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Owen Wister regrets that he was unable to be with President Roosevelt at Yale University. He is glad Roosevelt’s dinner with Booker T. Washington forced the southern states to show their “dirty hand.” Wister recently became the father of twins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-23
South Carolina is not concerned about the appointment of George R. Koester.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10
Robert Barnwell Roosevelt relays Robert Croker’s opinion of President Roosevelt’s dinner with Booker T. Washington. Croker believes the dinner was an excellent political move and will secure one hundred votes for every vote it lost.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-25
President Roosevelt’s decision to host Booker T. Washington at the White House has caused race relations in the South to deteriorate. The writer also states Roosevelt’s “sporting blood” must have impacted his decision to appoint George R. Koester, who has a history of violence against African Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10
Cartoon decrying President Roosevelt hosting and eating dinner with Booker T. Washington at the White House on October 16, 1901.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901
Richard Harding Davis supports President Roosevelt’s decision to host Booker T. Washington at the White House and describes the decision as an “act of every day civility.” The South does not realize that the Civil War is over and that the slave question has been decided.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-17
R. J. Belzer chastises President Roosevelt for dining with a “negro.” It is even worse because Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was also at the dinner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-18
This newspaper article disparages the use of political appointments to maintain control of Southern “colored delegations” for “trades and spoils” at the national Republican convention. This practice upsets white Southerners and keeps the “Solid South” behind the Democratic Party. The writer supports President Roosevelt’s decision to seek counsel from Booker T. Washington regarding southern policy. Washington has advised Roosevelt that the “old gangs” should be “turned down” and that “highly respected white men” should be appointed regardless of party lines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-01
The writer supports President Roosevelt’s consultations with Booker T. Washington regarding Southern policy and political appointments. Under Republican administrations, Southern appointments have been controlled by professional, machine politicians that do not look after the best interests of their communities. Roosevelt appears to be making an effort to alter the situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-01
Representative Littauer encloses a letter from Theodore F. Seward requesting a statement from President Roosevelt regarding Seward’s appeal. Littauer thinks that the reactions of the Southern press to Roosevelt hosting Booker T. Washington at the White House have been outrageous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-19
Jacob A. Riis encloses a document that he believes refers to Vice President Roosevelt’s father and his “great kindness.” If the trip to Tuskegee, Alabama, can be arranged for the week of November 25, Riis would be pleased to go and leaves the matter to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-08-28
Claris Yeuell is the editor of a Republican newspaper in Alabama and a supporter of Vice President Roosevelt. He believes that efforts are being made to raise public sentiment against Roosevelt in the South in light of Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to the region. The scheduled visit with Booker T. Washington is receiving a great deal of attention. Yeuell requests an interview with Roosevelt and is willing to publish anything to help Roosevelt’s candidacy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-08-28
The author attacks President Roosevelt for meeting with Booker T. Washington and courting the African American vote. The article claims that the African Americans of Albertville, Alabama, do not believe in racial equality and would give Roosevelt a cold reception.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901