Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albion W. Tourgee
Subject(s): African Americans--Civil rights, Dinners and dining, Presidents--Attitudes, Presidents--Decision making, Presidents--Relations with African Americans, Race relations, Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity, Racism, Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915
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President Roosevelt thanks Consul Tourgee for his kind letter, but admits his invitation to Booker T. Washington was an impulsive decision rather than a calculated one. Although he has not been able to “think out any solution” to the problematic race relations in the United States, Roosevelt feels strongly that each man, white or black, should be treated “strictly on his merits as a man” and that he, as President, should act according to his convictions.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1901-11-08
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Tourgée, Albion W., 1838-1905
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
2
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albion W. Tourgee. [November 8, 1901]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o180529. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albion W. Tourgee. [8 Nov. 1901]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. July 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o180529.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1901, November 8]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albion W. Tourgee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o180529.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. July 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
