President Elihu Root 1909 -?

I read today that TR would have preferred to name Root as his successor but did not do so because he had been a corporate lawyer. What if he overlooked that and endorsed him in 1908? How progressive would Root have been? Would he have pleased TR ? Does TR endorse him in 1912 and allow him to lead a untied party to victory, Which would have meant that Root gets in trouble for being pro Entente. IF can get a fellow pro war Republican nominated in 1916 that gives the White House to a Democrat who campaigns on I will keep us out of war platform or does TR challenge him in 1912 and we get the same as OTL result. I assume in 1910 Root appoints Taft Chief Justice. So Taft gets the job he wants for 20 years not 9.
 
Root would have been more conservative and probably even more unpopular than Taft. IMO he would lose even a two-way race with a Democrat in 1912, let alone a three-way race with TR and a Democrat.
 
Root would have been more conservative and probably even more unpopular than Taft. IMO he would lose even a two-way race with a Democrat in 1912, let alone a three-way race with TR and a Democrat.
Why, would you say he would be more conservative? Was TR just really bad at judging people's political beliefs?
 
Root is reported in several texts to have declined on the basis of his health as much as anything else. Assuming that TR could have overcome that, I believe TR could have put forth an effective case for Root (along the lines of, "who better to know corporations and transform them into good citizens than a corporate lawyer?"). Root would have beaten Bryan, albeit by less of a margin than did Taft.

Now: not mentioned to the general public would have been a quiet gentleman's agreement between TR and Root. Namely: Root agreed to run and if elected serve one, repeat ONE, term as a favor to TR, setting aside his health objections. The question of a successor in 1912 would be dealt with in due time.

To extrapolate a bit farther, whom would Root endorse in 1912? None other than his predecessor, of course. The Rough Rider rides again (insert deafening cheers and applause here...)!
 
Top