Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner That Shocked a Nation

by Deborah Davis

In this revealing social history, one remarkable White House dinner becomes a lens through which to examine race, politics, and the lives and legacies of two of America’s most iconic figures. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to have dinner at the executive mansion with the First Family. The next morning, news that the president had dined with a black man—and former slave—sent shock waves through the nation. Although African Americans had helped build the White House and had worked for most of the presidents, not a single one had ever been invited to dine there. Fueled by inflammatory newspaper articles, political cartoons, and even vulgar songs, the scandal escalated and threatened to topple two of America’s greatest men. In this smart, accessible narrative, one seemingly ordinary dinner becomes a window onto post–Civil War American history and politics, and onto the lives of two dynamic men whose experiences and philosophies connect in unexpected ways. Deborah Davis also introduces dozens of other fascinating figures who have previously occupied the margins and footnotes of history, creating a lively and vastly entertaining book that reconfirms her place as one of our most talented popular historians.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, American History, Presidents, Biography, Audiobook

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2012

Reviews

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. It's one of the best books I have ever read. It's a truly fascinating look back in our history at a time period when slavery had ended but African Americans were by no means welcome in society, especially in the South. It follows the lives of Teddy Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington - both well known to history, but I had no idea how intertwined and parallel their lives were despite such disparate beginnings.


Ms. Davis takes the reader through each man's early years and accomplishments with a balanced look - showing both their positives and negatives. It is not an in depth biography of both men but there is more than enough background to get a solid picture of their life. Booker T. was born a slave but was ambitious and determined to take every advantage of the freedom that came after the Civil War. He was hard working and could seemingly find away around any problem.


Teddy Roosevelt was born into a rich, privileged family but was sickly as a child and bullied as a teenager. His father told him to deal with it and so he did. He was full of an irrepressible energy but his life was not all a bed of roses. These two men from such opposite ends of the social sphere were fated to meet and yes, work together in a time that did not respect the intelligence of African American. One simple dinner invitation would almost destroy them both.


It was utterly fascinating to see the reaction of the country to Booker T. Washington eating dinner at the White House. It would haunt Teddy Roosevelt throughout his presidency.


The book is very well written in alternating chapters detailing each man's life and then dealing with the aftermath of that fateful dinner. It was an interesting look back into the mind of America at the turn of the 20th century as society thought itself so progressive. An interesting comparison to happenings in today's world as well.

[Kusaimamekirai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among the wave of monuments coming down across America over the last few years, the one that particularly caught my interest was the recent removal of a statue of Theodore Roosevelt in New York City. While this one, depicting Roosevelt on horseback leading an African and Native American man, probably has some legitimate grounds for removal, there have also been other statues of T.R. targeted for removal. While Roosevelt was by his own admission an unabashed expansionist and was at times insensitive (if not racist) with his words in regard to African Americans, is this who Roosevelt really was? Does he deserve to be lumped in with the John Calhouns, Stonewall Jacksons, and Robert E. Lees of American history? “Guest of Honor” by Deborah Davis would lead us to believe that as with most things in life, it is rather more complex.
“Guest of Honor” ostensibly is about a famous (or infamous depending on your point of view) dinner between Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington on October 16, 1901. Washington had for months earlier been informally advising the President on government appointments of people who would be not only upright and honest (Washington recommended both black and white men) but agreeable to greater opportunities for blacks. It was perhaps not lost on either man that this would be the first time a black man had been invite to an official dinner at the White House. Men such as Frederick Douglass had met Lincoln there but never in a formal dining setting with the President and his family.
Davis tells us the dinner itself as rather low key. Appointments were discussed and as the dinner wrapped up around 10pm, neither man anticipated the fire and brimstone waiting for them the next morning when a reporter scanning the President’s daily itinerary noticed Washington’s name.
Soon the story was all over the country (one can only imagine had twitter been around in 1901) and while some Northern papers were rapidly supportive, the South (predictably) was in an uproar calling it among other things the most scandalous and despicable thing they had ever heard. If you think today’s liberals and conservatives have jello pudding for skin, they have nothing on the delicate Southern flowers at the turn of the 20th century who found ten scandalous and despicable things every morning before they even ate breakfast.
To Roosevelt’s credit he did not initially back away from Washington, who he truly did rely on, but eventually saw that the political firestorm wasn’t worth it and slowly extricated himself from Washington publicly. The correspondence stopped, the meetings stopped, most contact between the two stopped.
This makes Roosevelt a bit of a jerk right?
Maybe. But the fact remains that he was the most prominent citizen in the land who in most matters saw Washington as an equal. That was no small matter to be forgotten, in spite of Roosevelt later distancing himself out of what was more political expedience than racial animus.
And what of Washington?
For those who still remember him, he is a polarizing figure.
He often castigated his fellow blacks for being dirty, lazy, and lacking the will to make something of themselves. He was critical of men like W.E.B. Dubois (and Dubois of him) who advocated for blacks to educate themselves. Washington instead preached practicality. Blacks weren’t going to break into white society anytime soon so the best path forward was to train for attainable jobs like handymen, janitors, service staff. Washington believed that work brought dignity which was in much greater need than learning French or Latin.
This unsurprisingly endeared him to his white audiences, many of the more moderate of whom had long advocated for this “separate but equal” society.
In fairness to Washington, he did practice what he preached. He worked tirelessly to fundraise for his Tuskegee Institute, logging long grueling hours on the road for months at a time. Perhaps Washington’s practicality was partly a product of knowing that most of the money he raised was from white men who in Washington’s speeches heard what they wanted to hear about the state of black America.
Does this make Washington a hypocrite? An “uncle tom”?
It’s difficult to say. He was however, like Roosevelt, restlessly ambitious and in constant motion. Both men were passionate about their beliefs and pursued them in the best ways they saw how. Both men also accomplished an incredible amount of good despite their personal flaws (both men essentially abandoned their youngest children to a relative when their first wives died, citing their inability to care for them on their own. For me, a quite shocking thing to do and something the author is surprisingly less outraged about than I am).
Perhaps this is what brought these two men together for that fateful dinner, one black and one white.
One can imagine as they spoke that they saw less in each other’s skin color than they saw in each other’s drive to accomplish their goals and do the most good they could.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guest of Honor: Booker T. Wash­ing­ton, Theodore Roo­sevelt, and the White House Din­ner That Shocked a Nation by Deb­o­rah Davis is a non-fiction book which tells of the events lead­ing and result­ing of a sim­ple din­ner in which Pres­i­dent Theodore Roo­sevelt dined with Book T. Washington.

In 1901 the coun­try woke up to a shock, the pre­vi­ous day 16 October, President Theodore Roo­sevelt invited Booker T. Wash­ing­ton to have din­ner at the exec­u­tive man­sion (known today as the White House) with the First Fam­ily. Not only black, but a for­mer slave, the invi­ta­tion cre­ated fod­der for news papers, vile car­toons and vul­gar songs.

While Guest of Honor: Booker T. Wash­ing­ton, Theodore Roo­sevelt, and the White House Din­ner That Shocked a Nation by Deb­o­rah Davis seems to be only about a din­ner, it is actu­ally much more. This well researched book touches on pol­i­tics of the era as well as the frag­ile and dif­fi­cult race rela­tions after the Amer­i­can Civil War.

The book exten­sively goes into the events that shaped the break­through meal, start­ing with the end of the Civil War and short biogra­phies of the two main play­ers. It was strik­ing to see how par­al­lel the lives of two men, each at one end of the social spec­trum (an ex slave and a priv­i­leged white) were eerily sim­i­lar. Both men, close at age, got
mar­ried at approx­i­mately the same time, had kids at around the same time and suf­fer dev­as­tat­ing losses.

This is well writ­ten, well researched and easy to read his­tory. While the book cap­tures a moment in his­tory, most of the nar­ra­tive con­cen­trates on the events before it and why such a ges­ture cre­ated a huge splash. The con­tra­dic­tions between the impul­sive Roo­sevelt and the cau­tious Wash­ing­ton are high­lighted, but also how they
com­pli­mented each other and why they needed one another.

Abra­ham Lin­coln, America’s 16th Pres­i­dent, is always in the back­ground of this book. Both men admired Mr. Lin­coln, his con­tri­bu­tions, guts, political savvy and skill. While Mr. Lin­coln is not in this book, as a per­son, his shadow is on almost every page. One of the amaz­ing things I learned from this book, is that Roo­sevelt used Wash­ing­ton as a polit­i­cal advi­sor, not by name but by actions. The two men cor­re­sponded lengthily and the Pres­i­dent imple­mented the advice Mr. Wash­ing­ton gave him about polit­i­cal appoint­ments and the such.

The din­ner on Octo­ber 16, 1901 went smoothly, Mr. Wash­ing­ton came in the evening and the whole his­tor­i­cal event almost went unno­ticed. Once word was out, the South has erupted in intel­lec­tual and phys­i­cal vio­lence. A line has been crossed as the impli­ca­tion of an invi­ta­tion to din­ner had much more mean­ing than today’s. Not only did whites admon­ish the event, but African-Americans as well. The notable W.E.B. Du Bois, also crit­i­cized say­ing the din­ner cre­ated back rela­tions which he abhorred.

I never heard of this din­ner and I wouldn’t be sur­prised if many oth­ers didn’t as well. Ms. Davis men­tions that she didn’t know about this incit­ing event either until Sen­a­tor John McCain (R-AZ) men­tioned it in his 2008 Pres­i­den­tial elec­tion con­ces­sion speech.

"A cen­tury ago, Pres­i­dent Theodore Roosevelt's invi­ta­tion of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an out­rage in many quar­ters.
Amer­ica today is a world away from the cruel and fright­ful big­otry of that time. There is no bet­ter evi­dence of this than the elec­tion of an African-American to the pres­i­dency of the United States."

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[Ellen Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guest of Honor provides an in-depth look at a relatively obscure moment in U.S. history – the 1901 invitation that TR issued to Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House. The invitation represented a seemingly genuine good faith effort on TR’s part to reach out to Washington., but TR ultimately proved unprepared to weather the impassioned backlash that the dinner provoked with a steadfast approach to promoting racial equality. Davis even suggests that subsequent renovations to the White House may have been to some degree calculated to help white America forget that a black man had once sat down with the president and his family in the first dining room.

I really appreciated Guest of Honor as a way to learn more about Booker T. Davis makes an important point about Washington’s “image problem” in historical interpretations of his life and work. It was not news to me that in some circles a defense of Washington’s essentially strategic vision for advancing the cause of the African American community of his day has come to be seen as something akin to an apologist stance on Vichy France. People kinda forget that the late nineteenth and early twentieth century years were very very bad ones for black Americans. Lynchings and violent assaults were extremely commonplace, while economic and educational opportunities were practically nonexistent. Against this backdrop of acute hostility, Booker T. fought his way up from abject poverty by making the pragmatic and difficult choices of a survivor. He dedicated his life to helping others make similar journeys and he never stopped working for a better future.

The more radical-sounding message of W.E.B. Dubois has tended to resonate more with people of post-civil rights sensibilities. I appreciate DuBois for his many contributions to American society and history – especially for his work to uncover the real history of Reconstruction at a time when it was represented in a truly appalling way – but his vision was also elitist. His circumstances were very different from those of most African Americans at that time and his rhetoric didn’t offer a way for average people to improve their lot. If you weren’t part of the “talented tenth” (or even if you were), you could demand your rights till the cows came home, but that wasn’t going to provide the food, shelter, or physical security that amounted to Booker T.’s central focus.

In the end, I don’t think the belief systems of these two exceptional men were as mutually exclusive as it has been convenient to portray them in basic history classes (like the ones I teach), but I know I’m glad that writers are taking another look at Booker T. Washington. I definitely recommend this book!

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book may be the most deserving of the term "Pop History" of any book I've read. I enjoyed it thoroughly, but it's hard to avoid sensing that issues are being glossed over so shallowly as to risk being misinformed. There is a lengthy contrasting of the childhoods of the two men, which is pitched as a way to set the scene for readers who are less familiar with them, but which is done very much with the eye of setting up a cinematic contrast between their personalities and personal lives. One can't help but feel that a reader would have been better served if more attention had been paid to the role these men played in the America of their time, and the role they have played in American history.

In particular, I was left with the consistent impression that the author was uncomfortable with really looking into the racial questions that came up. Booker T. Washington's complicated role in civil rights history is largely glossed over, aside from an impassioned section at the very end that blames W.E.B. Du Bois for organizing a conspiracy among historians to destroy the reputation of a great man. I'd certainly be willing to read an impassioned defense of Booker T. Washington in that context, but to do so, it would be necessary to address the substance of that criticism, which this book doesn't really do.

In addition, Theodore Roosevelt, for all that the idea of the book is that he was a brave if impetuous man, comes across in the narrative as a hapless fool, who somehow managed to become president, but it's not entirely clear how.

It's an enjoyable read, and it's fascinating to learn about the dinner and appalling to learn about the immediate reaction to the dinner. However, as history, it's not very good.

[OOSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invidious

"Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner That Shocked a Nation" by Deborah Davis deals with respect and friendship that result when the status quo of social conscience is ignored. In a time when racism dictated behavior and set the parameters of social norms, Theodore Roosevelt dared to extend an invitation to Booker T. Washington out of expedience which resulted in both men having to pay a cost that neither could afford nor fail to afford. Simply, another conundrum that comes with public life and the inability to be everything to everybody.

"Guest of Honor" is a good historical review. Provocative parallelism of the lives and roles of two very different men impacted by the driving forces of time viewed from their unique perspectives resulting in profound leadership of each. This book includes enough historical documentation to make it believable infused with enough supposition to make it read as a novel rather than a chronology.

Of note, it was Booker T. Washington (1899), as well as many others before and since him that hoped for a black man as president, but who can count the number of men that dreamed of equality in this land. Racism is alive and well in America. Adaption has made it subtly useful, yet covert.

Reviewed by: Gail

[mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guest of Honor gives a great look into the lives of Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt way before they become the two extraordinary men sitting together at dinner. The reader gets a glimpse of both Booker's and TR's childhoods and the affect of Emancipation and the assassination of Lincoln on their lives. Then we get to read about the events leading up to their dinner and the backlash that happens after.

Davis' research is very thorough and it is very evident that she enjoyed learning and writing about these two very interesting men. She has taken great care to make this book accessible to all readers interested in learning more about this small but significant even on our history. It's written in a very readable narrative that pulls you in to their story.

If you like history you will enjoy this book and even if you don't regularly read histories this one will most certainly keep you reading despite that.

[☯Emily Ginder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book about Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington. Although one was born a slave and the other in wealth and sophistication, they had much in common. Booker T. became an advisor to TR when he was President. One evening, Booker came to the White House for dinner. The Southern press exploded in anger that a black man had "contaminated" the White House. The South did not want to see social equality between the races.

The dinner and its consequences were only a small part of the book. The author gives alternating histories of Washington and Roosevelt, revealing some of the similarities in their lives. I appreciated the glimpses of the other black men and women who were succeeding in a world that did not want them to succeed. She also revealed the conflict between Washington and du Bois. I wonder how much could have been accomplished if these two men could have found a way to work together.

This book is easy to read and very enjoyable.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author Deborah Davis wrote one of my favorite bios ever, Strapless, about John Singer Sargent. I so appreciate her writing style of telling all the stories. Of delving into many lives, not just the two main ones- Booker T. and T. R. Davis tells the history of the White House from the first occupant to TR concerning the topic of protocol, tradition, mores, beliefs, It is a fascinating look at tell-all books, the media as well as race relations during various presidential administrations. I thoroughly enjoyed this book especially given the times in which we presently live.

[Douglas Graney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite the interesting relationship Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt had. Before and after the White House dinner those two were allies in the cause of improving race relations though T.R. had one notable exception to that. This a quick, enlightening read.

[Joella Show · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book draws parallels from the lives of Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. Ii helped me put together in my mind many different individual stories I knew about these men.

[Teji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booker T. Washington was a “race” advisor to Theodore Roosevelt (much as Frederick Douglass had been advisor to Lincoln). Unlike many presidents, Roosevelt routinely conducted business meetings during meals. Thus it was that Roosevelt scheduled Washington to meet with him at the White House for dinner on October 16, 1901, to provide consultation on some matters Roosevelt was considering—and unwittingly made Washington the first African-American to dine in the White House. In exploring the events leading up to, and the after-effects of, that dinner, the author provides an overview of the lives and careers of both men and draws some interesting parallels.

I had not previously heard that Washington was the first African-American to dine in the White House nor of the resulting firestorm it ignited. The book is well researched and the writing is accessible. Aside from the dinner itself, there are lots of interesting tidbits that I didn’t know about both men; for example, Roosevelt was the first president to set aside indoor space for the press corp. There are times when, the author delves too deep into discussing other historical events that happened to be occurring during the same time period but that are only peripherally related to the two main characters. Also, in making the writing accessible, she uses a narrative device (whereby she ascribes thoughts and feelings to the men when it is not clear that is what they were thinking at that particular moment) that I think diminishes the history and veers toward historical fiction.

Overall: Recommended-- particularly for history buffs.

Quotes

“Though blacks had built the White House, worked for most of the presidents (including Roosevelt), performed at the chief executive's musical recitals, and held political office, not a single African American had ever been invited there to dine. The event, unprecedented in White House history, provoked inflammatory newspaper articles, political cartoons, fire-and-brimstone speeches, even vulgar songs. The scandal escalated to the point where this single dinner ignited a storm of controversy, divided the country, and threatened to topple two of America's greatest men” -Introduction

“Nonetheless, he was the architect of a practical plan for blacks to become educated, enlightened, and self-sufficient. In his own way, he was the bridge between slavery and the civil rights movement.” - Introduction

“Self-help was the core of his philosophy…After emancipation, many blacks thought that access to ‘big books’ and ‘high-sounding subjects’ such as Latin, Greek, and banking was the most expedient route to equality and a better life. They disdained programs that promoted technical or remedial courses, and public schools (even rural, one-room schoolhouses) offered a stripped-down, classical curriculum to former slaves who had barely learned to read. Booker T. knew from experience that these fledgling students had to master more practical subjects first… Booker T. was so single-minded in his pursuit of self-sufficiency…When Tuskegee needed a new building and there was not enough money to pay or one, Booker T. added brick making to the school curriculum. His plan was that students would make their own bricks, then use them to build their own building…When the dormitories needed mattresses the students made those, too. At Tuskegee, whatever could be homemade was, because Booker T. knew that independence was the real key to freedom.” -Brick by Brick

“The other prominent African American to appear with Booker T. on the Boston stage that afternoon was W. E. B. Du Bois, a man famous for being an intellectual at a time when many people believed that blacks were intellectually inferior. Even as a child, Du Bois made it his mission to prove that he was superior, not equal, to the whites around him.” -Rising Stars

“There was one funny side note to Booker T.'s fame and success. Even though he received more respect than most African Americans, some people were nonetheless confused as to how to treat an accomplished black man. One southern gentleman swore that he considered Booker T. a great man, yet could never break the unwritten rule of the South and address a ‘colored’ man, however distinguished, as ‘Mr. Washington.’ He admitted that he was greatly relieved when Harvard awarded Booker T. his honorary doctorate because he could call him ‘Dr. Washington,’ and the ‘Mr.’ problem was solved.” -Pride and Prejudice

“Alice Lee Roosevelt was a handful. A family friend described the rebellious seventeen-year-old as ‘a young wild animal who had been put in good clothes.’ ” -Fathers and Daughters

“The respected educator had become the object of ridicule and derision. ‘That dinner,’ according to the Argus, ‘has undone the work of his life, and the best thing he can do is move North.’ It was such a shame, agreed the Atlanta Constitution. ‘Roosevelt has ruined the best negro in Alabama.’
Clearly the dinner wasn’t just a dinner: it was a Pandora's box of racism that, once opened, was impossible to close. The dreaded specter of social equality had reared its head, and Southerners were so terrified they attacked from every angle… Mr. Dooley believed that TR made a mistake by expressing his private values in a public space, although he saw humor in the condemnation coming from the South. Thousands of men who wouldn't have voted for him under any circumstances has declared that under no circumstances would they vote for him now.’ ” -A Big Stink
“An amusing incident occurred when Booker T. was on a speaking tour of Florida and he ran into an old white Southerner at train station. The man greeted him with great respect saying, ‘Suh, I am glad to meet you…I think, suh, you're the greatest man in America.’ ‘Oh no,’ demurred Booker T. He was surprised and flattered by the compliment, but he immediately suggested that President Roosevelt was the better man. ‘No, suh’” was the rapid retort. ‘Not by a jugful; I used to think so, but since he invited you to dinner I think he's a . . . Scoundrel!’ The Baltimore Herald found the anecdote hilarious and printed a version of the encounter. Booker T. sent it to TR with a note explaining, ‘This is a true story.’ TR howled when he read it and immediately wrote back to Booker T., saying, ‘I think that is one of the most delightful things I have ever read. It is almost too good to believe. What a splendid confusion of ideas it does show!’ -Undercover

“But, brilliant as he was, Du Bois oversimplified and perhaps deliberately misrepresented his rival's philosophy. Booker T. focused on African Americans who were at the ‘bottom’ because he believed it was more important for an emerging people to learn healthy practices and how to support themselves than to speak French or read Latin. But, Booker T. never imposed limitations on blacks who aspired to accomplish more, and Du Bois knew that. The two men had solid ideological differences: Booker T. advocated patience, hard work, and even compromise in the interests of survival, while Du Bois called for activism and agitation at all costs. Both approaches were valid, and the men might have been twice as effective in building a future for African Americans if they had found a way to work together, with Booker T. leading blacks out of slavery and Du Bois ushering them into the new century… By not taking a stand on Brownsville, and by not publicly opposing TR, he left himself vulnerable to the criticism Du Bois and other detractors had been making for quite some time.” -Blindsided

“Du Bois did not need to discredit a dead man to validate his more militant solutions to the race problem. Booker T.’s cautious walk before you run philosophies were more meaningful to African Americans who experienced slavery than they were to those who never witnessed it. It was time for blacks to follow Du Bois, to fight the new indignities of segregation with new strategies and new intensity.” -Eulogies

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

My granddaughter, son and I were taking a "Hop on Hop Off" bus in New York during the crowded season between Christmas and New Year's day looking for a stop which would be interesting and non-crowded. We got off and walked to the Theodore Roosevelt boyhood home, a free historical attraction run by the National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/thrb/index.htm
We found we had to sign up for a tour of the family area but while we were waiting, we could peruse the lower level photos, sayings and history regarding "TR".

The words and sayings of "Teddy" were extremely apt and should be repeated today. So much so that I became enthused about learning more about this president that spanned the 1800s to 1900s. I wanted to read something truthful but written as an easy quick read for an introduction before going deeper into his life.

This is the perfect vehicle to do that. It gives historical context of two well known men who grew up simultaneously: Theodore Roosevelt, white and privileged but sickly as a child but pumped up to be a man and our President, and Booker T. Washington, black, born a slave, walked 400 miles to get an education, became a famous speaker and fund raiser and provided education to many others.

In our Obama years, it is so inconceivable that a white president inviting a famous black educator to his family dinner could spark so much hate and vile behavior. Of course, I hope the next four years does not bring us back to such behavior. This is a story of our civilized years, and yet, TR was known to surprise the country by saying things off the cuff that shocked people like at least one politician today.

This is a good read and especially good follow-up to a New York tourist visit. Recommend for those who make the visit who are 12 and older to introduce them to the history of over a century ago.

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davis looks at a piece of history that most people probably don't know about. One fateful evening, Theodore Roosevelt, the new president of the United States, invited Booker T. Washington to dinner with his family and a couple of others. Now, to the modern reader, this might not seem to be a big deal. After all, Roosevelt was a young, dynamic president brimming with ideas, inviting one of his advisers, Washington, who was among the most influential African Americans of his day and the founder of the Tuskegee Institute. No big deal, right? But this is the early 1900s, what should have been an innocuous invitation for a business dinner turned into a scandal that impacted both men. There were many who thought the dinner was a great step in positive racial relations. There were, however, a lot of loud critics -- both black and white -- of both men who thought the invitation breached a social line that should never have been crossed. The dinner spawned nasty political cartoons and songs, political maneuverings and gossip for several years afterwards. The dinner itself isn't covered until the final few chapters, with much of the book leading up to the event, including information on each man's background, the political climate and well-known contemporaries of the two men. History buffs should definitely add this one to their to-read list. I might have to check out Davis's other books as well.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our book group chose Guest of Honor as our last read this season. The event, President Theodore Roosevelt inviting Booker T. Washington to dine at The White House, seemed monumental at the time but none of us had heard much about it. Author, Deborah Davis gives background to both personalities and leads us up and through what I called as stunning as ”The Shot Heard Round the World”. Most of the group seemed satisfied with the history presented though I could have stood a bit more. Some members thought they would have like a better analysis of the impact of the dinner in future years and race relations. We also wondered whether Roosevelt planned the dinner with controversy in mind or if this was just another loose cannon decision of his. We decided it was a calculated move on his part but that it might have back-fired. Whether or not it was helpful or not was not decided. We tried to come up with something that would parallel The Dinner in today’s world. Can you think of anything?

I always enjoy a book that sheds light on past events, particularly what seems like a small thing that can have lasting ramifications. I think we all learned something from reading the book and that is was a good choice for discussion.

[Mark Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In November 1901, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, asked one of his trusted advisors, Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House. They had much to discuss, and dinner would be a good start to the work ahead.

However, less than 40 years after the Civil War, many Americans weren't ready to see an African-American be a formal guest at the White House. The aftermath lasted for years, and impacted both men significantly.

Davis wonderfully weaves together the histories of these two great men - contrasting their backgrounds (one born a slave, one born wealthy) and comparing their similarities (dynamic speakers who overcame challenges, including the heartbreaking losses of their wives).

Reading the racist diatribes and the criticisms from the left and the right of the last century, and comparing them to remarks about our current president and his dinner guests, demonstrates how much hadn't changed in 110 years.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly dry accounting of an important slice of history, but filled with fascinating facts and little known incidents. I liked Davis's compare and contrast method with her two characters who, interestingly, had much in common. That, in itself, was a testimony to the bond between people that has no racial overtones. Washington and Roosevelt were vastly different people who had similar personal experiences that forged their lives. There were some interesting political machinations which resounded loud and clear in this particular year's presidential race -- I guess history keeps repeating itself. I was not crazy about the writing style -- but it did not keep me from enjoying this fascinating book.

[Phillis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Gained historical facts and insights about Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt that would otherwise be pushed aside.
I read all types of books and now that I've finished Guest of Honor, I'm going to read some "light trash", then I'll probably go to a biography or a mystery.

Guest of Honor should be on many shelves. Booker T. Washington was glossed over when I was in school and this book has encouraged me to delve more into the history of names mentioned and associated with the activities of this time. I'm curious to know about their place in history. I'm now a fan of Deborah Davis and will read other works.

[Shirla Mcqueen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had not heard of Booker T's invitation to dine at the White House until Senator McCain's concession speech in 2008. I was, thus, anxious to read this book to learn more about the controversy. I am sorry to say that, for me, the book did not live up to its billing. The book was more of a biographical account of the lives of Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington. The invitation in question was but a very small part of the story. This, when coupled with the fact that I did not find the writing terribly compelling, led me to question many times whether I would even finish the book. I did, and I am glad I did, but I will not be recommending this book to others.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. The times and issues change, but politics remain the same.

[Zoë Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

These days, if you’re a teenager interested in American history (or any sort of history, matter of fact) you know full well that you will not learn anything from your actual classes, and have to buy books or find and read (reliable) articles yourself. Any time I buy a book on anything history-related, I learn at least twenty things that I am shocked that they do not teach in school. This book was another one of
these occasions.

For example, did you know that our first black senator was elected in 1875? No, not post-1960s like history classes (at least mine) heavily implied. It’s shocking to me that a decade after the Civil War, a black man was able to hold such a high political position. This is incredible! But no teachers tell us this. Guest of Honor is a fantastic, well-researched, incredibly entertaining read that I came away from having an incredible new respect for both Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington, both brilliant men who changed history for the better. Deborah Davis clearly knows what she’s writing, and while presenting her information factually and with meticulous detail, also does so with a way of making it incredibly fun to read. Maybe it’s just because I adore American history and politics, but I think anyone who gave this book a try would both enjoy it and come away having learned something new.

Both TR and Booker T. are fascinating to read about, and if the late John McCain hadn’t discussed this important piece of history after Barack Obama was elected as POTUS in 2008, I don’t think most of us would’ve ever learned or bothered to learn about it, unfortunately. All in all, fantastic book from a great historian.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book combines the biographies of Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T Washington and tells the story of a dinner that they had together in the White House one evening. The first White House meal involving the President and an African American. I learned that BTW was a close, private personal advisor to TR on matters of race relations. I learned that they genuinely respected each other. And, I learned that we still have a long way to go to achieve Justice and Equity. This book motivated me to learn more about BTW who was eulogized as the most distinguished man, white or black, who has come out of the South since the Civil War. This book helped me to see that I have some catchup reading in my US history that I need to do. A final note is that the author was motivated to write this book by John McCain’s speech conceding the 2008 presidential election to Barrack Obama in which he relayed the story of this famous dinner.

[Ell, Ess Jaeva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is an EXECELLENT illustration of the stark realities of the post-reconstruction era. A civil war won and slavery abolished, however, the racist caste system became more entrenched. To ensure votes, within the oft corrupt two party system, even the most progressive politicians and businessmen shamefully acquiesced to racist sentiments. Southern Democrats leaned into racism and further divided the country, also, just for votes... Today those who are anti critical race theory (CRT), mostly southern, do NOT want you, your kids or their kids to start learning and reflecting on this stuff...

The author did a great job acquainting the reader with the atmosphere of that era. We also understand why BTW deserved a seat at the table. However, too much of the book is dedicated to biographical background. The actual dinner and it's aftermath felt hurried and brief at the very end of the book.

[Jill Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book chronicles the lives of Teddy Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington and how their lives sometimes paralleled each other and how they were so different from birth to death. Washington became an advisor and good friend to Roosevelt and they neither saw anything wrong with Washington having dinner with Teddy and his family in their family quarters. Until they both died, this controversy kept popping up and, mostly, to their detriment. The history was quite fascinating and I learned so much about both men. Enjoyed it immensely. 10 Stars (5.4 to 5.20.18 )

[Roy Draa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal look at two giants. I am astounded at how historians have treated Booker T prior to this work. As an historian and former professor, I enjoyed this book immensely. It was humbling that I knew so little regarding these men and their partnership in turn of the century race relations. Word of warning, the author pulls no punches. You will read every disgustingly, gut-wrenching, racial epithet from primary sources (Democrat politicians, journalists, songs, etc). I was incredulous. Can this have ever been us? A must-read for every American.

[Patricia Joynton · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading "Up from Slavery" by Booker T. Washington, I followed that with "Guest of Honor." An enjoyable read where I learned more how Washington operated in DC and the friends he had, like Theodore Roosevelt. It was a scandal when Roosevelt had Washington over for dinner. Washington was a man of honor and highly educated. He built up Tuskegee University--he and his students. I guess he though they needed something constructive to do. He also thought the students would think the school felt more like their own--and they did! What times those were!

[Jason Meadors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good look at the history surrounding the first Black invitee to a White House dinner. The author explores the societal dynamics leading up to the dinner, the surrounding politics, and the often-distressing fallout. The book is largely unflinching in tackling the important aspects of the event.

The author's admiration of Theodore Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. Dubois do not stay her hand when unveiling their less-flattering aspects. Overall, an impressive task of writing in authentic and comprehensive style.

[Emily Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend. This book provides an early 1900's historical perspective of race relations in the US. In many ways, we have progressed, yet, there remains so much work for us. Theodore Roosevelt was not perfect, he said and did some things that did not promote diversity, equity, inclusion; however, when he became aware of his harmful words or actions, he sought advice and to correct the actions. And Booker T., he was a courageous force and helped move the US toward a place of inclusion.

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

Davis claims that TR's advocacy for eugenics was actually just nostalgia for the raucous times he enjoyed with his many siblings. Presumably his decades-long obsessions with "race suicide", "The Yellow Peril", etc. were also just quirky manifestations of brotherly love. Davis also dismisses the white supremacist orthodoxy with which he discredits the Black Rough Riders as a product of TR's tendency to get carried away when speaking. Like in his many published books, apparently.

Trash.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved what I learned in this book about both Booker T Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. This was a read aloud (those who know us, know we read aloud to each other) and I found at times it was a difficult read. There were so many “rabbit trails” albeit, very interesting ones, it made reading a bit halting as I changed focus from what I was reading about to a totally new topic. I have the feeling I wouldn’t feel that way if I’d just read it like most do—silently. I love learning through reading and have loved Booker T Washington since I was young. An interesting history of race relations post civil war. Hats off to author, Deborah Davis, for some superb research.