Fighting for his Platform, Shortly Before the First Progressive Party National Convention

The 1909 conclusion of TR’s second presidential term was by no means the end of his political career. Roosevelt continued to play an active role as an unofficial ambassador, lecturer and author of books and articles, which appeared in the Metropolitan Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, The Kansas City Star, and Outlook. Maintaining a hectic schedule, he continued to play a leading role in political affairs for the rest of his life.

Though he had handpicked his presidential successor, William Howard Taft, their political differences were obvious. In 1909, just months after his inauguration, Taft called a special session of Congress to discuss tariff reform. Though Taft’s intention was to reduce tariffs, the resulting Payne-Aldrich Act actually raised tariffs on products like printing paper, and led to deep divisions within the Republican Party. The 1910 New York State Republican Convention, held at Saratoga and presided over by Roosevelt, echoed the ideological split. Despite Roosevelt’s progressive influence, the convention endorsed both the Taft administration and the Payne-Aldrich Act and Roosevelt subsequently distanced himself from his party’s adopted platform.

In 1912, Roosevelt announced his intention to run against Taft for the Republican nomination and for an unprecedented third term. Though TR controlled the progressive wing of the Republican Party, Taft’s support among the conservatives ensured his party’s approval. Failing to receive the nomination, Roosevelt held his own convention in Chicago on August 5, 1912, less than a month after writing our defiant letter where he established the Progressive Party, often referred to as the Bull Moose Party. The split between Taft and Roosevelt contributed to Woodrow Wilson’s election as the 28^th President of the United States. In fact, TR came in second, soundly defeating Taft in the popular and electoral vote (88 to 8).

The American Tract Society was founded in 1825 as the country’s first organization to publish and distribute religious literature on a mass scale. Swift, who had previously worked as a field secretary, served as the organization’s general secretary from 1910 until his death in1921.

The last two letters of Roosevelt’s surname are slightly feathered and there are two minor corrections in TR’s hand. Five small paper hinges in the left margin; otherwise in excellent condition.