Artifact 047

Roosevelt and Ford: A Dispute and Friendship Born from the Spanish-American War

During the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt made several comments about the significance of Black troops, particularly the Buffalo Soldiers. While he acknowledged their bravery in battle, he also made some controversial remarks that were perceived as underplaying their contributions. In response, Major George W. Ford wrote a letter to Roosevelt, emphasizing the critical role and outstanding performance of Black soldiers during the war. Ford argued that Roosevelt’s comments were unfair and overlooked the significant sacrifices and heroism displayed by the Buffalo Soldiers. He highlighted instances where Black troops acted independently and successfully under fire, challenging the notion that they were reliant on White officers for effective combat performance. Despite this initial disagreement, the two military leaders eventually became personal friends.          

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