Your TR Source
Michael McMahon writes to Theodore Roosevelt about politics, securities, printed money, and many other things. McMahon calls Roosevelt “The” Citizen and wishes him a merry Christmas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-16
Frank Knox writes Theodore Roosevelt of the newspaper interview he gave after returning from his visit to Oyster Bay and encloses the article. Knox shares recent statistics that place Roosevelt ahead of William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette in the race for the presidency in Michigan. Knox also believes many states will come to the National Republican Convention without instructions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-14
After having lunch with Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Knox gives an official statement that Roosevelt is not and will not run for the nomination to become a candidate for president. Many Republicans hope Taft will turn down the nomination so Roosevelt might step up and save Republicans by becoming the Republican presidential candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-14
President Roosevelt does not think that the Republican National Committee is doing anything about Eugene V. Debs’s assault on William H. Taft which has been published in the Catholic papers. Roosevelt does not believe it would take much money to handle the matter; they just need to convince the laypeople that the attack has been circulated by Protestants, Masons, and socialists.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-10
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Judge John Campbell. The Republican National Committee seems to be running smoothly and Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon has been aiding Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon. Roosevelt outlines his optimism about the campaign, but admits that New York may be difficult and that he has received a worried letter from Representative Theodore E. Burton about Ohio. Roosevelt does not plan on speaking, other than potentially on labor, and he asks for William H. Taft’s input on postmaster appointments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-06
President Roosevelt sends Representative J. S. Sherman a letter from the offices of American Federation of Labor President Samuel Gompers that should be considered by those working on labor matters, and a letter from Senator Thomas Henry Carter with suggestions for the Republican National Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-03
President Roosevelt agrees with Richard Wilson Knott, but after considering it carefully he is certain he can not go on the stump. Roosevelt will share Knott’s comments regarding William Jennings Bryan’s statement with the Republican National Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-02
President Roosevelt introduces Representative Sherman to Henry Beach Needham, a man who is loyal to William H. Taft and knowledgeable about labor. Roosevelt hopes the National Committee will help in Maryland, where the state committee is not impressive.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-29
President Roosevelt responds to William Jennings Bryan’s public letter by comparing Bryan’s platform with those of the current administration and of William H. Taft’s campaign. Roosevelt lists the cases that have been brought against the trusts, the railroads, and the shippers under his administration. He explains his actions in relation to the panic of 1907, outlines the reasons the trust magnates will support Bryan, and defends his actions related to campaign funding. Roosevelt critiques Bryan’s defense of Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathan Haskell by reiterating the extent of his corruption, and determines that it reflects directly on Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-27
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-26
President Roosevelt tells Republican National Committee member William L. Ward that he has written to Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock to have T. Coleman Du Pont removed. Roosevelt wants Du Pont to know that he should resign immediately, as a preemptive strike against possible actions by Oklahoma Governor and Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee Charles Nathaniel Haskell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-23
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt writes to Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign funds solicited from John D. Archbold and Edward Henry Harriman. As the head of the Republican Administration, Roosevelt expresses his disagreement with collecting money from anyone currently being prosecuted. He sends two letters that he wrote four years ago to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou, who was then chairman of the Republican National Committee, when money was contributed by Standard Oil. The first outlines the reasons that no contributions should be accepted which could be viewed as creating obligation to corporations. The second reiterates that the money should be returned especially in light of the public statements from Standard Oil about the company’s “political attitude.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt found Reuban D. Silliman’s letter to be very important and suggests that Silliman contact the Republican National Headquarters to see if they could assist in getting a wider public audience for such views.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt does not know how to handle Charles H. Young’s suggestion. Although he recently interfered to help renominate New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, he really should not have, and he cannot keep bringing things up to the State or National Republican Committees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-17
President Roosevelt is very pleased that M. J. Costello will participate in the campaign, and has let the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Frank H. Hitchcock, know to contact him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-10
President Roosevelt finds Daniel J. Keefe’s letter interesting and asks if he can share it with William H. Taft or the Republican National Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
President Roosevelt asks Representative Sherman to attend to the management of the Republican National Committee. He hears many complaints such as that recounted in the letter from a prominent Republican, which Roosevelt quotes from.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-05
President Roosevelt requests that Secretary of State Root address the extradition “of certain alleged political offenders” to Russia. Currently, he is not pleased with the campaign, especially with the revival of the liquor agitation. Additionally, he feels that the Republican National Committee is not well handled. Given William H. Taft’s record and personality, Roosevelt cannot understand why Taft is not more popular. He is still convinced that New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-05
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-05