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

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Creator(s)

Kelsey, William H. (William Henry), 1858-1936

Luther F. Eggers tells Theodore Roosevelt he has been a lifelong Republican, fought in the Civil War, and lived among the Rough Riders in Arizona before leaving to practice law in California. Eggers judges that the all Western states will support Roosevelt, unlike William H. Taft, and urges Roosevelt to accept the nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-17

Creator(s)

Eggers, Luther F. (Luther Franklin), 1845-1933

M. O. Gates tells Theodore Roosevelt thousands of men believe Roosevelt needs to step up and rescue the party. If Roosevelt and Albert J. Beveridge are the leaders, Gates knows the Republicans will win, but if William H. Taft is nominated, there will not be victory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-13

Creator(s)

Gates, M O

Benjamin F. Beazell tells Theodore Roosevelt that he has traveled through many midwestern states and all republicans he meets are dissatisfied with William H. Taft and will not vote for Taft even if nominated. Beazell states the dissatisfied businessmen and farmers are true blood republicans, not insurgent republicans. Beazell believes the office will seek out Roosevelt despite Roosevelt not seeking office and offers to help in any way he can.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Beazell, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Fell), 1864-1947

The Brooklyn Young Republican Club writes resolutions of their reasons for opposing the candidacy of Edwin A. Merritt for Speaker of the New York State Assembly and Ray B. Smith for Clerk of the New York State Assembly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-28

Creator(s)

Brooklyn Young Republicans Club

John E. Higgins reminds Theodore Roosevelt that the current political situation is the result of Roosevelt’s mistake of recommending William H. Taft to lead the Republican Party. Now Roosevelt is the only man who can fix his mistake by becoming president once again. Higgins believes Roosevelt has taught duty and patriotism and hopes Roosevelt will not fail in this important moment to live up to those ideals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Creator(s)

Higgins, John E., 1857-1926

Albert M. Graves reminds Theodore Roosevelt they have shaken hands at the White House before, and Graves has sent Roosevelt several long letters and articles in the past. Graves believes he knows Roosevelt very well and wonders how Roosevelt said and did so many important things with no mistakes, except telling American’s to vote for William H. Taft. Graves includes a song about the Pope singing Noah’s Ark while waiting for Roosevelt to visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Creator(s)

Graves, Albert M. (Albert Monroe)

Irving H. Trowbridge offers Theodore Roosevelt his opinion on current political conditions. Despite supporting Roosevelt’s refusal to enter the race, Trowbridge is not sure Taft or La Follette will be able to win the presidency. Based on his considerable experience, Trowbridge believes only one man can lead the Republican’s to victory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Trowbridge, Irving H. (Irving Hinton, 1849-1914)

J. A. Morrison tells Theodore Roosevelt the whole country, including himself, would like to have Roosevelt lead the Republican party once again. In his community, Morrison does not know a Republican who says they will vote for William H. Taft, and the Democrats say they will vote for Roosevelt. Morrison asks Roosevelt to accept the nomination if it is offered.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-13

Creator(s)

Morrison, J. A.

Millard J. Bloomer thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter declining the invitation to the Citizen’s Peace Banquet. Bloomer explains his own beliefs around world peace as well as his understanding of the purpose of the banquet. Bloomer appreciates Roosevelt’s caution and will be wary of any request to act contrary to his convictions

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-13

Creator(s)

Bloomer, Millard J. (Millard Julian), 1870-1949

John Hooper Caffee sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of the story The man on horseback written by the editor of The Denver Times, Heulin C. O’Neill. It is about how Roosevelt saves the country when the other party leaders have failed, and feels very appropriate to the current climate. Caffee remembers Roosevelt saying he did not wish to return to any political office both when he left the White House, and more recently, but hopes he will enjoy the story regardless.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Caffee, John Hooper

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary informs Ulysses L. Truitt that since Roosevelt no longer has an official political position, he cannot address the matter in which Truitt writes. Roosevelt’s secretary believes there is already a scheme put in place by William H. Taft to to eliminate waste in the government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-13

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

John M. Leach asks Theodore Roosevelt to confirm that if William H. Taft is nominated, he will lose the presidency to the democrats. Leach does not understand why Taft would not step aside, and urges Roosevelt to take up the leadership of the Republican party and run for president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Leach, John M.

John E. Forbes tells Theodore Roosevelt that he hopes Roosevelt’s plan for dealing with trusts will work if he returns to the presidency, and all signs point to Roosevelt becoming president again. Forbes has worked with hardware manufactures all his life and shares his knowledge of trusts and the damage they do to people and communities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Forbes, John E., 1876-1935

Bela Tokaji informs Theodore Roosevelt that the people have no confidence in William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette will be unable to secure enough delegates to be nominated for president. Tokaji does believe Roosevelt would have enough delegates to become the presidential nominee and will win. Tokaji is a “Magyar” by birth and he is determined to agitate for Roosevelt’s nomination, no matter what Roosevelt says.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-25

Creator(s)

Tokaji, Bela

Theodore Roosevelt reminds Jeter Connelly Pritchard that he believes in, admires, and trusts Pritchard. Roosevelt addresses the points Pritchard made in his letter, beginning with how northern Republicans treat southern Republicans. Roosevelt says William H. Taft has been poorly advised on almost every point. Roosevelt does not want the nomination, and though he will not refuse if he is nominated, he will cross that bridge when he comes to it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Proctor, Redfield, 1831-1908

Language

English

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12

Creator(s)

Oliver, W. J. (William Jesse), 1867-1925

William H. H. Llewellyn informs Theodore Roosevelt of the public opinion of the presidential nomination in the New Mexico Territory. William H. Taft did not provide statehood for New Mexico and therefore Llewellyn does not believe he can win the vote. Llewellyn does not believe Roosevelt would accept the nomination, even if he were offered it from both parties and ran unopposed. Llewellyn also sends updates on his job opportunities and of those around him Roosevelt knows.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Creator(s)

Llewellyn, William H. H. (William Henry Harrison), 1851-1927