Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Chase S. Osborn for making the speech. Roosevelt agrees with Osborn that the remarks made by Vice President James S. Sherman were similar to the French nobility before the French Revolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-24
President Roosevelt read Senator Carter’s letter, and although he does not want to involve himself with managing the campaign, he will send it to Representative J. S. Sherman. Carter’s input could be helpful, and Sherman is sure to give good feedback. Roosevelt asks if he should take action regarding U.S. Marshall for Montana Arthur William Merrifield.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-03
President Roosevelt alerts William Brown McKinley, Chairman of the Republican Congressional Committee, that he will be receiving the final draft of Roosevelt’s letter, edited with assistance from Secretary of State Elihu Root, Representative J. S. Sherman, and Representative Henry C. Loudenslager.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-11
President Roosevelt informs Representative Loudenslager that his and Representative J. S. Sherman’s proposal is a repetition of what he has already written in the letter. Roosevelt believes that their objection revolves around his addressing two subjects in the letter that perhaps should not be combined, and therefore thinks he will split the letter into two different letters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-04
President Roosevelt asks if Lyman Abbott or his son, Lawrence F. Abbott, can come for lunch and talk about Representative J. S. Sherman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-04
President Roosevelt sends the letter to William H. Taft for corrections. He has also sent copies to Representatives J. S. Sherman and William Brown McKinley, Republican Committee Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock, and Secretary of State Elihu Root for comments. Roosevelt suggests Taft also review it with a western radical.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-01
Understanding it to be a vent to an irritation and not a serious question, President Roosevelt responds to Representative Parsons concerning his supposed opposition “to having the Republicans of New York County express their wishes in this matter on primary day.” The matter in question is the nomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-27
President Roosevelt believes it is unwise to give an interview to the newspaper. He agrees with William H. Taft’s opinion of the speeches given by J. S. Sherman and Secretary of State Elihu Root. Although he does not care for him, Roosevelt feels Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated. Roosevelt wants Taft to show his personality and offers words of encouragement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-24
President Roosevelt informs William Barnes that he will support the decision of the New York Republican State Committee. He has given its members, including Barnes, his best judgment, which he bases on canvasses conducted across the state. He feels that Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated, as it will hurt more not to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-24
President Roosevelt informs Representative Parsons of his recent meeting with New York representatives J. S. Sherman; William S. Bennet; Isaac H. Cocks; George J. Smith, member of the Republican State Committee; Michael J. Dady, chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee; and Frank H. Hitchcock, chairman of the Republican National Committee. He has carefully reviewed the matter of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes and appreciates Parsons’s arguments against Hughes. Roosevelt does not enjoy supporting a man who has not only behaved poorly, but wantonly. Unfortunately, there is no better candidate, and “while it will do damage to renominate Hughes, it will do more damage not to renominate him.” Although Roosevelt has not announced his conclusion in this matter, his statement has appeared in the papers, leading him to believe someone spoke to the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-21
President Roosevelt informs Representative Raines of his recent meeting with New York representatives J. S. Sherman; William S. Bennet; Isaac H. Cocks; George J. Smith, member of the Republican State Committee; Michael J. Dady, chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee; and Frank H. Hitchcock, chairman of the Republican National Committee. He has carefully reviewed the matter of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes and appreciates Raines’s arguments against Hughes. Roosevelt does not enjoy supporting a man who has not only behaved poorly, but wantonly. Unfortunately, there is no better candidate, and “while it will do damage to renominate Hughes, it will do more damage not to renominate him.” Although Roosevelt has not announced his conclusion in this matter, his statement has appeared in the papers, leading him to believe someone spoke to the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-21
President Roosevelt informs Francis J. Hendricks of his recent meeting with New York representatives J. S. Sherman; William S. Bennet; William W. Cocks; George J. Smith, member of the Republican State Committee; Michael J. Dady, chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee; and Frank H. Hitchcock, chairman of the Republican National Committee. He has carefully reviewed the matter of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes and appreciates Hendricks’s arguments against Hughes. Roosevelt does not enjoy supporting a man who has not only behaved poorly but wantonly. Unfortunately, there is no one else, and “while it will do damage to renominate Hughes, it will do more damage not to renominate him.” Although Roosevelt has not announced his conclusion in this matter, his statement has appeared in the papers, leading him to believe someone spoke to the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-21
President Roosevelt informs Representative Fassett of his recent meeting with New York Representatives J. S. Sherman, William S. Bennet, George J. Smith, member of the Republican State Committee, Michael J. Dady, Chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee, Isaac H. Cocks, and Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Frank H. Hitchcock. He has carefully reviewed the matter of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes and appreciates Fassett’s arguments against Hughes. Roosevelt does not enjoy supporting a man who has not only behaved poorly but wantonly. Hughes has alienated voters, and if there were a better candidate, Roosevelt would nominate him. However, there is no one else, and, “while it will do damage to renominate Hughes, it will do more damage not to renominate him” as such damage will extend outside of New York. Roosevelt believes the Republican Convention should renominate Hughes. Those he consulted with likewise agree. Although Roosevelt has not announced his conclusion, his statement has appeared in the papers, leading him to believe someone spoke to the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-21
President Roosevelt informs William Barnes of his recent meeting with New York representatives J. S. Sherman; William S. Bennet; Isaac H. Cocks; George J. Smith, member of the Republican State Committee; Michael J. Dady, chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee; and Frank H. Hitchcock, chairman of the Republican National Committee. He has carefully reviewed the matter of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes and appreciates Barnes’s arguments against Hughes. Roosevelt does not enjoy supporting a man who has not only behaved poorly but wantonly. Unfortunately, there is no better candidate, and “while it will do damage to renominate Hughes, it will do more damage not to renominate him.” Although Roosevelt has not announced his conclusion in this matter, his statement has appeared in the papers, leading him to believe someone spoke to the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-21
President Roosevelt believes his brother-in-law, Douglas Robinson, is handling the details of a reception exactly as it should be handled. Roosevelt confirms the details of his trip to the dedication of a library in Herkimer, New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-12
President Roosevelt is glad that Frederick G. Fincke told him about the conversation. Congressman Sherman also provided the same information.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-11
On behalf of the Committee of the Moyer-Haywood Protest Conference, Thomas Crimmins criticizes President Roosevelt for his negative characterization of William Haywood and Charles Moyer. Crimmins points out that Haywood and Moyer have not yet been charged with a crime and are widely believed to be innocent victims of a foul conspiracy. Crimmins expresses concern that Roosevelt’s words will poison the minds of the general public, as well as the possible jury for their trial.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-04
A list of Republican and Democratic Representatives, probably related to some piece of legislation under consideration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-05
J. S. Sherman collects $1 donations for the Republican Party at a fund raising event in a theater. Theodore Roosevelt and Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon can be seen in the audience. “Behind the scenes” are J. Pierpont Morgan, Henry Huttleston Rogers, and Edward Henry Harriman pouring coins from large money bags into “The Dough Barrel.” Caption: But the real work of financing the campaign will, as usual, be done behind the scenes.
J. S. Sherman was a long-serving member of the House of Representatives from New York — twenty years total with a four-year hiatus in the middle of the stretch — first elected in 1886. Despite his long service, he never held a position of power or significant committee assignment higher than Indian Affairs. Nevertheless, the affable “Sunny Jim” asserted behind-the-scenes influence and he was adept at conciliation and compromise.
Though he was a compromiser, Sherman was a consistent and firm conservative, never an ally of the growing group of Republican insurgents who supported President Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt stands at center, beaming, with several supporters (Elihu Root, Thomas Collier Platt, William H. Taft, Charles W. Fairbanks, Joseph Benson Foraker, and J. S. Sherman) and a bunch of hands pointing toward him. Caption: The sum and substance of the Republican platform.
In mid-term years of administrations in these days, state political parties often “endorsed” the president and his policies; or, of course, if out of the White House, would nod to the most recent positions of the parties. In 1903, Senator Joseph Benson Foraker of Ohio embarrassed his in-party Ohio rival Marcus Hanna by drafting an extreme, not generic, endorsement of President Roosevelt and actually promoted his renomination.
Hanna had presidential ambitions himself (of which Foraker was aware) and was put in a tight place: a leader of the party such as himself could not be perceived in opposition to his president. Hanna wanted to hold off making any sort of commitment, and wired Roosevelt that he would understand. The president wired back that he understood that anyone supporting the administration would naturally vote its approval.