Progressive Presidents
Square Deal
Theodore Roosevelt Ascends
In November 1898, Roosevelt was elected governor by a narrow margin. He showed typical vigor in Albany and, as feared, alienated political boss Thomas Platt by pushing through a new tax on corporate franchises. His efforts at moderate reforms included a number of conservation measures and improvements in public education.
In 1900, Platt and other New York Republicans urged President McKinley to take Roosevelt as his running mate; the previous vice president had died in office and Platt was anxious to be rid of the hard-charging governor.
Roosevelt was initially reluctant, but quickly realized that he had no base in the Republican Party and that his only hope for the presidency would come by exposure on a national ticket. He accepted the offer of the nomination and campaigned tirelessly for the ticket, a distinct contrast to the homebound McKinley.
Roosevelt's tenure as vice-president was cut short by McKinley's assassination in September 1901. Mark Hanna lamented that "that damned cowboy is president now," giving expression to the fears of many old line Republicans.
This chapter in Roosevelt’s presidency could be called ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,’ or probably more apropos, ‘Guess Who Better Not Ever Be Invited Back To The White House.’
In 1901, President Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to stay for dinner. This caused a national uproar. Senator Benjamin Tillman of South Carolina made this statement: “The action of President Roosevelt in inviting that nigger to the White House will necessitate our killing a thousand niggers in the south before they will learn their place again.”
Tillman http://knol.google.com/k/why-did-one-drop-spread-nationwide-in-1910-c20# “No Southern woman with a proper self-respect would now accept an invitation to the White House.” Scimitar
Roosevelt never played ‘guess who’s coming to dinner’ again.
Brownsville Affair
In the town of Brownsville, Texas, Black soldiers faced immense
Theodore Roosevelt Ascends
In November 1898, Roosevelt was elected governor by a narrow margin. He showed typical vigor in Albany and, as feared, alienated political boss Thomas Platt by pushing through a new tax on corporate franchises. His efforts at moderate reforms included a number of conservation measures and improvements in public education.
In 1900, Platt and other New York Republicans urged President McKinley to take Roosevelt as his running mate; the previous vice president had died in office and Platt was anxious to be rid of the hard-charging governor.
Roosevelt was initially reluctant, but quickly realized that he had no base in the Republican Party and that his only hope for the presidency would come by exposure on a national ticket. He accepted the offer of the nomination and campaigned tirelessly for the ticket, a distinct contrast to the homebound McKinley.
Roosevelt's tenure as vice-president was cut short by McKinley's assassination in September 1901. Mark Hanna lamented that "that damned cowboy is president now," giving expression to the fears of many old line Republicans.
This chapter in Roosevelt’s presidency could be called ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,’ or probably more apropos, ‘Guess Who Better Not Ever Be Invited Back To The White House.’
In 1901, President Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to stay for dinner. This caused a national uproar. Senator Benjamin Tillman of South Carolina made this statement: “The action of President Roosevelt in inviting that nigger to the White House will necessitate our killing a thousand niggers in the south before they will learn their place again.”
Tillman http://knol.google.com/k/why-did-one-drop-spread-nationwide-in-1910-c20# “No Southern woman with a proper self-respect would now accept an invitation to the White House.” Scimitar
Roosevelt never played ‘guess who’s coming to dinner’ again.
Brownsville Affair
In the town of Brownsville, Texas, Black soldiers faced immense