Description:

William H. Taft TLS Re: "New York World" Critics 2 Weeks Before Republican National Convention

A 1p typed letter signed by future 27th U.S. President William H. Taft (1857-1930), then in his role as U.S. Secretary of War, as "Wm H. Taft" near the bottom center. June 4, 1908. [Washington, D.C.] Typed on watermarked stationery with "War Department / Washington" embossed at the letterhead. Expected wear including flattened paper folds, and a few extra wrinkles. Consistent age-related blue haloing of the typewriter ink. Else near fine. 5.125" x 7.875."

William H. Taft was just two weeks away from securing the official presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention, which convened at Chicago, Illinois from June 16-19, 1908. He wrote this thank-you note to Colonel George Washington Brush (1842-1927), a Medal of Honor-awarded Civil War commander of the 34th U.S.C.T. Infantry Regiment, and later a dentist, surgeon, New York state politician, and president of the Brooklyn League, a local civic organization.

Taft wrote in part:

"I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you for your letter to me of June 1st and your letter to the World of the same date. I should have felt very badly if those gentlemen who were good enough to ask me had shared the sentiments of some of my critics in the New York World…"

It is uncertain whether Colonel Brush's letter sympathetic to Taft, and submitted to the "New York World" on June 1, 1908, was ever published; more research on this point is needed. "The New York World," a daily newspaper first established in 1860, was decidedly left-leaning in its reporting, however, especially during the 3-decades-long editorial oversight of publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Consequently, pillorying, and not defending, the Republican Taft would have been more in alignment with the paper's outlook.

In the fall of 1908, just prior to the election, "The New York World" was one of several newspapers that targeted Taft; Charles Phelps Taft, Taft's older brother; sitting president Teddy Roosevelt; and Roosevelt's brother-in-law, Douglas Robinson, by insinuating that the men had personally profited from the construction of the Panama Canal. Other virulent anti-Republican papers were "The New York Sun" and the "Indianapolis News." Roosevelt directed the Department of Justice to sue the newspapers for criminal libel in February 1909.

Taft completed his term as U.S. Secretary of War on June 30, 1908, after which he geared up his presidential campaign. He won the November 3, 1908 presidential election.

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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