Details
TAFT, William H. Typed letter signed ("Wm H Taft"), to Senator James A. Hemenway (1860-1923), New Haven, Conn., 14 June 1914. 1 page, 8vo (9¼ x 7 in.), minor browning, slight separation at central fold.
TAFT DENOUNCES "THE SANCTIMONIOUS OPPORTUNISM OF WILSON" AND THE "DANGEROUS AND RECKLESS RADICALISM AND DEMAGOGY OF ROOSEVELT"
One year after leaving the White House, Taft pens a stinging criticism of former colleague Theodore Roosevelt and attacks the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson. The former President, now a professor of law at Yale University, remained active within the Republican Party and watched political affairs carefully. He begins by commenting on Wilson's administration: "It seems to me that the administration is sliding down hill with great rapidity." Noting that Roosevelt has already been mentioned as a candidate for the election of 1916: "There are people who seem to think that Roosevelt is our only refuge, without realizing that there are many of us who would never vote for him under any circumstances. My hope is, and my belief is, that the trend is going to be so strong toward regular Republicanism that he will be left standing high and dry." He concludes with strongly worded statement of conservative optimism: "it will become apparent that no sacrifice of principle by the election of him as a candidate, or any other Progressive, is necessary to enable the Republican Party to regain power to save the country from the sanctimonious opportunism of Wilson and the dangerous and reckless radicalism and demagogy of Roosevelt".
Taft actually supported Wilson in his endeavors to keep the United States out of World War I, but continued to oppose the political efforts of Roosevelt, campaigning for Republican Charles Evans Hughes in 1916.
TAFT DENOUNCES "THE SANCTIMONIOUS OPPORTUNISM OF WILSON" AND THE "DANGEROUS AND RECKLESS RADICALISM AND DEMAGOGY OF ROOSEVELT"
One year after leaving the White House, Taft pens a stinging criticism of former colleague Theodore Roosevelt and attacks the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson. The former President, now a professor of law at Yale University, remained active within the Republican Party and watched political affairs carefully. He begins by commenting on Wilson's administration: "It seems to me that the administration is sliding down hill with great rapidity." Noting that Roosevelt has already been mentioned as a candidate for the election of 1916: "There are people who seem to think that Roosevelt is our only refuge, without realizing that there are many of us who would never vote for him under any circumstances. My hope is, and my belief is, that the trend is going to be so strong toward regular Republicanism that he will be left standing high and dry." He concludes with strongly worded statement of conservative optimism: "it will become apparent that no sacrifice of principle by the election of him as a candidate, or any other Progressive, is necessary to enable the Republican Party to regain power to save the country from the sanctimonious opportunism of Wilson and the dangerous and reckless radicalism and demagogy of Roosevelt".
Taft actually supported Wilson in his endeavors to keep the United States out of World War I, but continued to oppose the political efforts of Roosevelt, campaigning for Republican Charles Evans Hughes in 1916.