Former President William Howard Taft is “very much opposed to Mr. Roosevelt’s nomination” as the Republican Candidate for the Presidency in 1916

William H. Taft and Theodore Roosevelt first become friends around 1890 while Taft was Solicitor General and Roosevelt a member of the Civil Service Commission. A decade later Taft served in the Roosevelt administration, first as governor of the Philippines and then as secretary of war. TR mentored and groomed Taft to be his successor in the White House, and in the 1908 election worked successfully to get Taft elected. During the election, Taft vowed to run the country just as Roosevelt had. But the new administration was off to a rocky start with the outgoing President. After apparently indicating that he would retain most of the existing cabinet members, Taft soon discovered that he would be better served by his own hand-picked secretaries. Roosevelt was miffed at having his cabinet members dismissed and at not being consulted on the new appointments.

After Taft’s inauguration, Roosevelt traveled in Africa and Europe for more than a year. He went on safari with his son Kermit, and then met up with wife Edith in Egypt. The two of them journeyed throughout Europe, encountering constant demands to meet and greet notables in every country. When the Roosevelts returned to New York City in June 1910, they were greeted by one of the largest mass receptions ever given there. When he first arrived back in the United States, TR remained noncommittal on the Taft presidency, as he wanted time to assess Taft’s performance before making any judgments. However, some of his old friends had already brought him negative reports. Famed conservationist Gifford Pinchot was so angry with Taft regarding conservation that he had earlier traveled to Italy to meet Roosevelt and discuss the situation. Once TR returned home, he was frequently visited by old friends who decried Taft’s efforts to undo his work.

During this period, progressivism was gradually rising from the local and state level to the national level. Increasing numbers of people across the nation supported expanding the role of the federal government to ensure the welfare of the people. Pressured by many in the progressive wing of the Republican Party to challenge Taft in 1912, Roosevelt weighed his options. One of those urging Roosevelt on was prominent publisher Frank A. Munsey, who over his career owned at least 17 newspapers and publications, and who wrote in January 1912 asking TR to openly announce that should he be nominated for President, he would accept. Roosevelt was grateful for the support, but not quite ready yet. One factor in his hesitancy was that progressive Robert M. La Follette was carrying the progressive banner in challenging Taft. However, on February 2, 1912, La Follette had a public breakdown before a gathering of leading magazine editors, lashing out with such a lack of self-control that it caused many to doubt his sanity. He was through, then and there, making way for TR. So Roosevelt decided to throw “his hat into the ring” and run against his former protege, making that declaration on February 24, 1912.

The Progressive Party showing in 1914 would be very poor and the party disintegrated at the national level; by 1916 TR was back supporting the Republicans, but he would not run. Instead Woodrow Wilson would run against Charles Evans Hughes and defeat him.

Typed letter signed, May 22, 1916, to Major Wallace Batchelder. “I have your letter of May 17th. There are so many gentlemen being considered by the Republican Convention to whom I am under great personal obligation that I regret I can not state my preference.” He adds a post-script: “Except that I am very much opposed to Mr. Roosevelt’s nomination.”