Your TR Source
President Roosevelt insists that the southerners who have attacked him cannot deny that he has “elevated the public standard” through his appointments, and that he has appointed fewer colored men than his predecessor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-26
President Roosevelt wrote to Secretary of War Taft as Silas McBee suggested. Roosevelt describes revisions made to a paragraph that contrasts the observation of the Fourteenth Amendment in the Philippines and in the continental United States. Roosevelt believes in giving fair treatment to every man regardless of their race.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-22
President Roosevelt comments on recent press coverage by Lyman Abbott in The Outlook. Roosevelt acknowledges the article captures his “mental attitude” exactly regarding racial discrimination, black suffrage and equality before the law. He names John Sharp Williams of Mississippi as a prime example of how “whites have suppressed this colored vote so absolutely by force, by fraud, by every species of iniquity.” Roosevelt explains that although the race question was not part of his acceptance speech, if the issue is forced upon him in the upcoming campaign “I shall certainly not hesitate to meet it.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-26
H. L. Eca da Silva, the Chinese interpreter at the Bureau of Immigration in San Francisco, California, has refused to support his child on the grounds that his wife is Chinese. President Roosevelt wants da Silva dismissed from the service if he will not support the child.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-01
President Roosevelt describes his policy for making federal appointments in the South and believes he has been fair.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-02
President Roosevelt believes that educating African Americans is only one part of the problem and has not yet looked into the violations of the fourteenth amendment. Roosevelt will not speak publicly on the topic and doubts that scholastic education would help a community that would elect James Vardaman, they would need “lessons of decency and honor” before seeing to the education of the illiterate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-18
Privately, President Roosevelt reveals that Dallas B. Smith has aligned himself with efforts to organize the Alabama Republicans on a “lily white” basis. Roosevelt is still examining the case but Smith might need to go.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-12
President Roosevelt describes to Lyman Abbott a recent meeting with Episcopal bishops and clergy, including two African Americans. The two men were received without incident, and Roosevelt finds it odd that he could have these men in the White House without a problem but inspires controversy for dining with Booker T. Washington or appointing an African American in the South. While President, Roosevelt does not recall ever scolding the South, but he feels it would be worse to “let them think that they were blameless.” He also notes that Senator Arthur P. Gorman of Maryland is campaigning “largely on the race issue,” even distributing a campaign button depicting Roosevelt dining with Washington. Gorman has also denounced Roosevelt as “against the business interests,” which leads Roosevelt to believe that the Rockefellers back Gorman as they do mayoral candidate George B. McClellan in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-29
Archibald Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt are playing with wooden spears and tin shields while Ethel Roosevelt has spent two days in bed threatened by bronchitis. President Roosevelt was amused with the visit of the Episcopal bishops from the South, two of which were African Americans, in light of the uproar that was caused when Booker T. Washington visited the White House. Roosevelt cannot understand how the South can send two African American clergymen to visit but object to a visit from an African American educator or official.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-31
Secretary of War Root is in London with the Alaska Boundary Tribunal and President Roosevelt provides updates on various events and political issues in the United States including the post office scandal, State Senator Greene, and political candidates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-03
President Roosevelt is distressed that many Southerners consider him hostile to the South. Roosevelt understands that his policy of appointing African Americans makes him unpopular, but he argues that his appointments of African Americans in the South are far less than there should be when compared to the African American population.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-30
President Roosevelt writes to Dr. Abbott and encloses clippings regarding the “color-line question.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-18
President Roosevelt would like a “liberal and generous attitude” towards China at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. “Every possible latitude” should be given towards Chinese admission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-06
President Roosevelt believes that the “race problem” is the greatest concern for the distant future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-11
President Roosevelt finds the discussion on African American equality or domination to be “nonsensical” and was serious when he said that he wanted a square deal for African Americans. President Roosevelt would like to discuss the matter with Ogden.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-06
President Roosevelt agrees with Earl Grey and hopes that the parties in South Africa can leave their racial prejudices behind them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-29
President Roosevelt agrees with the enclosed letter by Jared G. Smith that Hawaii will be kept for the small, white land-owners and that race suicide will be discouraged.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-03
President Roosevelt defends his policy of appointing African Americans in states where “their numbers warranted it,” and in situations where prospective African American appointees are competent and reputable. In particular, Roosevelt defends the appointment of William Crum in Charleston, South Carolina.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-26
President Roosevelt mostly agrees with what Susan Bullitt Dixon says regarding Patrick Henry and encloses a letter he is writing to a prominent citizen of Charleston.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-27
President Roosevelt denies that he agreed to prevent the appointment of African Americans to office when objections are raised over their color. Roosevelt has appointed several African Americans to positions in southern states and will not make an exception for South Carolina. There have been no charges of “unfitness” against William Demos Crum, and his appointment will go forward since his only offense against white southerners appears to be the color of his skin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-10