Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919) to Gen. Curtis Guild
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02793.054 Author/Creator: Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Typed letter signed Date: 28 October 1901 Pagination: 1 p. ; 23 x 18 cm. Order a Copy
Signed as President. Roosevelt writes that his "Southern policy" is to "take the best man white or black."
Personal.
October 28, 1901.
Dear Curtis:
I would rather have you do that than anyone. I would not have the faintest idea what reminiscences to dictate. I have not seen Wister's article, but I have seen unfavorable comments on it.
I am confident I am all right in my Southern policy, which is to insist upon good men and take the best man white or black. The negroes and Republicans all were fearful when this policy seemed to imply that a great majority of the present negro appointees would be cut out; and now I am sorry to say that the idiot or vicious Bourbon element of the South is crazy because I have had Booker T.Washington to dine. I shall have him to dine just as often as I please, exactly as I should have Eliot or Hadley.
Faithfully yours,
Theodore Roosevelt
General Curtis Guild, Jr.,
Boston, Mass.
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