This is a CBSI and the world. I'm John Bachelor 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, 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 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.

There's 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 Hughes to run. There's a letter in my book where Taft writes

them and says, you have to run to save the

party for 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 progressives so he would be enough

for some of the mainstream more conservative Republicans.

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