119 / 194
“WE HAVE SOME BAD POLITICIANS . . .THE SCOUNDRELS OF
THE PRESS ARE . . .WORSE”
181
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ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. Group of three Typed Letters Signed, to
Republican Party Treasurer George R. Sheldon, concerning accusations that Roosevelt
requested that railroad executive E.H. Harriman contribute to his 1904 campaign. Each 1
page, 4to, “The Outlook” stationery; first two mounted at corners to a larger sheet, the
third with remnants of prior mounting at corners verso with some bleedthrough.
NewYork, 19; 23; 26 December 1911
[1,000/1,500]
December 19: “. . . I never directly or indirectly in any shape, way, or form asked Mr Harriman or
anybody else to contribute a dollar to aid in my election. . . . [H]e made to me the request that I
would aid him in getting the National Committee to contribute some of its funds for the campaign
expenses of Mr Higgins, the Candidate for Governor in NewYork State. . . . [T]his is precisely what
the National Committee did.”
December 23:“. . . [T]he papers have twisted something you said into what makes it look as if I had
asked for the letter, and I would be greatly obliged to you if you would just say a line to the effect that
it was purely on your own initiative . . . .”
December 26: “. . . I am greatly interested . . . in what you say of the falsity with which you were
reported; including the report in the Sun. . . . [Y]ou had never said what was credited to you! But I
knew it, the Post was meanly endeavoring to show that there was an issue of veracity between
us.Wehave some bad politicians in public life, but the scoundrels of the press are a great deal worse.”
WITH
—
George R. Sheldon.Typed Letter Signed, to Theodore Roosevelt, a retained copy, proposing to
publish his account of the facts surrounding the accusations that Roosevelt had solicited money from
Harriman. 3 pages, 8vo, written on a folded sheet, personal stationery. NewYork, 15 December 1911.