This is CBS Eye of the World. I'm John Bachelorette with Neil Langto, his book is The

Approaching Storm, and we approach June of 1916. In those days with the heat and no air

conditioning, the conventions were held as early as possible in the summer late spring.

It is June of 1916, and Roosevelt wants the nomination, but someone is in his way. Charles

Evans Hughes, formerly an attorney of modest beginnings who educated himself and practiced

for the latter part of the 20th century. He then is nominated to be governor of New York

and wins twice. One of them defeating a very prominent newspaper man, maybe you've heard of him.

His name was Hurst. However, by this time he joins the court in 1910, nominated by William

Howard Taft, president Taft, and he stayed away from the battles of 1912 and the progressives.

So he's seen as an alternative to Roosevelt. Roosevelt measures him, however, and says,

where's the fire? Always a good question, Neil. Where is the fire with Hughes? Was that a problem

for the party right away leaning towards him to take on Wilson? I think Hughes probably would have

been happier if he had not run in 1916. I have a quote in the book where he's having a conference

with another journalist and he says something to the effect that your friend Roosevelt loves

the political battles, loves to be in the thick of things. I'd rather do what needs to be done in the

court. On the other hand, there was pressure put on Hughes to run. There's a letter in my book

where Taft writes sentences, you have to run to save the party, to save the nation from Wilson and

the party from Roosevelt. You have to run. And Hughes seemed to be the right guy because he was

progressive enough. They hope to satisfy the progressives in the country, but he was also not too

far progressive. So he would be enough for some of the mainstream, more conservative Republicans.

But when Roosevelt was hoping would be that Hughes would not run and that Hughes would step

aside or Hughes would maybe not run if he knew Roosevelt wanted to run himself. But as it turned

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