Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt (1858–1919 President: 1901–1909) took over as President when Woodrow Wilson died. Roosevelt believed that African-Americans where iferior to whites. “Now as to the Negroes; I entirely agree with you that as a race and in the mass they are altogether inferior to whites.” He also states that blacks “are bad enough by nature. Race purity must be maintained.” Even though he felt this way he invited Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House in October, 1901, to discuse the “Lilly White” element of his own Republican party. The “lilly white” movement was a tactic used against Roosevelt in the Presidential race. It originated in 1888.
The Limits of Progressivism: Race 