Page 171 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript Americana - Sale 2310 - April 16, 2013

401 ● ROOSEVELT, QUENTIN. Autograph Document Signed twice as
“Roosevelt,” a trigonometry exercise completed at Harvard. One page, 101/4 x 71/2
to sight, on lined notebook paper, docketed in Roosevelt’s hand on verso; folds; framed
with small print of Quentin at Mineola in May 1917. Not examined outside of frame.
[Cambridge, MA], 24 January 1917 [400/600]
Quentin Roosevelt (1897-1918) was the youngest and by many accounts the favorite child of
President Roosevelt. As he died in World War One before his 21st birthday, his autograph
rarely appears on the market. WITH—a matted print of his crash site titled “Quentin
Roosevelt, Killed July 14, 1918.” Np: C.W. Field, 1933.
402 ● ROOSEVELT, THEODORE, SR. Letter Signed by the president’s father,
demonstrating his principled approach to public affairs, to [Joseph Hodges]
Choate. 3 pages, 81/2 x 5 1/2 inches, in a secretarial hand over his signature, on one sheet of
Roosevelt & Son letterhead; folds. New York, 16 April 1877 [400/600]
Here Theodore Roosevelt (1831-1878), the father of President, responds to an invitation to
serve as Customs Collector for the Port of New York. Writing to the law partner of Secretary
of State William Evarts, he declares his willingness to accept the post only if allowed to pursue
vigorous reforms: “I would expect the same power that I have always exercised in my own
business to dismiss incompetent or dishonest officials and appoint good ones. . . . While I would
naturally give a preference to Republicans if equally competent, I would not consider the
question of politics in removing from office. Much of my success would depend upon the
appointment of men of high character. . . . I could not run the Custom House as a party
machine, devote my own time to politics, or ask my subordinates to do so. . . . If under the
circumstances the President thinks it wise to appoint some one else, please request Mr. Evarts
not to urge my nomination.” Predictably, this wasn’t the approach Congress had in mind, and
Roosevelt’s nomination was rejected by the Senate.
403 ● TAFT, WILLIAM HOWARD. Letter Signed, confirming a quote from the
1912 presidential campaign, to E.J.W. Fink of Mishawaka, IN; with three words added
in Taft’s hand. Matted and framed with a carbon copy of Fink’s original letter and a
photograph of Taft. Not examined outside of frame.
New Haven, CT, 1 November 1919 [200/300]
Fink asked whether “after you had remained quiet for a long time under the personal lashings
of Roosevelt, you made a statement something like this: ‘A real man will stand a certain
amount of abuse, but when driven into a corner will arrive at a point where his manhood will
assert itself and he will strike back.’” Taft responded: “You & not your friend are quite right as
to the remarks made by me and its occasion. Sincerely yours, Wm H. Taft.”
404 ● WOLCOTT, EDWARD O. A committee arranges to inform Roosevelt of
his nomination as Vice President. 2 sheets, 51/4 x 8 inches. Manuscript telegram on a
printed blank to Andrew J. Sloper; folds, minimal wear, mounted on top edge with archival
tape to heavy board. Washington, DC, 30 June 1900 [150/250]
Wolcott was a United States Senator from Colorado, and was appointed by the Republican
National Convention to chair the committee which secured Roosevelt’s nomination. Here
Wolcott telegraphs another member of the committee, Andrew Jackson Sloper of New Britain,
CT: “Committee to notify Governor Roosevelt of nomination for vice president will leave for
Oyster Bay by train from New York Thursday morning. . . . Mr. Roosevelt anxious to know
how many members of Committee will be present.”