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Theodore Roosevelt writes about the polar extremes in politics using Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, and others as examples.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-30
Theodore Roosevelt offers Owen Johnson commentary on his recent article in L’Illustration. Roosevelt believes that President Woodrow Wilson is trying to position himself as the sane politician between the extremes of Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan. Roosevelt compares the situation to building a bridge: you either build it or do not build it; there are no half-way measures. While some have suggested that a debate between Roosevelt and Bryan would be like the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Roosevelt compares Douglas to the more extreme pro-slavery politician William Lowndes Yancey and suggests that men who seem to be moderates are more dangerous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-17