134 206
“HISTORY SHALL BE LITERATURE,AND GOOD LITERATURE”
198
●
ROOSEVELT,THEODORE.Typed Letter Signed, toWilliam R.Thayer, recalling
a certain forgotten conversation, telling him to expect an upcoming article in
The Outlook
which refers to Thayer’s book in illustration of the notion that history can be good litera-
ture, and anticipating delivering a speech on the same subject when he is made President
of the American Historical Association. 1 page, 4to, “The Outlook” stationery; faint toning
at edges, horizontal fold. (TFC)
NewYork, 23 December 1911
[600/900]
“
. . .A couple of weeks hence there will be an article by me inThe Outlook in which I inciden-
tally allude to your volume, to illustrate the very thesis of which you speak, that is, that history
shall be literature, and good literature.
“
Next year I believe I am to be President of the American Historical Association, and I am
going to take this as the text of my speech. . . .”
In December of 1912, Roosevelt delivered his speech, “History as Literature,” at the American
Historical Association annual meeting.
“THE CAUSE OFTHE PLAIN PEOPLE [WILL] TRIUMPH”
199
●
ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. Typed Letter Signed, “T. Roosevelt,” to D.W.
Hulburd, thanking him for a touching letter and characterizing the result of the
Pennsylvania and Illinois primaries as the turning point of the campaign. 1 page, 4to, “The
Outlook” stationery; horizontal fold, marginal discoloration from matting; matted with
portrait and framed. (TFC)
NewYork, 29 May 1912
[800/1,200]
“
. . . Pennsylvania and Illinois were certainly the great turning point of this campaign, and it
looks now as though the cause of the plain people would triumph.”
The Republican Party presidential primaries in Illinois and Pennsylvania were held in early
April, placing Roosevelt well ahead of William H. Taft. By June, however, after all the pri-
maries were complete, Taft received a sufficient number of delegates to win the nomination,
prompting Roosevelt to found the Progressive Party.
198
199