African American soldiers

Quintard Taylor provides a history of the African American servicemen, the Buffalo Soldiers, who served in the American West after the Civil War, and he examines the relationship between Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and two regiments of the Buffalo Soldiers, the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry, that served alongside the Rough Riders in Cuba. Taylor highlights the heroics of individual Buffalo Soldiers, including recipients of the Medal of Honor, and he quotes extensively from Roosevelt’s writings to give Roosevelt’s views on these servicemen. Taylor examines a dispute that arose after the war when Roosevelt questioned the actions of some of the Tenth Cavalry men at the Battle of San Juan Heights. 

A photograph of Taylor, five photographs of various Buffalo Soldiers, and an illustration of Roosevelt with Booker T. Washington appear in the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2009-10-24

In this two part article, John A. Gable traces the origins of President Theodore Roosevelt’s use of the term “Square Deal” to his great western tour in the Spring of 1903. Gable asserts that the first use of the exact term can be found in Roosevelt’s speech at the Grand Canyon on May 6, 1903, and he notes that the first two uses of the term were in reference to Native American and African American soldiers whom Roosevelt praised for their service in the Spanish-American War. The article includes the text of Roosevelt’s Grand Canyon speech and a short excerpt from his speech at Abraham Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield, Illinois.

A photograph of Roosevelt speaking in Evanston, Illinois during the western tour and a text box with a listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association supplement the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1991

Hamilton Fish recounts a confrontation between former President Theodore Roosevelt and labor leader Samuel Gompers at a July 6, 1917 reception for a delegation from the new Russian government of Aleksandr Kerensky. Fish personally witnessed the confrontation, and claims that it resulted from Gompers’s denunciation of African American strikebreakers in East St. Louis, Illinois. Roosevelt criticized Gompers for his message and the “meeting became a riot,” and Roosevelt had to be escorted to safety.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1975

Creator(s)

Fish, Hamilton, 1888-1991

In this editorial for the Nashville Banner, J. A. Jones comments on the recent dismissal of African American soldiers due to the Brownsville affair. He lists some of the good things President Roosevelt has done for the African American community but critiques him for not speaking out about lynching and race riots. Jones suggests that Texas handles its own affairs and Roosevelt stay out of it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-23

Creator(s)

Jones, J. A.

From his carriage, President Roosevelt tips his hat to the crowd gathered at the Presidio, now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. At Roosevelt’s request, he is accompanied by the 9th Cavalry Honor Guard, also known as the “Buffalo Soldiers.” The unit had served at San Juan Hill in Cuba along with Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.

Collection

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Creation Date

1903-05-13

Creator(s)

National Park Service; Givens, J. D. (James David), 1863-

The article on page one, “Senator Foraker’s Attack on President Came So Unexpectedly Chief Executive Could Not Retort Effectively,” covers the Brownsville incident.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1907-01-29

Creator(s)

Unknown

Theodore Roosevelt fought beside “colored troops” in Santiago. If the soldiers are good enough to fight beside him, they deserve a “square deal in civil life.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt greets onlookers at the Lincoln Monument in Springfield, Illinois. He is proud that the guard around the tomb is composed of colored soldiers and discusses serving with colored soldiers in Santiago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919