United States--South Atlantic States

Theodore Roosevelt addresses the “negro question,” concerning African American delegates to the National Progressive Convention. Roosevelt deliberately brought into the Progressive Party African American delegates of good character from the Northern states, which was accomplished by encouraging men in the North to act fairly toward their neighbors, giving African Americans the opportunity to earn respect instead of “paying obligation to them” as the Republican Party did in the South. Roosevelt argues that following the course of action taken by the Republican Party, while politically expedient, would ultimately be detrimental to both black men and white men in the South, as well as the Progressive Party itself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-06

Theodore Roosevelt views Robert S. Hartgrove as a “colored man who has caught the spirit of the movement” who has tried to inspire in the South. This is the only way that Roosevelt sees, and Julian LaRose Harris agrees, for African Americans to realize citizenship and full political rights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-19

Theodore Roosevelt agrees that the United States government should fund the building of tributaries along the Mississippi to ward against flood waters. Roosevelt resolves that the tributaries should be of the finest engineering, comparable to the engineering used in the building of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt draws a corollary between improving safety along the Mississippi to a political alliance between the Northern and Southern regions of the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-16

President Roosevelt looks forward to receiving Sir Harry Johnston’s book about the comparison of Black people in the West Indies, southern United States, and “with what he is at home”. Roosevelt is sending a picture and map and wired Colonel George W. Goethals at once about arrangements for Johnston’s trip to the Isthmus of Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-28

President Roosevelt wonders if there is any chance that Clark Howell will be in Washington, D.C., during the next two weeks. Roosevelt would like to have lunch or dinner with Howell and discuss matters connected with his trip in the South Atlantic and Gulf states next fall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-03

As previously arranged, Richard M. Leavell will call on Theodore Roosevelt at his Outlook office on May 5. He is most anxious for Roosevelt to tell him about the methods of controlling public opinion that he has used in the conservation movement and how the “evaporation of the Solid South” may be brought to pass.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-04

Creator(s)

Leavell, Richard M. (Richard Marion), 1838-1918

Theodore Roosevelt addresses the “negro question,” concerning African American delegates to the National Progressive Convention. Roosevelt deliberately brought into the Progressive Party African American delegates of good character from the Northern states, which was accomplished by encouraging men in the North to act fairly toward their neighbors, giving African Americans the opportunity to earn respect instead of “paying obligation to them” as the Republican Party did in the South. Roosevelt argues that following the course of action taken by the Republican Party, while politically expedient, would ultimately be detrimental to both black men and white men in the South, as well as the Progressive Party itself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-06

Thomas Goode Jones writes to William Loeb about race relations in the South. He notes that the debates and discussions would have occurred with or without President Roosevelt in office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-03

Thomas Goode Jones writes to President Roosevelt to inform him that he has clarified Roosevelt’s position on the race relations in the South.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-27

Rollo Ogden forwards to President Roosevelt a letter from A. C. Cleveland regarding questions Ogden posed about the enforcement of electoral laws in the South. Ogden urges Roosevelt to press this issue as it would weaken the Democratic Party, and he urges that Roosevelt should publicly condemn lynching.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-28

Clark Howell informs Herman Henry Kohlsaat that President Roosevelt’s “horrible Crum appointment” is making him unpopular in the South. However, Howell will do all that he can to make sure that Roosevelt’s reputation is turned around for the best.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-06

Alastair Penrose Gordon-Cumming sends an update on his brother Walter, whose current location is unknown but he was recently in the hospital with arthritis. Gordon-Cumming hopes that there will be peace from the meetings in South America and congratulates President Roosevelt on his recent Southern trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-18

Basil Wilson Duke, a Confederate officer during the American Civil War, commends Theodore Roosevelt on his biography of Thomas Hart Benton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1888-05-19