Description:

Roosevelt Theodore

President Teddy Roosevelt Slams Failed NYC Mayor William Randolph Hearst, Ex-Forbes

 

2pp typed letter signed by 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) as "Theodore Roosevelt" at the center of the last page. Written in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 1906. On watermarked stationery with "The White House / Washington" letterhead. Light overall toning and isolated foxing, as well as expected paper folds including a horizontal one affecting Roosevelt's signature. Minor surface roughness and traces of adhesive found along the hinge of the paper. Else very good to near fine. 14" x 8.75". Ex-Forbes Collection.

 

In February 1906, President Roosevelt wrote Julius M. Mayer (1865-1925), Attorney General of the State of New York, to see what progress had been made concerning the contested November 1905 New York City mayoral election. Media tycoon William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951), representing an independent reform party called the Municipal Ownership League, had faced off against Tammany Hall Democratic candidate and incumbent George B. McClellan, Jr. and Republican candidate William M. Ivins, Jr. The 600,000-vote mayoral election proved very close: Hearst lost by around 3,000 votes, and there were allegations of election fraud.

 

Roosevelt wrote in part:

 

"What did you decide about the quo warranto proceedings [a legal action set in motion to establish someone's legal right to hold political office] to determine who was really elected Mayor of New York? I should not have ventured any advice on the subject had I not felt so strongly…that we will not tolerate either fraud or corruption in elections…I need hardly tell you what I feel about Hearst and about the papers and magazines he controls and their influence for evil upon the public and social life of this country; but this has nothing to do with the fact that if he was entitled to the seat he should have it…"

 

The New York Supreme Court decided in favor of McClellan for New York City mayor on June 30, 1906, but Hearst pressed subsequent litigation until 1908. Hearst resurrected the Municipal Ownership League under a different name--the Independence Party--in 1906. The Independence Party lobbied to place its candidate in the Governor's Mansion of Massachusetts in 1907, and at the White House in 1908.

 

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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