Roosevelt Vs.

Taft

Daniel Winn

Contemporary America – U.S. History

Professor Lark

July 19, 2019

 President Theodore Roosevelt nearing the end of his second term vowed not to seek a third

term despite encouragement from the American people. At the end of 1909, Roosevelt had

handpicked one of his cabinet members, William Taft to succeed him as the 27th president of the

United States. The public perceived that they were of the same mind politically, and each other

would complement themselves regularly. He was assured by Taft that much of his policies would

remain intact by the new administration. “ I agree heartily and earnestly which have come to be

known as the Roosevelt policies,” Taft said at the end of 1907. (Gould 272). When Taft was elected,

Roosevelt reveled in the victory, both delighted for a “beloved” friend and confident that America

had chosen the best man suited to execute the progressive goals Roosevelt had championed—to

distribute the nation’s wealth more equitably, regulate the giant corporations and railroads,

strengthen the rights of labor, and protect the country’s natural resources from private exploitation.

(Goodwin 11).

Soon after Taft’s election, Roosevelt left for a yearlong African trip. While he was traveling,

Roosevelt received word that the Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot had been dismissed by Taft, leaving

Roosevelt stunned. Roosevelt found it difficult to believe he had so misjudged the character and

convictions of his old friend. (Goodwin 12). The meeting between Pinchot and Roosevelt was a

turning point in Roosevelt’s attitude towards Taft. (Chase 17). He was angered that several of his

cabinet members were being dismissed and he was not consulted. Roosevelt felt that he had worked

hard to elect Taft, now he has separated from the progressives who had supported the former

president.

Roosevelt was so incensed that he decided to run against Taft as the presidential candidate of

the Republican Party for the election in nineteen twelve. “As for me ever having any enthusiasm for

Taft, it is utterly impossible.”(Coletta 225). Roosevelt was sure that Taft should not be reelected.
He had become too conservative, and Roosevelt was a progressive and that was want the American

people wanted. Taft was particularly incensed by the open contempt Roosevelt displayed both

toward him personally and for the nation’s highest office. When an audience member solicited

comment on the president, Roosevelt mockingly replied: “I never discuss dead issues.” Writing to

his wife, Taft confessed his anger: “As the campaign goes on the unscrupulousness of Roosevelt

develops, it is hard to realize that we are talking about the same man whom we knew in the

presidency….it is impossible to conceive of him as the fakir, the juggler, the green-goods man, the

gold brick man that he has come to be.” (Chase 199). “I look upon him as an historical character of a

most peculiar type in whom are embodied elements of real greatness,” but now “I look upon as a

freak, almost, in the zoological garden, a kind of animal not often found. So far as personal relations

with him are concerned, they don’t exist—I do not have any feeling one way or the other.” (Chase

200). Despite the disclaimer, Taft profoundly regretted their broken friendship; his was a constant

sadness that he was determined to conceal. In the end, at the Republication in Chicago, Taft won the

nomination over Roosevelt.

Chase, James, 1912, New York, Simon& Schuster, 2004.

Goodwin, Doris Kearns, The Bully Pulpit, New York, Simon& Schuster, 2013.

Coletta, Paolo E. The Presidency of Howard Taft, The University of Kansas, 1973.

Gould, Lewis L. The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, The University Press ok Kansas, 1991