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

George W. Geer encourages Theodore Roosevelt to accept the nomination and become the next president. Geer explains his ancestors were the earliest settlers in America, fighting in every war, including the Civil War where he and his two brothers were injured. Geer plans to get every veteran to vote for Roosevelt. In his postscript Geer mentions his son, J. Eugene Geer, who traveled with Roosevelt during his first presidential campaign in 1904.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Donald Livingston informs Theodore Roosevelt of the political situation in South Dakota, as Livingston sees it. William H. Taft is disliked and many are indifferent to Robert M. La Follette, though Livingston believes he is to radical, but thousands hope Roosevelt will be nominated their lives would be restored. Livingston also believes a new Senator could enter the race if Roosevelt was the presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Charles R. Dewing appeals to Theodore Roosevelt, as an ex-civil service commissioner and an editor, to review the documents enclosed and help or advise Dewing in some way. Dewing is appealing for the Department of Agriculture to investigate his case and the Civil Service Commission determined they do not have the authority to help him. Dewing has also appealed to William H. Taft but only received a circular from Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Malcolm D. Hart informs Theodore Roosevelt that there is more support for Roosevelt in the south than for William H. Taft, but Roosevelt doesn’t hear about it because southern republicans are afraid Roosevelt won’t accept a nomination and declaring support for Roosevelt could jeopardize their interests. Hart encourages Roosevelt to say he will accept a unanimous nomination before Taft’s supporters have too much control. Hart advises Roosevelt that he is certainly stronger than Taft, or anyone else, in Virginia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

William T. Dowdall reminds Theodore Roosevelt of the letter Dowdall sent in 1908 in which Dowell urged Roosevelt to run for president. Dowdall repeats his plea noting that William H. Taft will not win the election if he is nominated. If only Roosevelt will say he is not a candidate for nomination, but he will serve if he is elected, Dowdall is sure Roosevelt will be nominated and elected.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Paul V. Collins thanks Peder 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 Theodore 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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Richard Pretlow Ernst sends Theodore Roosevelt two newspaper clippings from the Louisville Evening Post. The editor, Richard Wilson Knott states that William H. Taft has ruined the Republican Party in Kentucky and Ernst agrees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

John O. Yeiser responds to Theodore Roosevelt with appreciation for Roosevelt’s personal feelings about running for President, but Yeiser wishes Roosevelt to know he will not be discouraged from seeking to nominate Roosevelt. Yesier explains his reasons for wishing Roosevelt to be nominated over William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette. If nominated, Yeiser believes Roosevelt will do his duty and accept.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-01

John O. Yeiser thanks Isaac T. A. Reneau for volunteering to support this work of bringing Roosevelt’s men together in his city in order to get Roosevelt nominated for President. They are not asking Roosevelt what he thinks, but Yeiser does not believe Roosevelt would refuse the nomination and allow Taft to win again. Yeiser encourages Reneau to get the “real rough Roosevelt men” to sign the petition, and the rest will follow and Roosevelt will be elected President.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-29

John O. Yeiser tells Theodore Roosevelt he has taken the responsibility of mailing out petitions to get an idea of what people are thinking about the presidential nomination, though he is being cautious. Yeiser does not need Roosevelt to approve of the endeavor, but Yeiser does ask if Roosevelt might consider coming to Nebraska to speak at one of the banquets he plans to hold. Any correspondence between them is strictly confidential unless Roosevelt authorizes Yeiser to mention it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-23

William Crawford Gorgas thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his actions to ensure the Sanitary Department and sanitation policy in the Panama Canal zone were not overthrown. The Sanitary Department is now being praised, but it would not have been possible without Roosevelt’s support in 1905.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-24

Peder O. Evensen tells Theodore Roosevelt he is promoting the Republican Progressive Party among the Scandinavian community in Chicago. Evensen asks Roosevelt to consider giving him a loan to restart his publication, the Varden. Evensen also shares his opinions on the presidential race what he thinks of William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-08

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-30

Creator(s)

Greenway, John Campbell, 1872-1926

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

After having lunch with Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Knox gives an official statement that Roosevelt is not and will not run for the nomination to become a candidate for president. Many Republicans hope Taft will turn down the nomination so Roosevelt might step up and save Republicans by becoming the Republican presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Dr. David M. Munroe reports remarks made at the Libertyville Debating Club regarding William H. Taft and U.S. relations with England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-22

Samuel Strasbourger writes of the importance of this moment when President Taft has called a special session of Congress to deal with tariffs, reciprocity, and other big issues facing the nation. Strasbourger believes the Republican Party can continue to make the country and its people prosperous if they stick to Republican principles. Taft will need to continue to be firm and courageous, willing to be vilified to do what is right for the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-05

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-29

Creator(s)

Baker, Bernard Nadal, 1854-1918

Language

English

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.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-06