Progressive Party (1912)

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Grey

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Viscount Grey for his letter and sympathizes with his party’s political situation. Roosevelt has no regrets about losing the 1912 presidential election but worries that not seizing the current opportunity to fight for social and industrial justice will have negative ramifications in the future. Changing topics, Roosevelt writes about the need to fight on heroically after an attempted assassination, recounting his own story about finishing his speech. Finally, Roosevelt is relieved that Sir Cecil Spring-Rice is likely to succeed Ambassador James Bryce.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-15

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph M. Dixon

At the request of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary encloses a letter from Mr. New, who has been asked to contact Senator Dixon regarding his potential services to the Progressive Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Perkins

Mr. Beard has expressed an interest in starting a weekly Progressive paper and providing the majority of the funding. Theodore Roosevelt requests that the matter be brought to the attention of the Progressive Party managers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-21

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph M. Dixon

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary encloses a letter from Mrs. Sargeant that should receive a response from Senator Dixon and the Progressive Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George L. Record

Theodore Roosevelt summarizes his memory of the decision-making process regarding certain lines in the trust plank of the Progressive Party platform at the National Progressive Convention. There has been controversy over George W. Perkins’s role in the matter, but Roosevelt was never presented with evidence that Perkins acted dishonestly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John W. Bruce

Theodore Roosevelt thanks John W. Bruce for his “efficient and economical management” of the Progressive Party’s publicity department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Seth Bullock

The odds were too long on Theodore Roosevelt’s presidential campaign and their only option is to maintain the Progressive Party as an independent political party. He is not concerned about the name of the party but thinks that using Progressive Republican Party would alienate progressive Democrats and provide an opening to Republican political bosses. Roosevelt would like to discuss the political situation with Seth Bullock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph M. Carey

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased with the Progressive Party’s success in Wyoming, including the defeat of the “crooked Republican machine.” Roosevelt opposes a reunion of the Progressive and Republican parties and wants to stand for “an absolutely new party.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to E. G. Gross

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks E. G. Gross for the letter. The election results in Evanston, Illinois, were encouraging and the Progressives need to keep working towards future elections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-11

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to W. J. Koller

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks W. J. Koller for the letter. Roosevelt believes that the fight was worth while and that the Progressive Party has a promising future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-11

Letter from Frank Harper to Horace Marchand

Frank Harper agrees that Horace Marchand appears to have been cheated out of his vote. The matter will be brought to the attention of the Progressive Party managers in Louisiana. Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Marchand’s letter and hopes some good will come out of the inquiry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-11

Letter from Frank Harper to E. H. Molly

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the work of the “traveling men of Pennsylvania” for the Progressive cause but he is not accepting any speaking engagements at this time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-11

Letter from Frank Harper to Lewis P. Thayer

Although Theodore Roosevelt ended up losing the state, Frank Harper was encouraged by the early returns from Vermont and Roosevelt’s success in Lewis P. Thayer’s county. The Progressive Party has a “firm stand” in almost every state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-11

Letter from Frank Harper to Edward H. Walker

Frank Harper thanks Edward H. Walker for the letter. Walker’s suggestion will be brought to the attention of the Progressive Party managers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-11

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Milton Weil

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks Milton Weil for the letter. Weil’s letter will be brought to the attention of the Progressive Party organizers. However, action is unlikely as the Progressive Party will be an independent national party that will not welcome the “standpat organizers” of the old Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Chester Hardy Aldrich

Theodore Roosevelt was sorry to hear of Governor Aldrich’s electoral defeat. Roosevelt prefers an independent Progressive Party rather than continuing the fight as progressive Republicans. He believes that many Progressives would refuse to return to the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Andrew A. D. Rahn

Theodore Roosevelt would like to meet with Andrew A. D. Rahn to discuss Minnesota matters and what needs to be done to make the Progressive Party permanent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert B. Wolf

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased with Robert B. Wolf’s letter and would like to meet with him. He is excited that the manager of a manufacturing industry is providing leadership for the Progressive movement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-08

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to C. L. Ford

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary suggests that C. L. Ford contact Oscar K. Davis, secretary of the Progressive National Committee, for information on the Progressive movement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-09

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Hotchkiss

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary forwards a message from Theodore Roosevelt who thinks that three Democrats should be appointed to the advisory committee for the Borough of Manhattan. He believes that the Progressives should recognize that half of the city’s vote was formerly Democratic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-09