From the date of his entering the Presidency until after the election
of 1904 Roosevelt was under restraint. Although he knew that his
policies had the full approval of the people, he felt himself to be a
President by accident. It is well known that he desired a nomination
and election in 1904.
“I do not believe in playing the hypocrite,” he said. “Any strong
man fit to be President would desire a nomination and re-election
after his first term. Lincoln was President in so great a crisis that
perhaps he neither could nor did feel any personal interest in his
own re-election. But at present I should like to be elected President
just as John Quincy Adams, or McKinley, or Cleveland, or John Adams,
or Washington himself desired to be elected. It is pleasant to think
that one’s countrymen think well of him. But I shall not do anything
whatever to secure my nomination save to try to carry on the public
business in such shape that decent citizens will believe I have shown
wisdom, integrity and courage.”
From the start his nomination was assured, although there was already
strong opposition to him on the part of many machine politicians.
No other name than his was seriously considered in the convention. He
was nominated for the Presidency at Chicago on June 23, with Charles W.
Fairbanks, of Indiana, as candidate for Vice-President. He was elected
in November by a popular vote of 2,523,750 over Alton B. Parker, the
Democratic candidate, and a majority over all candidates of 1,735,403.
The vote in the electoral college was 336 for Roosevelt to 140 for
Parker.
It was the largest popular support that any President of the United
States had ever received.