Description
Presidential Addresses and State Papers of President Theodore Roosevelt, inscribed to Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan.
Octavo, [4], 1893-2359pp. Publisher’s light brown cloth, title stamped in gilt and black on spine, illustration on cover. Frontispiece portrait and three photographic plates, all with tissue covers. Light toning throughout, offsetting to endpapers. Housed in a custom blue cloth clamshell case, title in gilt over black leather spine label. (Wheelock, 5) Bryan family bookplate on front pastedown opposite inscription, which reads: “To the Hon. W.J. Bryan, with many thanks for the ‘Speeches,’ and with the good wishes of Theodore Roosevelt. Sept 12th, 1911.” An exceptional association copy between two preeminent presidential contenders of the early 20th century.
William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) was a great orator and influential member of the Democratic Party. He represented the state of Nebraska for two terms in the House of Representatives (1891-1895), then ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic nominee for president in the elections of 1896, 1900 and 1908. During the election of 1912, Bryan did not seek the Democratic presidential nomination, but offered his endorsement to New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson. During this same primary season, the Republican Party split over the nomination of President William H. Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt, handing the election to the Democrats. Thus both Bryan and Roosevelt played a key role in the election of President Woodrow Wilson. Bryan would later be named Secretary of State in the Wilson administration, serving for two years.