Munsey became directly involved in presidential politics when former President Theodore Roosevelt announced his candidacy to challenge his hand-picked successor President William Taft for the landmark 1912 Republican Party nomination for the presidency . Munsey and George W. Perkins provided the financial backing for Roosevelt 's campaign leading up to the Republican National Convention in Chicago . When Roosevelt supporters bolted from the convention , Munsey was one of the most outspoken critics of what were labeled as " corrupt proceedings " and announced that Roosevelt would run at the head of a new party . His encouragement and offer of financial backing led to the formation of the Progressive Party , which acquired the nickname of the " Bull Moose Party " ( from TR 's quotation that " I 'm as strong as a bull moose " , when questioned about his age after previously becoming the youngest president upon McKinley 's assassination , serving almost two terms as president ) then nominated Roosevelt for president . Munsey was one of its most ardent supporters and one of the largest contributors to its " third party " campaign expenses and pulled one of the largest votes ever for a candidate not from one of the two main dominant parties in American history
Republican National Convention
1912 Republican National Convention
Frank Munsey