Theodore Sr. and Politics
During the Gilded Age the Republican Party was comprised of two divisions: the Stalwarts and the Half Breeds.
Stalwarts - Led by NY Senator Roscoe Conkling. They supported President Grant and the “spoil” system." The Stalwarts existed from 1877 to 1890.
Half breeds - Led by Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield and Maine Sen. James G. Blaine. The Half Breeds were the progressive wing of the party in favor of civil service reform and a merit system. The Half Breeds existed from 1872 until 1890.
In October 1877 Rutherford B. Hayes nominated TR’s father to Collector of Customs at the Port of New York that employed over 300 people. Hayes’ intention, in part, was to embarrass Roscoe Conkling whose control over the patronage at the New York Custom House was absolute. All in all, 75% to 90% of the imports that came into the country came through NYC. That made Conkling incredibly powerful.
Conkling wanted his good friend Chester A. Arthur renominated. Chester A. Arthur was into clothes and entertaining. He changed his birthday to appear younger. He never showed up for work before noon.
In December, two days after his appointment, Theodore Roosevelt’s father was formally rejected by a senate vote of 25 to 31. A little over two months after the vote his father died of stomach and intestinal cancer at the age of 46 on Sunday, February 9th, 1878.