Collection of seven TLSs by Taft, six signed “Wm. H. Taft” and one signed “Wm. H. T.,” totaling eleven pages, dated from 1908 to 1915. Six are to Clarence H. Kelsey, Taft’s friend and Yale classmate, including two written as president on White House letterhead. One of these, October 3, 1912, in part: “I note what you say about politics. In respect to the threatened transfer of votes from me to Wilson, you are arguing the wrong angle, old man. Roosevelt is clearly out of the running, and your argument should be not that Wilson does not need any Taft votes in order to beat Roosevelt, but that by going from me to Wilson to escape Roosevelt they will only make sure of getting Roosevelt in 1916. For in just the degree that the gap between me and Roosevelt is lessened, will the moral effect of his candidacy be strengthened, and if we run nearly equal or he runs ahead of me, he will be the logical man to oppose Wilson or the Democratic nominee in 1916.” He continues discussing the subject just before the election on October 21, 1916, in part: “The Democrats are very hopeful, largely because Wilson and Tumulty could not conceive of any situation in which the perfect Wilson would not be approved. He has been successful in politics ever since he began, and he can not understand any other result than the approval of the people of his chameleon character. You are quite right to base your judgment on the law of averages. You are quite right to look at the election from the standpoint of two months ago rather than from the boiling of the pot in the fervor of the campaign. Of course we may have an ugly surprise, but it will be a surprise.” He goes on to discuss the secretive Yale Skull and Bones Society. In overall fine condition. Accompanied by one unsigned typed letter and a 1980 New York Times newspaper clipping about the sale of the Kelsey letters. Provenance: The Everett Fisher Collection. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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