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

“Plague take it! Why doesn’t it stay down when I hit it?”

President Taft stands behind a chair on which a diminutive George W. Wickersham is standing. Wickersham is using a stick labeled “Sherman Law” to beat a toy labeled “Monopoly” on the table in front of him. The toy shows a wealthy businessman holding money bags sitting in a bowl. Hanging on the wall is a “Sectional View” of the toy showing that it is weighted at the bottom with “High Protection,” stating “The Reason Why” it does not stay down when Wickersham hits it.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-11-08

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt tells his sister that Nicholas Longworth and the others should continue to support President Taft, as they had committed to do.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-03-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert F. Sears

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Robert F. Sears for his letter and comments on the action of President Taft’s supporters regarding the six Ohioan delegates-at-large. He cannot understand how honorable men would condone such an action.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Speech attacking William H. Taft

In this 1912 speech, Theodore Roosevelt confronts President William H. Taft’s criticism and challenges Taft’s platform and record of service to the American people. The first four pages of this speech are missing.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Speech in Nebraska City

Theodore Roosevelt calls for the support of Nebraska’s constituents in his campaign for the presidency against President William H. Taft, openly expressing his disappointment in Taft’s current administration.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-04-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Speech by Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt discusses the nation’s finances, explaining the perception of a deficit. In the last two pages, Roosevelt defends the current governance of the Philippines.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

What a Progressive is

Theodore Roosevelt challenges President William H. Taft’s Philadelphia speech, in which he identified himself as a Progressive. Roosevelt also discusses his opinions on the fair and direct representation of the People, and financial conditions in America.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-04-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt writes that Edith Roosevelt is much better after suffering from erysipelas for the last several months. Alec Lambert gave Edith four injections that seem to have reduced the duration of the disease. Roosevelt wishes he could see his sister and William Sheffield Cowles so he could discuss his political situation with them. He thinks being nominated at all would be a misfortune, but “to be nominated by a bare majority of the popular vote would be a calamity.” While there may be some anti-Taft sentiment, he believes Taft will be renominated without much opposition, and he may win the election if Democrats split into factions. Roosevelt mentions concern over whether William Sheffield Cowles, Jr. returned to school a bit more content.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-01-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

How a moral issue can seem blurred

In a speech, Theodore Roosevelt attacks President Willliam H. Taft’s “feeble intentions” and his unscrupulous tactics in his New Jersey campaign.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

The right of the people to rule

Theodore Roosevelt elaborates on the merits of popular rule by the people, judiciary recall, and party politics.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Chicago speech, 1912

Theodore Roosevelt discusses public service and the duties of public servants such as politicians and Supreme Court judges. This record also contains Roosevelt’s handwritten opinion of President William H. Taft as a 1912 presidential candidate.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank Lambert Dingley

Theodore Roosevelt sends thanks to Frank Lambert Dingley for sending him a number of editorials. He also declines an invitation to Maine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Mr. Roosevelt pays his respects to Penrose and Archbold

Theodore Roosevelt discusses the duty of the American people to stand up and be heard if they believe in the Progressive cause. He explains the corruption that both the Republican and Democratic parties have allowed to enter into American politics and how a vote for the Progressive Party will combat that. He also explains recent testimony in Congress given by Pennsylvania Senator Boies Penrose and John D. Archbold of Standard Oil Company. While those two men were testifying against Roosevelt, they were in fact testifying for actions taken by Cornelius Newton Bliss when he was treasurer of the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1912-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Elementary honor

In a speech titled “Elementary Honor, Theodore Roosevelt responds to President William H. Taft.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter to Frank Andrew Munsey

An unidentified individual gives journalist Frank Andrew Munsey his opinion on Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 campaign against William H. Taft.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-04-26

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lincoln Steffens

President Roosevelt informs journalist Lincoln Steffens that just because he does not respond to what Steffens says about him does not mean he agrees or endorses it. He then goes on to attack Steffens’s position that while Roosevelt and Secretary of War William H. Taft attack evil, Senator Robert M. La Follette attacks the main root of evil by providing examples of work he has done.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-06-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lincoln Steffens

President Roosevelt informs journalist Lincoln Steffens that he sent Steffens’s letter to Secretary of War William H. Taft as that is the best way to get at the matter and Francis J. Heney will be coming to lunch tomorrow.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-12-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank H. Hitchcock

President Roosevelt forwards to Republican Committee Chairman Hitchcock a letter to show to any delegates who may be disposed to nominate Roosevelt instead of Secretary of War William H. Taft for President at the Republican National Convention. The letter is from Roosevelt to Judge Alston Gordon Dayton. It is to be kept secret unless absolutely necessary.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-06-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alston Gordon Dayton

President Roosevelt tells Judge Dayton he hears that some delegates may try to nominate Roosevelt rather than Secretary of War William H. Taft for President at the Republican National Convention. He hears, but does not believe, it may be due to pressure from the Standard Oil Company. Roosevelt asks Dayton to speak to the men in question and let them know they are not to try to nominate Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-05-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Sandford Martin

President Roosevelt tells writer Edward Sandford Martin he is concerned there will be a “stampede” at the Republic National Convention in Chicago to nominate him for President rather than Secretary of War Taft. He is taking every possible step to avoid it and encloses letters he wrote to Senator Lodge, Judge Dayton and Republican Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock about the matter.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-06-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919