TLIAFD – Setting Down Root
This is an attempt to get some improvement in race relations (by eliminating Wilson, for starters, but also stopping “Birth of a Nation” being published) and more importantly more TR Progressivism in the early 20th century. But, the “more TR” comes in a way I haven’t seen much; his Progressivism as a Republican. And he’s not the only one who pulls a Cleveland.
The POD is one that merely prevents Taft taking the War Department job and thus he isn’t involved there and in Cuba when the appointment comes in 1906. He still dithers, but in the end is successfully nominated. And, of course, other changes come in the US and abroad.
I didn’t have time to develop this when I started a few months ago, and with other interests it just never got picked up, so this becomes a Christmas present to AH.com…at least for fans fo this era.
Part 1: “The Same Great Commitment to Task…”
It was a chance comment; maybe not specifically meant about him. But, Elihu Root was already in his 60s and didn’t need to change jobs if he didn’t have to. He liked working in Teddy Roosevelt’s cabinet, and would have been ready to be a cabinet member again later in his life anyway. He was just considering leaving and going back to private practice.
As he was considering resigning, though, in 1904, he overheard President Roosevelt talking about William Howard Taft, who was helping the Filipinos move toward democracy. “I wish every member of my cabinet had the same great commitment to the task as that man,’ TR said. “I wish he’d accept a Supreme Court appointment – I wish there were two of him so I could have him both places, in fact….”
Root overheard and pondered it. It was true; there was something to be said for Taft’s determination, even though it annoyed some in the Party who wished he would take the chances given to him and let someone else handle things. Root could stay on a little longer. At least until Taft came back; even if he waited till the end of TR’s second term, he would still be able to accomplish quite a bit – he was rather healthy, after all.(1)
And even then, if Roosevelt wanted him to succeed him… well, maybe. He could promise to serve only one term – and TR would be back in 1912, anyway, knowing him.
So, he stayed, until State Secretary John Hay died in early July, 1905. Roosevelt asked Root, who quickly agreed; this was the type of thing he’d have come back for, anyway.
However, when Taft was invited to come back and run the War Department, he was still too busy in the Philippines. He felt the need to keep track of things in the Russo-Japanese War while also working a little more toward getting the Filipinos ready for self-governance; and, the former wouldn’t end for a few months. The alternatives to Taft weren’t that great, either, as far as replacements in the Philippines.(2)
Still, Taft had always wanted to be on the Supreme Court. When the chance came in May of 1906, he had no other major responsibilities; the russo-Japanese War was over and the chaos in the Philippines had died down. He asked for time to ensure his successor was a good one, and by July, a couple months later, he had telegrammed his acceptance. Taft would be appointed to the Supreme Court in summer of 1906.
TR was anxious to have a successor; he was a busy man. And yet, he also thought about returning to the White House someday. He might have thought about running again, but he had two good men whom he could support.
One was Elihu Root, and the other was Philander Knox. Root was more progressive than Knox, but also older – indeed, he’d been born the same year s McKinley, who had been elected first in 1896. He supposed that he could make it for one term, but he was concerned about his health; and, since he hadn’t had time away from Washington, he was a bit more tired than he might have been. Still, TR felt he was a bit better than Knox.
However, Conservatives saw Knox as a better choice. He was a Senator and former Attorney General. Many in Party leadership – from his time in the Senate – had formed relationships with him. Root had only been Secretary of War and State, so not used to campaigning. Plus, some charged that Root would be more likely to involve the U.S. in war.
Conservatives hadn’t liked the choice of Roosevelt as McKinley’s Vice President. Now that there was a chance to get back in power, they wanted to. They’d have been happy with Taft; he wasn’t the type of Progressive Roosevelt was. But if it had to be Knox versus a “Roosevelt clone,” as one called root, they’d rather have Knox, a man who would be more likely to support big business, as they said, “the way McKinley did.”
Elihu Root was more like Taft, and would have been glad to see Taft run. He was much better at State than some others might be, so some said he should stay there. “Bringing nations together is a great thing,” one Senator said, “but we need someone who is good at many other aspects of government as well.” One Root supporter, on the other hand, pointed out that in the old days Secretary of State was the position from which Presidents naturally came.
Taking advantage of this apparent schism was William Jennings Bryan, who believed the “trust busting” of the Roosevelt Administration hadn’t gone far enough. A gifted orator, Bryan secretly hoped Knox would run, because he felt Knox had more of a chance of being beaten – although one could argue that Root, given his lack of experience, might be a better opponent for Bryan, who after a couple terms in the House of Representatives hadn’t served in public office.
Without Taft in the picture, too, Bryan realized that Ohio might be ripe for the taking. He encouraged delegates to select former Governor James E. Campbell as his VP nominee; Campbell would also be the party’s choice for Senator that year, back when they were still appointed by the legislature. Bryan talked up Campbell’s Civil War record, in which he’d been “emaciated” because “he was so dedicated to his duty,” and the fact he fought corruption in Cincinnati, which had made him unpopular with the Party in that part of the state.
John Kern, another possibility, was already a Senator and, given the Republicans’ lead there, the Democrats were a little wary of losing the seat if Kern should be elected; he was already the leader of the Democrats in the Senate.(3)
In the end, Root’s hemming and hawing about his age – Senator would be one thing, but President would be trickier – and support for Knox by Senators meant that Knox, who had nearly enough delegates on the first ballot, won on the second.
-------------------------
(1) One of a few PODs possible – Chief Justice Fuller dying 4 years earlier would be another, and he was around 70 then. But, the President of Cuba being too ill to rig the election to win again in ’06, which touched off the problems there which Taft was working on when TR approached him, made more sense and seems to have fewest butterflies, except for slightly better U.S.-Cuba relations with no intervention. The Cuban president was a number of years older than Fuller, anyway, and it’s more likely someone would fall ill down there.
A less possible consideration was Elihu Root sticking around and the Secretary of State, hay, living another year before Root is moved to State. Root left War in early ’04 anyway, so keeping him at War itself is enough without having Hay also live, and doesn’t seem to be a likely cause. Taft can easily still leave the Philippines.
(2) Scandals hit the next two before a judge who had helped Taft work out a system of laws took over in 1906 OTL. Here, either that person or possibly even William Henry Moody, the man who TR appointed after Taft turned down the Court, would be named.
(3) This bit of strategy would only come with Taft out, and it could help Bryan win Ohio, if barely, since Taft didn’t win it by a huge amount. (Kern wasn’t able to deliver Indiana for Bryan.) Missouri, Maryland, and Montana were all rather close wins for Taft, but Bryan needs them, Ohio, and help elsewhere if he’s to have any chance of winning.
This is an attempt to get some improvement in race relations (by eliminating Wilson, for starters, but also stopping “Birth of a Nation” being published) and more importantly more TR Progressivism in the early 20th century. But, the “more TR” comes in a way I haven’t seen much; his Progressivism as a Republican. And he’s not the only one who pulls a Cleveland.
The POD is one that merely prevents Taft taking the War Department job and thus he isn’t involved there and in Cuba when the appointment comes in 1906. He still dithers, but in the end is successfully nominated. And, of course, other changes come in the US and abroad.
I didn’t have time to develop this when I started a few months ago, and with other interests it just never got picked up, so this becomes a Christmas present to AH.com…at least for fans fo this era.
Part 1: “The Same Great Commitment to Task…”
It was a chance comment; maybe not specifically meant about him. But, Elihu Root was already in his 60s and didn’t need to change jobs if he didn’t have to. He liked working in Teddy Roosevelt’s cabinet, and would have been ready to be a cabinet member again later in his life anyway. He was just considering leaving and going back to private practice.
As he was considering resigning, though, in 1904, he overheard President Roosevelt talking about William Howard Taft, who was helping the Filipinos move toward democracy. “I wish every member of my cabinet had the same great commitment to the task as that man,’ TR said. “I wish he’d accept a Supreme Court appointment – I wish there were two of him so I could have him both places, in fact….”
Root overheard and pondered it. It was true; there was something to be said for Taft’s determination, even though it annoyed some in the Party who wished he would take the chances given to him and let someone else handle things. Root could stay on a little longer. At least until Taft came back; even if he waited till the end of TR’s second term, he would still be able to accomplish quite a bit – he was rather healthy, after all.(1)
And even then, if Roosevelt wanted him to succeed him… well, maybe. He could promise to serve only one term – and TR would be back in 1912, anyway, knowing him.
So, he stayed, until State Secretary John Hay died in early July, 1905. Roosevelt asked Root, who quickly agreed; this was the type of thing he’d have come back for, anyway.
However, when Taft was invited to come back and run the War Department, he was still too busy in the Philippines. He felt the need to keep track of things in the Russo-Japanese War while also working a little more toward getting the Filipinos ready for self-governance; and, the former wouldn’t end for a few months. The alternatives to Taft weren’t that great, either, as far as replacements in the Philippines.(2)
Still, Taft had always wanted to be on the Supreme Court. When the chance came in May of 1906, he had no other major responsibilities; the russo-Japanese War was over and the chaos in the Philippines had died down. He asked for time to ensure his successor was a good one, and by July, a couple months later, he had telegrammed his acceptance. Taft would be appointed to the Supreme Court in summer of 1906.
TR was anxious to have a successor; he was a busy man. And yet, he also thought about returning to the White House someday. He might have thought about running again, but he had two good men whom he could support.
One was Elihu Root, and the other was Philander Knox. Root was more progressive than Knox, but also older – indeed, he’d been born the same year s McKinley, who had been elected first in 1896. He supposed that he could make it for one term, but he was concerned about his health; and, since he hadn’t had time away from Washington, he was a bit more tired than he might have been. Still, TR felt he was a bit better than Knox.
However, Conservatives saw Knox as a better choice. He was a Senator and former Attorney General. Many in Party leadership – from his time in the Senate – had formed relationships with him. Root had only been Secretary of War and State, so not used to campaigning. Plus, some charged that Root would be more likely to involve the U.S. in war.
Conservatives hadn’t liked the choice of Roosevelt as McKinley’s Vice President. Now that there was a chance to get back in power, they wanted to. They’d have been happy with Taft; he wasn’t the type of Progressive Roosevelt was. But if it had to be Knox versus a “Roosevelt clone,” as one called root, they’d rather have Knox, a man who would be more likely to support big business, as they said, “the way McKinley did.”
Elihu Root was more like Taft, and would have been glad to see Taft run. He was much better at State than some others might be, so some said he should stay there. “Bringing nations together is a great thing,” one Senator said, “but we need someone who is good at many other aspects of government as well.” One Root supporter, on the other hand, pointed out that in the old days Secretary of State was the position from which Presidents naturally came.
Taking advantage of this apparent schism was William Jennings Bryan, who believed the “trust busting” of the Roosevelt Administration hadn’t gone far enough. A gifted orator, Bryan secretly hoped Knox would run, because he felt Knox had more of a chance of being beaten – although one could argue that Root, given his lack of experience, might be a better opponent for Bryan, who after a couple terms in the House of Representatives hadn’t served in public office.
Without Taft in the picture, too, Bryan realized that Ohio might be ripe for the taking. He encouraged delegates to select former Governor James E. Campbell as his VP nominee; Campbell would also be the party’s choice for Senator that year, back when they were still appointed by the legislature. Bryan talked up Campbell’s Civil War record, in which he’d been “emaciated” because “he was so dedicated to his duty,” and the fact he fought corruption in Cincinnati, which had made him unpopular with the Party in that part of the state.
John Kern, another possibility, was already a Senator and, given the Republicans’ lead there, the Democrats were a little wary of losing the seat if Kern should be elected; he was already the leader of the Democrats in the Senate.(3)
In the end, Root’s hemming and hawing about his age – Senator would be one thing, but President would be trickier – and support for Knox by Senators meant that Knox, who had nearly enough delegates on the first ballot, won on the second.
-------------------------
(1) One of a few PODs possible – Chief Justice Fuller dying 4 years earlier would be another, and he was around 70 then. But, the President of Cuba being too ill to rig the election to win again in ’06, which touched off the problems there which Taft was working on when TR approached him, made more sense and seems to have fewest butterflies, except for slightly better U.S.-Cuba relations with no intervention. The Cuban president was a number of years older than Fuller, anyway, and it’s more likely someone would fall ill down there.
A less possible consideration was Elihu Root sticking around and the Secretary of State, hay, living another year before Root is moved to State. Root left War in early ’04 anyway, so keeping him at War itself is enough without having Hay also live, and doesn’t seem to be a likely cause. Taft can easily still leave the Philippines.
(2) Scandals hit the next two before a judge who had helped Taft work out a system of laws took over in 1906 OTL. Here, either that person or possibly even William Henry Moody, the man who TR appointed after Taft turned down the Court, would be named.
(3) This bit of strategy would only come with Taft out, and it could help Bryan win Ohio, if barely, since Taft didn’t win it by a huge amount. (Kern wasn’t able to deliver Indiana for Bryan.) Missouri, Maryland, and Montana were all rather close wins for Taft, but Bryan needs them, Ohio, and help elsewhere if he’s to have any chance of winning.