Brian Kilmeade is fast becoming as known for his accessible books about some of the lesser covered aspects of American history as he is already known for his conservative political commentary on radio and television. Past Kilmeade books have included volumes on Andrew Jackson's miracle win of the Battle of New Orleans, on Thomas Jefferson's "forgotten war" against the Tripoli Pirates, on Sam Houston's army of "Alamo avengers" who won Texas from Santa Ana's Mexican army, on Abraham Lincoln's relationship with Frederick Douglas, and on George Washington's Revolutionary War spy ring. This time around, Kilmeade tackles the special relationship that developed between Teddy Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington around the turn of the twentieth century.
In the two decades prior to the turn of the century, Southern backlash to the policies of Reconstruction at home and in Washington D.C. had effectively ended the Reconstruction Era. Any further progress of America's black citizens was practically impossible in many states, but as so often happens in history, the exact right people to help right this wrong came along just when they were most needed. Teddy Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington stepped up and took over where Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas left off.
It is hard to imagine a more unlikely pair, with one born into wealth and the other into slavery. But the two also had much in common, and they worked together during and after Roosevelt's time in office to get black men appointed to positions of power they would otherwise not have achieved for decades. But it all began with a single misstep that almost doomed their efforts before they had a chance to accomplish a thing when Roosevelt, in his naive audacity, invited Washington to the Roosevelt family's private White House dinner table. The backlash was quick and it was fierce, and in the eyes of many Southerners it overshadowed anything that Roosevelt would go on to accomplish as President of the United States.
Teddy and Booker T is a reminder of just how unique, brave, and accomplished Roosevelt and Washington were, and how important a role they played together to make this country a better place for all of its people. Their struggle was at times frustrating and dangerous, but we are very lucky that each of them came along when they did - and even luckier that they found each other.
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| Brian Kilmeade author photo |
I love that - "even luckier they found each other". So true. I am such a TR fan. I close my eyes at his hunting, though. :<)
ReplyDeleteSame here, Nan. Trophy hunting is difficult for me to comprehend, but I try to remind myself that the man lived in a very different world than this one despite the relatively short number of years between us. I still cringed, though, when Kilmeade described Teddy's trip of his lifetime to Africa, even to listing the types of animals taken.
DeleteI never knew these two even knew each other, let alone worked together. I'm completely intrigued by this one. :D
ReplyDeleteI didn't know a thing about their particular relationship either. I think that's where Kilmead's books shine. He finds little cracks in American history that few or none have spent any time researching and writing about, and he digs into them in his books.
DeleteHi Sam, These days biographies can be 800 pages and who has the time? And so Brian Kilmead by writing a book that brings Teddy Roosevelt and Booker T Washington is needed because this way we can learn about these two great men and then read further if we wish. Teddy Roosevelt ahead of his time on so many things and I need to know more about Booker T Washington.
ReplyDeleteTeddy was definitely very different, Kathy. His behavior made a whole lot of everyday politicians nervous and they wanted nothing to do with him. His fame and popularity with the general public made him impossible for the old school politicos to control, though, and he changed American history by his actions. Washington was just as unique and his contentions relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois was surprise to me. Du Bois was very militant in his approach to racial issues, and Washington was more of a M.L. King type who used the "slow but steady" approach to change things in his part of the country. What he achieved with Tuskegee was pretty astounding.
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