Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Helen Thomas Flint regarding Unitarians and the Young Men’s Christian Association. He hopes his efforts will accomplish good results.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-18
President Roosevelt tells Republican National Committee Chairman Hitchcock about the steps that are being taken to counteract the bigotry that the American Protective Association is threatening. The Association is attacking William H. Taft for being a Unitarian and supporting Catholics and is also bringing up old accusations that Puerto Rico Governor Regis Henri Post was pro-Catholic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-23
President Roosevelt appreciates the clippings sent by John M. Grainey, and especially appreciates the highlighted paragraph. He believes that this is an appeal on behalf of William Jennings Bryan to “the worst spirit of religious liberty,” by attacking William H. Taft because of the way he worships. Taft is a Unitarian, and Roosevelt notes that John Quincy Adams was also a Unitarian. Roosevelt also believes that Taft acted correctly in the Philippines regarding the distribution of the property of the Catholic Church.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-19
President Roosevelt praises Ulysses G. B. Pierce, a Unitarian minister, for the sermon he gave at a service Roosevelt attended.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-19
President Roosevelt cannot accept the invitation from the Unitarians but would like to visit the Harvard Club.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-31
Helen Thomas Flint applauds Theodore Roosevelt’s decrial of the Young Men’s Christian Association for denying Jews and Catholics the ability to hold office. She reports that the ban also includes Unitarians. As a Unitarian, she hopes Roosevelt’s influence will bring much-needed change to the organization.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-06
George Otto Trevelyan was pleased to read President Roosevelt’s letter on president-elect William H. Taft’s religious opinions because Trevelyan’s wife Caroline is a also Unitarian. He outlines the history of her family’s becoming Unitarians, and notes that Unitarians used to be politically popular in Leeds. Trevelyan also notes that his son Charles, who Roosevelt had previously been very kind to, has been made Parliamentary Secretary for Education.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-20
Ralph M. Easley informs President Roosevelt that labor leader John Mitchell will be publishing a letter in the Mine Workers’ Journal next week which will repudiate the hand bill and telegram that are being circulated with an interview he did not endorse. Easley believes that this will lead to attacks on Samuel Gompers for violating instructions. Easley also reports that he has been given information that William H. Taft is being criticized on Catholic and Unitarian matters, although he is being defended by Homer C. Stuntz, who was in the Philippines during the Taft administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-16
Senator Lodge tells President Roosevelt that his last letter was about Ohio and written from Ohio. In response to Hannibal L. Hamlin’s concerns about William H. Taft being a Unitarian, Lodge believes it will not be an issue in Massachusetts. The people there are familiar with Unitarians, and the Unitarians are strong and influential. Hamlin also believes that the Independence League may poll up to 100,000 votes, but even that would give Taft a large plurality. Lodge believes that Hamlin does not understand what the votes mean.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-24
William H. Taft tells John Wesley Hill that he cannot discuss his religion with anyone except to say that he is a Unitarian. Taft says that if Americans refuse to elect a Unitrian, then so be it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-12