Third parties (United States politics)

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gifford Pinchot

After defeat in the presidential election, Theodore Roosevelt defends the roles of George W. Perkins and William Flinn in the campaign and the Progressive Party. He reflects on the upcoming challenges to the Progressive Party, particularly progressive principles being co-opted by the other parties and a lack of party organization. The Progressives were not successful in state and local elections which leaves them very little to build upon and could jeopardize the party’s continuation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White

Theodore Roosevelt agrees that it was phenomenal to start a new party and defeat the Republicans. Governor Wilson was the strongest possible Democrat but his vote total was reduced to less than what William Jennings Bryan received in 1908. Roosevelt expects the Democrats to hold power for some time but the Progressives must remain prepared to serve the nation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry M. V. Summers

Theodore Roosevelt believes that the Progressive Party will be permanent and must avoid any cooperation with the “crooked bosses” who helped to steal the 1912 Republican National Convention. Roosevelt wants a party at all levels; nation, state, and local.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph M. Carey

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased with the Progressive Party’s success in Wyoming, including the defeat of the “crooked Republican machine.” Roosevelt opposes a reunion of the Progressive and Republican parties and wants to stand for “an absolutely new party.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Seth Bullock

The odds were too long on Theodore Roosevelt’s presidential campaign and their only option is to maintain the Progressive Party as an independent political party. He is not concerned about the name of the party but thinks that using Progressive Republican Party would alienate progressive Democrats and provide an opening to Republican political bosses. Roosevelt would like to discuss the political situation with Seth Bullock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Chester Hardy Aldrich

Theodore Roosevelt was sorry to hear of Governor Aldrich’s electoral defeat. Roosevelt prefers an independent Progressive Party rather than continuing the fight as progressive Republicans. He believes that many Progressives would refuse to return to the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-12

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Fraser Metzger

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Reverend Metzger for his telegram and all the work he has done in Vermont to create support for Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-07

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to W. Voegele

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary responds to a letter from W. Voegele, noting he does not understand Voegele’s wish for Roosevelt both to be the next president and also to withdraw from the race. If Voegele will clarify what he means, the secretary will pass his letter on to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-04

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Rogers

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Charles S. Rogers for the letter and clippings he sent to Roosevelt and notes that he has sent them on to headquarters. Roosevelt cannot interfere in local situations regarding the Progressive Party ticket. However, it is hoped that soon the Progressive Party will be a national third party and have a straight party ticket on the ballot in every state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-04

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Howard Thompson

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Charles Howard Thompson that James Henry Higgins of Rhode Island is likely to join the Progressive Party if approached in the right way.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-15

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Perkins

At the request of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary forwards a letter and two telegrams. Roosevelt has agreed to carry out any arrangements made by Mr. Tuttle and Charles S. Thompson. In reply to Edward Prentiss Costigan, Roosevelt has sent a message to Judge Ben B. Lindsey, approving the third party movement in Colorado. Roosevelt has not responded to the telegram from Joseph Oswalt Thompson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Harold G. High

Theodore Roosevelt regrets that he cannot attend the mass convention and moose barbeque in Michigan to which Harold G. High invited him. Roosevelt expresses confidence that Michigan, which saw the foundation of the Republican Party, will support the Progressive Party, which is now doing the work of Abraham Lincoln. Roosevelt compares Lincoln’s departure from the Whig Party to his own departure from the Republican Party, which he sees as dragged down by bosses like Senator Guggenheim, Boies Penrose, and William Barnes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Shaw

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased by Albert Shaw’s writing in the Review of Reviews. Roosevelt discusses his views of the Progressive Party as a new party comparable to the Republican Party after it broke away from the Whig Party. Roosevelt discusses the Progressive Party running as a third party and also agrees with Shaw about the Vice-Presidency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Longworth

Theodore Roosevelt will take up an unidentified matter with Senator Dixon and James Rudolph Garfield. Roosevelt acknowledges that Representative Longworth may be correct about Cincinnati, but in general, believes that what is needed is a straight third party ticket.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lloyd A. McBrier

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Lloyd A. McBrier for the letter. Roosevelt thinks that it is necessary to have a third party movement in Pennsylvania, and asks McBrier to treat this information as confidential.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Julian LaRose Harris

Theodore Roosevelt describes in detail the challenging issue of race in the Progressive Party, as well as the Republican and Democratic Parties. He says, “We have made the Progressive issue a moral, not a racial issue.” Roosevelt concludes that the Progressive Party, as well as Southern black men, will be best served by appealing to Southern white men who support civil rights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Medill McCormick

Theodore Roosevelt states that his position was that unless men came out for him, presumably in the 1912 Republican nomination, it would be necessary to nominate a third party ticket. Roosevelt states that there are states that are exceptions, such as Wisconsin, Kansas, California, and South Dakota, but that Illinois was not such a state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lucius F. C. Garvin

Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Lucius F. C. Garvin will be in Chicago, presumably for the National Progressive Convention, and hopes Garvin will second his nomination. Roosevelt is happy to speak in Rhode Island.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas S. Forsyth

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased to hear that Virginia’s Fredericksburg Journal, edited by Thomas S. Forsyth, supports the third party Progressive campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Dehon Hill

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Arthur Dehon Hill, reassuring him that Mr. Thompson performed well in Hill’s absence. Regarding a discussion about possible electors, Roosevelt’s guests supported Massachusetts Governor Eugene Foss. Roosevelt supports a plan to elect one ex-Republican and one ex-Democrat for Senator and Governor, such as John Sullivan and Mr. Plunkett. Roosevelt expresses pleasure that ex-Governor of Rhode Island Lucius F. C. Garvin supports the Progressive platform. Roosevelt is also pleased with William Sturgis Bigelow.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-23