Beschreibung:

ROOSEVELT, THEODORE, President . Typed letter signed ("Theodore Roosevelt") as President, to Congressman Herbert Parsons, Oyster Bay, 27 August 1908. 3 pages, 4to, typed on rectos only, White House stationery, with 14 words added in the text and a 58-word, HALF-PAGE AUTOGRAPH POSTSCRIPT filling the entire blank portion of page three. Fine. A PRESIDENT DENIES UNDUE INFLUENCE: "I...HAVE NO INTENTION OF 'FORCING' THE NOMINATION...AS A GOOD REPUBLICAN..." An unusual, very detailed letter on politics, in which the President denies that he is attempting to influence the gubernatorial primaries of his home state in favor of Charles Evans Hughes. First, he reassures Parsons that he takes no offense at his sharp charges that Roosevelt is manipulating the New York Republican party, then asserts that: "...I am not in the least opposed...to having the Republicans of New York county express their wishes on primary day...I earnestly hoped we could get just such a free expression of the voters wishes. You are entirely right in saying that you understood that I was unwilling, in view of [Charles Evans] Hughes' conduct toward you to ask...any of you to support him...You were very strong in your statements of what the men under you said as to Hughes['s] unpopularity...When Bennett tells me...that the sentiment is very strong for the renomination of Hughes I have got to take notice of it. I entirely agree with all you say as to your just reasons for complaint against Governor Hughes, and furthermore with all you say as to the fact that many of those who desire his renomination desire it chiefly for the purpose of hurting the Republican Party. Moreover, my dear Parsons, you can hardly seriously suppose that, to quote your own words, I am trying to 'treat you as a puppet' -- that is, if you mean me when you say 'those in charge of the national campaign,' which of course I am not. On the contrary I have written again and again to [Secretary of War William H.] Taft and to [Secretary of the Interior Ethan A.] Hitchcock not to make any open statement, and I haven't the slightest intention of 'telling you what to do' and never will 'tell the newspapers that you will be told what to do'...You wrote me requesting to see me...I saw you. We went over the situation [and]...my letter most explicitly disclaims any intention to dictate to you..." Provenance : Paul C. Richards (catalogue 179, 1983, item 257).