Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee
Subject(s): Brock, Lee, 1861-1947, Carmack, Edward Ward, 1858-1908, Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908, Equality--Social aspects, Frazer, George A. (George Augustine), 1879-1962, Gaines, John W. (John Wesley), 1860-1926, Judges--Selection and appointment, Lea, John McCormick, 1818-1903, Lea, Luke, 1879-1945, Littleton, Jesse M. (Jesse Matlock), 1867-1923, McCall, John E. (John Ethridge), 1859-1920, McReynolds, James Clark, 1862-1946, Morrow, William, 1839-1910, Overton, John, 1766-1833, Parker, Alton B. (Alton Brooks), 1852-1926, Political parties, Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), Southern States, Tennessee, Tennessee--Nashville, Tillman, Abram M. (Abram Martin), 1863-1943, Tillman, George N. (George Newton), 1851-1923, Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915, Wright, Luke E. (Luke Edward), 1846-1922
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President Roosevelt is disappointed by Luke Lea’s letter sent to him by Silas McBee. While the president is pleased about what Lea says regarding Roosevelt’s attitude concerning “social equality,” the president has concerns about several other portions in Lea’s letter. Roosevelt disagrees with almost everything Lea says about politics in Tennessee. First, the president has tried to appoint good leaders, even if they have not been Republicans, something Lea thinks Roosevelt is not doing. Second, Lea believes men should be allowed to hold office no matter what their color, another policy Roosevelt has already been pursuing. Finally, Roosevelt says the campaign buttons in question had the opposite effect Lea mentioned. The president tells Abbott he can show Lea Roosevelt’s letter if he wishes.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-12-15
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
6
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 Silas McBee. [December 15, 1904]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o190446. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee. [15 Dec. 1904]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o190446.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1904, December 15]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o190446.
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. March 5, 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.
