Racism--Political aspects

Theodore Roosevelt responds to Bradley Gilman’s letter and discusses the topics of marriage, divorce, and African Americans as voters and legislative representatives. Roosevelt argues the need for federal government to control marriage, divorce, and polygamy. Roosevelt asserts the need to incorporate African American representatives for the Progressive movement from states like New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, or Indiana at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. He writes of the inequality faced by African Americans, particularly in the South, and their absence from legislative bodies in Southern states. In his argument, Roosevelt references Booker T. Washington and writes of the Republican Party’s use of uneducated African American representation as a corrupt tactic that won the candidacy for William H. Taft with William Barnes and Simon Guggenheim.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-24

During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt did meet with Booker T. Washington to discuss the appointment of Judge Thomas Goode Jones, but he was not going to appoint Jones solely on Washington’s recommendation. The dinner with Washington created a scandal even though Roosevelt had previously socialized with African Americans. The dinner was a mistake as it was certain to be misunderstood. Roosevelt misjudged the intellectual and moral state of Southern whites and African Americans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-20

Booker T. Washington is doing his best to educate blacks in the South and President Roosevelt believes his efforts are ideal for everyone. There are fanatics who are doing all they can to re-introduce slavery for blacks, which shows “extreme crookedness” of mind and morals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-17

Clark Howell advises Theodore Roosevelt that it would be good for the country if he make some comment on the issue of race in the United States. However, Howell cautions against making matters of race a political issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-07

Secretary of War Taft returns to President Roosevelt the letters from White and William H. Fleming. Taft does not think there is anything to do about the charges against General Leonard Wood, which he considers largely untrue and slanderous. Taft read Fleming’s letter, and is surprised Thomas W. Hardwick could have been elected to Congress. There is no need to dignify Hardwick’s statements about repealing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments, which granted citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, as he “writes himself down an ass.” Taft tells Roosevelt that he is welcome to discuss the plan with Congressman Joseph Gurney Cannon. In a postscript, Taft clarifies that he read Fleming’s letter again and acknowledges that the situation is perhaps more serious than he suspected, and Congress ought to take notice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-23

Louisiana Republicans will send an entirely white delegation to the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-04

Despite a bitter fight, Louisiana Republicans selected an entirely white delegation to the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-04

Louisiana Republicans selected an entirely white delegation for the Republican National Convention, even though an African American delegate would benefit Roosevelt in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-04

The Louisiana delegation to the Republican National Convention will not have any African American delegates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-04

Louisiana Republicans will send an entirely white delegation to the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-04

Senator Benjamin R. Tillman of North Carolina says no Southern gentleman will now share a table with President Roosevelt because he invited Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House. This is a sentiment shared among many Southern politicians, which is concerning. That Black people are treated extremely unfairly in the South is well-known and understood, but the public is supposed to believe that they are treated this way because they are disproportionately criminal. The response by Southern leaders to Washington’s dinner with Roosevelt show that this is not actually the issue at hand, rather that racism is. By degrading others, these men degrade themselves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-04

Senator McLaurin describes President Roosevelt’s White House dinner with Booker T. Washington as a customary courtesy and not a breech of inter-racial boundaries and etiquette. A handwritten note by George B. Cortelyou says, “Not used. The President said he did not want anyone to make any explanation for him.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10

Joseph Bucklin Bishop writes to President Roosevelt in regards to a conversation he had with General Hubbard. Bishop discusses a key player whom he describes as “the jew.” Bishop believes that Hubbard was duped by “the jew” and blames Mr. Shaw, a cabinet member under Roosevelt’s administration, for supporting and bestowing power to this figure. Bishop sends kind regards to Mrs. Roosevelt and relays that his wife is doing well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Senator McLaurin reports that William Demos Crum is more interested in a consulship than appointment as collector of customs at Charleston, South Carolina. Crum, an African American, would prefer a position where “his race would not be a handicap.” The appointment of George Washington Murray will be made as soon as George R. Koester takes charge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-30