This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel with Neil Langtoe. 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 Hearst. 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, you know,

your friend Roosevelt, you know, loves the political battles, loves to be in the thick of things. I'd rather work. I'd rather do what needs to be done in the court. On the other hand, there was pressure put on, put on Hughes to run. There's a letter in my book where Taft writes them and says, 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 hoped 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

uh that hughes would step aside or hughes would maybe not run if he knew roosevelt wanted

to went wanted to run himself but as it turned out at the at the convention,

the Republican convention anyway, Roosevelt didn't get the support he thought he might get

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