18. May 2-Dec. 1916: T. R. Donates His Papers
President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was a prolific writer of books, articles, and especially letters, and received as much mail as he sent. His correspondents ranged from heads of states to average Americans and covered a wide range of topics. Discover what Roosevelt and his correspondents had to say about the issues of their day.
The Republicans nominated Charles Evans Hughes as their presidential candidate for 1916 and T. R. declined to run on a Progressive Party ticket. T. R. campaigned on behalf of Hughes, who lost a close election to Woodrow Wilson in November. In December, T. R. informed Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam that he had decided to donate “my great mass of papers” to the Library of Congress, the first installment of which arrived in January 1917.
