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PRESIDENTS]. ROOSEVELT, Theodore (1858-1991). Autograph letter signed ("Theodore Roosevelt") to Major William Webster Washington, 14 July [circa 1889-1895]. 2 pages, 8vo. ASSURING COMPETANCE IN OFFICE. Writing as a member of the Civil Service Commission, Roosevelt forcefully spells out his policy on appointments: "we believe practically all places should be made competitive; lay special stress upon the fact that as regards the higher places this is done mainly to ensure that they be filled by promotion...We can fill all places, expert, special and otherwise, by competitive examination!" The Civil Service Commission was established during the presidency of Chester A. Arthur to solve the problem of political patronage. -- WILSON, Woodrow (1856-1924). Autograph letter signed ("Woodrow Wilson") to John Lloyd Thomas, Princeton, NJ, 25 July 1898. 3 pages, 8vo . WILSON AVOIDS A CONFRONTATION WITH CLEVELAND OVER COLONIAL EXPANSION. Wilson responds that he will be unable to speak on the subject of colonial expansion on a program that includes Grover Cleveland and Henry Cabot Lodge; he is concerned that although he agrees with Cleveland on most public questions, he hesitates to confront him on this issue: "in view of the cordial personal relations as neighbours here, I should not like to engage in public debate against Mr. Cleveland. I suppose that your Committee surmised that my views would substantially agree with Mr. Cleveland; but in this case they do not, and it would not be pleasant for me (personally) to seem to be attacking him so directly." -- HARDING, Warren G. (1865-1923). Autograph letter signed ("W G Harding") to Charles Britton, Marion, OH, 21 June 1901. 2 pages, 4to, blue Marion Star stationery . HARDING'S TO THE FATHER OF HIS FUTURE MISTRESS. Harding writes to the Father of Nan Britton. Nan, who was only about five years old at the time of this letter, became enamored with Harding as a teen and carried on an affair with him during his presidency. Harding informs Mr. Britton that "It really looks now as though my renomination for state senator were assured, and I really owe it all to your good friends in Logan county," and regrets the failure of Britton's campaign for State Senate, "You only needed one more vote to have landed here, but one is as fatal as three in this case." -- TAFT, William Howard (1857-1930). Typed letter signed ("Wm H Taft") with 49-word autograph postscript, to Dr. Louis Grossmann, Hot Springs, VA, 25 November 1908. 1 page, 8vo, envelope . TAFT'S GRATITUDE FOR SUPPORT OF THE JEWISH VOTERS. Shortly after winning the presidential election of 1908, Taft writes to the Rabbi of a Cincinnatt synagogue, to announce that "I am especially gratified at the support I received from the people of your faith and race...all effort was made to stir up against me a...spirit of bigotry and intolerance." -- HARRISON, Benjamin (1833-1901). Autograph letter signed ("Benj Harrison") to John Wanamaker, Indianapolis, 22 March 1895. 1½ pages, 8vo . Harrison writes regarding his health: "La Grippe struck me pretty hard, but the lungs were never affected and the pleurisy was only a few hours duration." -- MCKINLEY, William (1843-1901). Autograph letter signed ("Wm McKinley Jr") to Colonel J.N. Taylor, Canton, OH, [5 January 1892]. 1 page, 8vo . Arrangeing a metting. Together six items, each with one leaf neatly inlaid . (6)