Description:

Roosevelt Theodore

Teddy Roosevelt as President Regarding Charles Evans Hughes & 1908 New York Gubernatorial Race, Ex-Forbes

 

1p typed letter signed by 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) as "Theodore Roosevelt" at bottom right, and also inscribed by him as "Purely Personal" at upper left. Written in Oyster Bay, Long Island on August 8, 1908. On watermarked bifold stationery with "The White House / Washington" letterhead. Double-hole punched and with minor tape residue at the hinge. Expected light paper folds and a few extra wrinkles, else very good to near fine. 14" x 8.75". Ex-Forbes Collection.

 

President Roosevelt wrote William A. Prendergast, a minor state official, regarding the upcoming Republican Party New York state convention slated for Saratoga, New York in mid-September. The convention would determine the party nominee in advance of the November 3, 1908 New York gubernatorial election.

 

Roosevelt wrote, "Your letter imprest [sic] me much. I have been at my wits' end in this matter, for it has seemed to me that there was about an even division between the men who insist that no one but Mr. Hughes should be nominated, and the men who insist that he is the one man who should not be nominated, and there are plenty on each side who threaten to bolt…"

 

"Mr. Hughes" referred to Charles Evan Hughes (1862-1948), the incumbent New York governor, and the future U.S. Secretary of State and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Roosevelt had pushed hard for Hughes's nomination for New York governor two years earlier, in 1906. In 1908, William H. Taft and Roosevelt convinced Hughes to run again, and at Saratoga, Hughes was nominated to be the Republican Party candidate on the first ballot. In what way did Hughes supplant his Republican rivals James M. Wadsworth, Jr. and John Knox Stewart at the convention? Was Hughes's victory enabled by Roosevelt's acting on ideas expressed in Prendergast's interesting letter?

 

Provenance: Ex-Forbes Collection. Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), the American owner-publisher of Forbes magazine and a consummate collector, amassed one of the most substantial autograph collections of such breadth and depth that it filled a half-dozen residences on three continents. Many of his manuscripts were sold in a series of multi-million dollar sales by Christie's in the early 2000s. The Forbes name is considered to be the apex of provenance, especially when attached to an item like the above. We are honored to have been chosen by the family to sell at auction the substantial balance of the collection.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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