Changing of the Guard.

Despite Roosevelt's pledge not to seek another term, conservative Republicans feared a third-term movement for the popular president at the convention. Sticking to his promise, Roosevelt made every effort to ensure that delegates elected to the convention supported the nomination of his friend and hand-picked successor, Secretary of War William Howard Taft. Roosevelt's support made Taft's collection of delegates prior to the convention relatively easy. Progressive Republicans supported Taft as the president's heir apparent, further helping his cause. The administration's control of the seating process at the convention virtually sealed the deal. When two hundred disputed delegates gave their support to Taft, his two rivals, Vice President Charles Fairbanks and Sen. Joseph Foraker of Ohio, were essentially defeated before the convention opened in Chicago on 16 June. The wrangling over selection of Taft's running mate during the convention...