Sheldon, George Rumsey, 1857-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank H. Hitchcock

President Roosevelt understands that Republican National Committee Chairman Hitchcock has been affected by low funds. Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon will likely appreciate Roosevelt’s response to William Jennings Bryan’s proposal to publish campaign contributions, as he used an idea which Sheldon had previously given him. When Hitchcock and Sheldon come to visit, Roosevelt will have them over for lunch or dinner. Roosevelt suggests collecting small popular subscriptions to assist the ticket.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank H. Hitchcock

President Roosevelt writes to Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock of the Republican National Committee regarding T. Coleman Du Pont, head of the National Republican Committee Bureau of Campaign Speakers. Roosevelt believes Du Pont’s resignation would have had a better effect if it had happened when initially suggested. He instructs Hitchcock to guard against the opposition’s use of the situation in their campaign and explains the differences in the seemingly similar cases of Du Pont and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell. There has been distressing feedback from New York State, especially concerning the renomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes and the dissatisfaction of the labor crowd, and Roosevelt outlines persons who should be brought in to assist with securing New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank B. Kellogg

President Roosevelt sends Republican National Committee member Frank B. Kellogg a copy of the letter he sent to Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon, and asks if he has anything to add. Roosevelt thanks Kellogg for his actions and praises his character.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Abbott Lyman

President Roosevelt writes to Lyman Abbott that while they should not be aristocrats, they should be “gentleman democrats.” Roosevelt occasionally gets frustrated with the William H. Taft campaign, and argues for a more aggressive fight, especially against Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt discusses Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon’s error in requesting a contribution from John D. Archbold. The China article will count towards what Roosevelt has agreed to write for the Outlook, and so he returns the check.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt telegrams William H. Taft so he may expect a letter about the treasurer of the Taft campaign committee, George Rumsey Sheldon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Facts in Harriman campaign fund controversy told by Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss to Herald before his death

Article discusses the Roosevelt-Harriman controversy in which Theodore Roosevelt was said to ask for campaign funds from certain donors while running for his second term as president. With quotes from George B. Cortelyou and George Rumsey Sheldon, it concludes there was no impropriety on behalf of Roosevelt.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1911-12-24

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank B. Kellogg

President Roosevelt encloses a copy of the letter he sent to Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon. He asks Frank B. Kellogg for suggestions of things that he should add in a supplemental letter to Sheldon. He praises Kellogg’s work and service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt has already written to William H. Taft about the matter concerning George Rumsey Sheldon, and cannot understand George W. Perkins’s objection to him. Roosevelt agrees with Taft’s conduct regarding contributions to his campaign. He has been looking over William Jennings Bryan’s campaign platform, and will write Taft a letter about it soon. Roosevelt also sends a letter from Lyman Abbott, and asks if there is anything he can do in the weeks following Taft’s speech. He agrees with Taft’s actions in the matter concerning James A. Hemenway. It appears that Bryan will base his presidential bid in the states in the Mississippi River Valley, and Roosevelt advises Taft to pick a vice presidential nominee who could help him in this region.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt sends William H. Taft an editorial from the New York Times that he thinks is very good. Roosevelt also approves of the selection of George Rumsey Sheldon as treasurer of the National Republican Committee. Sheldon helped both Roosevelt and Charles Evans Hughes during political campaigns, and was recommended by Cornelius Newton Bliss, a former treasurer of the National Republican Committee. Appointing someone from Wall Street would have been a mistake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

William H. Taft writes to President Roosevelt that he is not sure what effect Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker’s actions will have on the Republican party, and his conciliatory attitude toward Taft is clearly motivated by a potential run for Senate. Taft feels George Barnsdale Cox and his associates are attempting to make him look bad, and he will not risk his position over it. Taft has been writing speeches and an article tackling his beliefs on tariffs. The public wants real change, and there will be less difficulty achieving it than there would have been with the last Congress. Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock is succeeding, but those with Taft despise him and it creates difficulty. Taft has informed New York Republican State Committee treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon not to take money from trust affiliates. Taft updates Roosevelt on his health and his upcoming campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

William H. Taft encloses a letter that is being sent out widely by General Solicitor of the Burlington Railroad James Blythe. Taft discusses the stops on his trip and writes that, based on the reception thus far, he feels the campaign will be a success even if there are still worries about the labor vote. Support for William Jennings Bryan appears to be waning after President Roosevelt’s swift attack. Taft has written to Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon about avoiding contributions from trust affiliates and instead soliciting businessmen across the country. The election is four weeks away, and Taft is anxious for the speeches and events that precede it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from Frank B. Kellogg to Theodore Roosevelt

Republican National Committee member Frank B. Kellogg thinks President Roosevelt’s letter to Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon will be helpful. Kellogg showed the letter to William H. Taft, who had also written a forceful letter to Sheldon. Kellogg has no more to suggest on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Creator(s)

Kellogg, Frank B. (Frank Billings), 1856-1937

Letter from William Jennings Bryan to Theodore Roosevelt

William Jennings Bryan responds to President Roosevelt’s letter by defending Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s record as a politician, and by critiquing the past campaign contributions for Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Bryan compares the Democratic and Republican party platforms, the attitudes of trust leaders towards the presidential candidates, and the publicity and funding for the two opposing campaigns. Ethically, Bryan believes it is wrong for Roosevelt to use his position as president to influence the choosing of his successor instead of letting the candidate achieve success on merit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Letter from Frank B. Kellogg to Theodore Roosevelt

Frank B. Kellogg of the Republican National Committee sends President Roosevelt a copy of his letter to Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon. Kellogg has raised the issue of contributions from trusts with Sheldon, as have William H. Taft and and William Loeb, but Sheldon continues his behavior. If John D. Archbold spoke out about the solicitation, it would cause problems for the campaign. Kellogg has already told this to the Executive Committee, and now writes to Roosevelt with all the facts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

Creator(s)

Kellogg, Frank B. (Frank Billings), 1856-1937

Letter from William L. Ward to Theodore Roosevelt

William L. Ward tells President Roosevelt that Governor Charles Evans Hughes of New York will only speak at his own events and not at those with William H. Taft. Ward hopes Roosevelt has tackled the situation with T. Coleman Du Pont of the Speakers Bureau, and reports that Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon will follow directions regarding Standard Oil.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Ward, William L. (William Lukens), 1856-1933

Letter from William H. Taft to Frank H. Hitchcock

William H. Taft writes to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Hitchcock to ask for the resignations of both Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon and Head of the Speaker’s Bureau T. Coleman DuPont, on the grounds that Sheldon solicited funds from trust affiliates and DuPont is currently involved in a trust suit. He suggests possible replacements for DuPont, and asks for a system of campaign funding that solicits small subscriptions through western cities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from George von Lengerke to Theodore Roosevelt

Postmaster General Meyer acknowledges receipt of Charles B. Landis’ letter forwarded by President Roosevelt. He advises Roosevelt on the financial issues Landis mentions and updates him on the measures he and A. Barton Hepburn of the American Bankers Association are taking regarding guaranteeing deposits and educating bankers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-02

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Letter from William H. Taft to William Nelson Cromwell

William H. Taft humbly thanks William Nelson Cromwell for his generous donation to Taft’s election campaign, but cannot accept it. Taft reminds Cromwell that while he has no doubt of Cromwell’s disinterested support, such a large donation would be a liability to the campaign, and would limit the two to only friendly, non-official relations in the future due to the appearance, however unfounded, of impropriety.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-06

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930