Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt expresses his prediction to Joseph Bucklin Bishop that Roosevelt will not be elected president in 1913, and he addresses his hopes for the completion of the Panama Canal in the coming days. Roosevelt suggests that while he is quite certain he will not be the next president, he has few regrets and is happy with his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-01-29
Raleigh L. Robertson believes Theodore Roosevelt is the only Republican who could be elected president in the upcoming election and asks Roosevelt to accept the nomination should it be offered to him. Robertson is going to the National Convention as a Republican delegate from Oklahoma, and while the delegates will be sent to vote for President William H. Taft, he believes each man would rather vote for Roosevelt. He believes 10-15 percent of Democrats in Oklahoma would also vote for Roosevelt should the opportunity come.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-14
Fred E. Williams asks Theodore Roosevelt if he would accept the nomination for president if both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions voted for him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-12
Lyman Metcalfe Bass thanks President Roosevelt for helping him gain access to the Republican National Convention and congratulates Roosevelt on winning the nomination. Bass also shares news of his engagement to Grace Holland before it gets formally announced.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-26
Arthur T. Morse wrote Theodore Roosevelt during his presidency and has decided to write again regarding William H. Taft. Morse feels the Republican Party accepted Taft’s platform at the last Republican National Convention, but as soon as Taft was inaugurated, he changed course. The nomination of 1912 is between Taft and Robert M. La Follette, and unless there is a deadlock and the party turns to him, Roosevelt needs to stay out of the game and not make the same mistake he made in the last election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-16
D. Edwin Hawley shares his thoughts with Theodore Roosevelt regarding Roosevelt’s ability to be nominated for President at the Republican National Convention. Hawley has met Roosevelt before, has read everything Roosevelt has written, and has followed Roosevelt’s career from the beginning, so he feels confident in his assessment of Roosevelt’s ability to win the nomination if he remains calm and non-committal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-16
Galliton B. Spivey tells Theodore Roosevelt that despite an article in the San Antonio Express claiming “Roosevelt boom causing discord,” the working men of Texas believe in a square deal and support Roosevelt. Spivey asks Roosevelt to name himself as a nominee before the Republican National Convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-12
Milton B. Goodkind is glad he amused Theodore Roosevelt with is last letter. He hopes to speak in person with Roosevelt soon, but discusses possible Democratic presidential candidates. In response to Roosevelt’s article “Whats the Matter with Business,” Goodkind list several things that are wrong with business and why things are so broken and why promises will no longer be enough for American’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-12
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-17
Nathaniel C. Wright shares a newspaper clipping with Daniel Rhodes Hanna saying he is printing the article to offset the trouble caused by what The North American has been printing regarding Theodore Roosevelt not being a candidate for the presidency. The article states that while Roosevelt has made his intentions clear, progressive Republicans have not lost hope that he will step up if their efforts to have him nominated are successful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-28
William H. Kelsey asks Theodore Roosevelt to keep William H. Taft from getting the Presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention. Kelsey believes if Taft wins the nomination, he will be beaten worse than any other man running for office. Although Robert M. La Follette is better than Taft, Kelsey will be voting for Roosevelt in the primaries and hopes Roosevelt will run for the office himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-18
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
W. J. Oliver assures Theodore Roosevelt that his friends believe in him and are quietly supporting him because they know Roosevelt will cooperate at the proper time. The Tennessee National Committeeman will be Monroe C. Monday. Oliver hears from the south and west that support for Roosevelt will be forthcoming and the funds for a proper campaign will be available.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12
Walter L. Houser assures Theodore Roosevelt that every possible effort is used to nominate the Progressive Republican candidate, Philip Fox La Follette, at the Republican National Convention. Houser believes every part of the country has Progressive sentiment and all that is needed for success is organization and activity in every state.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-18
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
Paul V. Collins thanks Peder L. Hjelmstad for his letter, which they will publish without the mention of Hjelmstad’s choice of presidential candidate. Collins asks Hjelmstad what the farmers of North Dakota think of Roosevelt. Hjelmstad apparently replies on the bottom of the original letter stating that if Roosevelt were to declare himself as a candidate, he would most likely win the farmers of North Dakota, but since he is neither running nor endorsing another candidate, Hjelmstad believes La Follette will win North Dakota.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-14
Paul V. Collins gives Theodore Roosevelt the names of the men who submitted an article on reciprocity to be published in The Outlook and confirms that Roosevelt gave the men a word limit for the article. Collins writes of his experience trying to get the editor of the Saturday Evening Post to print an article contrary to the line the magazine had already taken on reciprocity and says most publications have only printed one side of the story. Collins thinks there is likely to be a “stampede” at the Republican National Convention and Roosevelt will be nominated.
The letter discusses the reciprocity bill between the United States and Canada at the end of 1911, a trade agreement that would have removed tariffs on materials mentioned in the letter such as agricultural products and paper.
Adolphus E. Perry calls all members of the Republican Congressional Committee of Oklahoma together and wishes all members either attend or send a proxy. Perry handwrites a note to Theodore Roosevelt sharing that the district hopes to hold the first convention to elect delegates again, and last year Perry was the first delegate elected to the national convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-12
Senator Robert M. La Follette will be leaving Washington soon to campaign aggressively in Ohio, William H. Taft’s home state. Public opinion has changed, indicating La Follette is not in the running for the nomination, instead Theodore Roosevelt and Taft will be the ones to fight to lead the Republican Party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-14
Draft of a speech prepared by Theodore Roosevelt to deliver before the 1912 Republican Convention in Chicago, Illinois. He believes the nominating votes have been fixed in President Taft’s favor and refuses to accept any nomination from the convention. Roosevelt announces he will run on a progressive platform.
1912-06