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President Roosevelt expresses his disgust at lynching and mob violence. The best method to discourage lynching is to ensure that “justice under the forms of law shall be as expeditious and even-handed as possible.” When a community discriminates against someone due to their color, the path is paved for discrimination in other areas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-09
President Roosevelt writes to R. Goodwyn Rhett to discuss the appointment of African Americans. This letter appears to be a draft of one that was sent on November 10.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-08
Theodore Roosevelt suggests that the Progressive Party fight for the inclusion of Pullman porters in the provisions of the Compensation Bill. He believes that the porters are being discriminated against because the majority of them are “colored.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-28
Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed reading about Stewart Edward White’s adventure with the four lions and asks when White’s book is being published. Due to the government’s failure to make any military preparations, a movement is beginning to organize and train citizens for military service. Roosevelt has suggested that White serve on the advisory council. Americans “seem incapable of learning except by disaster.” Roosevelt has heard that Californians are supporting President Wilson because they want peace, but their policies towards Japanese immigration are most responsible for antagonizing Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-03
Theodore Roosevelt refers Mr. Thomas and the high school boys to his book, America and the World War. However, he believes the suggested debate topic related to Asian immigration and disarmament is outrageous and nonsensical. Roosevelt suggests an alternative topic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-12
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased that John St. Loe Strachey liked his book, America and the World War. He appreciates that Strachey loves the United States but understands this affection pales in comparison to the love Strachey feels for his own country. Roosevelt believes this is the attitude everyone should take. In the book, Roosevelt wanted to be just towards Germany but he feels that Great Britain was in the right. However, he warns against antagonizing the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-22
Theodore Roosevelt will not be attending the Progressive Party conference in Chicago, Illinois. Governor Johnson’s election is the one great Progressive success and Roosevelt hopes Johnson will attend the conference to outline the future course of the party and help quell public quarrels. Roosevelt is concerned about Japanese discrimination in California and the drastic legislation that may be introduced. He suggests that the legislation is being supported by Germans in an effort to sour relations between the United States and Japan. Roosevelt suggests ignoring the “Japanese question” until the conclusion of the European war. He wants to treat the Japanese with courtesy but on the understanding that Americans will not immigrate en mass to Japan and the Japanese will not immigrate en mass to the United States. Roosevelt is distressed at the foreign policy of President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan. He wants a coherent foreign policy that takes “efficient steps to strengthen us.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-16
President Roosevelt agrees with William Kent, and outlines the foreign policy stance he believes the United States should follow in its relationship with Japan. Roosevelt has come to see the matter of Japanese workers immigrating to the United States as “a race question.” He believes that Japanese citizens should not be permitted to settle permanently in America. However, Roosevelt does not want to provoke a war by offending the “sensitive” Japanese government and population. Current legislation in California and Nevada banning Japanese children from public schools frustrates him, because it is offensive to Japan and does not prevent immigration. Roosevelt wants to forbid Japanese immigration while treating the Japanese government politely and continuing to build up the American navy. He seconds Kent’s view that Japanese laborers should not work on Hawaiian sugar plantations. Roosevelt would prefer to send laborers from Spain, Portugal, or Italy, who could become naturalized United States citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-04
President Roosevelt is glad that Viscount Lee liked his comments about India. He felt the timing was right given that agitators like James Keir Hardie and William Jennings Bryan are feeding existing discontent in India, Great Britain, and America about the establishment of an Indian republic. Roosevelt agrees with Lee’s argument about the “two-power navy policy,” and does not believe Americans will take offense if Lee frames his reasoning thus. It would be a bad diplomatic decision to make a special exception for America, or any country, because this would give offense to other allies. Roosevelt is worried about the current conflict over Japanese immigration to the United States. He wants to follow a policy that prevents Japanese immigration “with the minimum of friction and the maximum of courtesy,” while also building up the navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-07
President Roosevelt has received Secretary of War Wright’s letter and Mr. Brown’s report on the Brownsville Affair. Roosevelt concurs with Wright that this report does not need to be sent to Congress. Roosevelt observes that the report uses the testimony of “the colored men themselves” to establish that it was “colored soldiers” who were responsible for the shootings. In particular, the report’s findings make it clear to Roosevelt that Mingo Sanders should not be reinstated. This material will be made available to the board making decisions about reinstatement if the Senate legislation on the matter passes, and to the president if the board approves any reinstatements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-07
President Roosevelt advises Senator Knox, who will be president-elect William H. Taft’s secretary of state, on the importance and fragility of the relationship between the United States and Japan. Roosevelt explains why he believes that there is a real possibility that Japan will declare war on the United States, although this is by no means certain. Currently, many Americans are pursuing ineffectual and offensive strategies in an effort to prevent Japanese immigration to the United States. Roosevelt supports their goal but not their means. In Hawaii, meanwhile, Roosevelt disapproves of sugar planters encouraging large numbers of settlers from China and Japan to come work on their plantations. Roosevelt feels that the settlement of Hawaii by individuals from Southern Europe should be encouraged. His more general policy is threefold. He wants the government to prevent Japanese citizens from settling in America, while treating Japan “so courteously that she will not be offended more than necessary,” and building up the navy as a preventative measure. Although the value of this policy should be self-evident, Americans “are shortsighted and have short memories.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-08
A notable lawyer’s interpretation of the current version of the Brownsville Affair bill compounds the dissatisfaction with the bill’s wording that President Roosevelt has already articulated to Senator Aldrich. Roosevelt worries that the bill will compel the reenlistment of any man found innocent by the board of officers, a measure that he strongly opposes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-02
President Roosevelt has seen Secretary of War Luke E. Wright since he wrote to Senator Aldrich this morning. Wright is of the opinion that the Brownsville Affair bill would not require the president to allow the reenlistment of eligible men. Roosevelt is relieved, but wants this interpretation to be explicitly outlined in the bill for future reference. He is sure that future presidents will listen to the board, but he does not want his successors to be “compelled” to act on their recommendations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-02
The objection to the Brownsville Affair bill that President Roosevelt discussed with Senator Borah this morning is no longer a concern. Roosevelt consulted Secretary of War Luke E. Wright, who asserted that the bill will not compel the president to reinstate any soldiers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-02
President Roosevelt sends California Governor Gillett a copy of the memorandum by Secretary of State Elihu Root concerning alien real property legislation in California. Roosevelt notes that the United States Government has no objection to California passing laws regarding aliens’ ability to own real property as long as the laws follow Root’s suggestions. However, the federal government would object to passing the proposed school legislation and proposed legislation forcing Japanese to live in separate residential quarters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-26
President Roosevelt tells Assistant Secretary of State Bacon that he would like something to be done for James Weldon Johnson, as he has repeatedly asked for Johnson to be promoted with no success. Roosevelt believes that Johnson is being discriminated against in spite of his excellent record of service because of his color. He asks Bacon why Johnson has not been promoted before now, and directs him to make sure that Johnson is promoted before Roosevelt leaves office if at all possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-04
President Roosevelt writes Richard Watson Gilder a lengthy refutation of an article in the Evening Post in which William Garrott Brown misconstrues his actions in the Republican Party. Namely, Brown accuses Roosevelt of neglecting Republicans in the South and of doing a poor job of making nominations to local offices and positions. Roosevelt asserts that where the Republican party is not strong in the South, he has had to appoint Democrats who were quality men, rather than incapable men who are Republicans. Where he believes the party has a chance to compete with Democrats, he does all he can to support it. Roosevelt also writes that he did not use his influence on officers to get William H. Taft the nomination, but rather Taft was nominated because Roosevelt’s policies were popular, and Taft is the man who will continue those policies. Roosevelt believes that Brown is either ignorant or willfully ignorant of a number of facts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-16
President Roosevelt asks Charles Banks to write him a statement detailing what the men of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, are doing, and the status of the community. Roosevelt is speaking at the laying of the cornerstone for the “colored” YMCA, and would like to make a statement that will help “the colored man,” and encourage the white man to stand by “the colored man who possesses those qualities which, if possessed by a white man, would entitle him to be called a good citizen.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-14
President Roosevelt explains to California Governor Gillett that protesters in San Francisco who want to exclude Japanese laborers are preventing their goal through their own actions. Japan has agreed not to issue passports to laborers as long as Americans do not discriminate against or insult the Japanese. Attempts in California to legislate discrimination against the Japanese will undermine this agreement with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-09
President Roosevelt implores Secretary of State Root to contact Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf about the actions of the school authorities in San Francisco enforcing segregation of students of Asian ethnicity, specifically Japanese children. Roosevelt asks Root to prepare directives for immigration agents and custom authorities in order to deter further mistreatment towards Japanese immigrants.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-27