother Louise Maria Torrey Taft is recovering, and although the trip has been exhausting, Taft has a few days of rest ahead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Letter from Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Bourne was pleased to see Theodore Roosevelt’s favorable comments on the five principles of the “Oregon system of Popular Government” which appeared in The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-25

Telegram from Joseph M. Dixon to Theodore Roosevelt

With 50 of the Oklahoma precincts reporting, Theodore Roosevelt has won 283 delegates to President Taft’s 70 delegates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-03

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William Allen White

Theodore Roosevelt has wired Dorsey Green requesting that he remove his name from the list of President Taft electors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912

Letter from Frank Harper to J. H. Hurlock

Frank Harper clarifies why Theodore Roosevelt agreed to become a presidential candidate in 1912. Roosevelt responded to the overwhelming support of rank and file Republicans as reflected by Roosevelt’s primary victories. Political bosses stole the nomination through “various tricks and devices.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lindon W. Bates

Theodore Roosevelt does not support Progressive candidates going before Republican and Democratic primaries, unless in exceptional circumstances. Roosevelt thinks that damaging misunderstandings would arise as a result of the suggestion made by Lindon W. Bates, and that Progressives nominated as a result of those primaries would only be worth something as Progressive party members, rather than Progressive members of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Everard Bierer

Theodore Roosevelt believes that the delegates to Chicago would be different if Utah had had a preferential primary and thanks Everard Bierer and his friends for their work on the campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to T. R. Gallary

Theodore Roosevelt thanks T. R. Gallary for his letter and is sure that the plain people will be victorious in the primaries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. M. Miles

Theodore Roosevelt writes Judge C. M. Miles regarding the victory in Denver secured by Judge Ben Lindsey and others who ran on the same ticket. Roosevelt believes that if there had been a preferential primary in Colorado, they would have had more support from the people of Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-03

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to C. E. Loose

Theodore Roosevelt hopes the delegates to the State Convention of Utah will align with other states to overcome “boss rule and the rule of special interests” to ensure democracy and “the cause of progressive Republicanism.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John A. Hibberd

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Senator John A. Hibberd for his letter. Roosevelt believes that if they had had a preferential primary in Indiana they would have won over their opponents in the Indiana Convention. Roosevelt also believes that the National Committee will not stand by the Indiana Convention because of their outrageous practices.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-03

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Charles L. Dotson

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Charles L. Dotson that Roosevelt is unable to visit South Dakota for the primary campaign, although Senator Beveridge will visit the state for a few days.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-27

Letter from Frank Harper to Thomas A. Earll

Frank Harper apologizes to Thomas A. Earll for his late response. Though it is too late for Earll to help with New Jersey primaries, Theodore Roosevelt would be very glad to receive Earll’s help in November if Roosevelt is nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-27

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to John C. Kelly

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs John C. Kelly that Roosevelt is unable to visit South Dakota for the primary campaign, although Senator Albert J. Beveridge will visit the state for a few days.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-27