Overcoming Adversity | Brian Kilmeade's FULL SPEECH on Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington

Join us for an exclusive evening that promises to transport you back to the pivotal moments that shaped our nation. Dive into the dynamic relationship between two of America’s most influential figures, Booker T. Washington and Teddy Roosevelt, with celebrated author Brian Kilmeade.
Brian Kilmeade’s latest book offers a compelling look at the intertwined lives of these iconic leaders. Whether you’re a history buff or just love a good story, this event is just for you.
When President Theodore Roosevelt welcomed the country’s most visible Black man, Booker T. Washington, into his circle of counselors in 1901, the two confronted a shocking and violent wave of racist outrage. In the previous decade, Jim Crow laws had legalized discrimination in the South, eroding social and economic gains for former slaves. Lynching was on the rise, and Black Americans faced new barriers to voting. Slavery had been abolished, but if newly freed citizens were condemned to lives as sharecroppers, how much improvement would their lives really see?
Theodore Roosevelt was white, born into incredible wealth and privilege in New York City. Booker T. Washington was Black, born on a plantation without even a last name. But both men embodied the rugged, pioneering spirit of America. Kilmeade takes us to San Juan Hill, where Roosevelt led his Rough Riders to a thrilling victory that set the stage for a legendary presidency, and to a small town in Alabama, where Washington founded the first university for African Americans, paving the way for the Civil Rights Movement. Both men abhorred the decadence and moral rot the nation had fallen into, believed that improvement through careful collaboration was possible, and trusted that the American ideals of individual liberty and hard work could propel the neediest toward success, if only those holding them back would step aside.
As he did in "George Washington's Secret Six," Kilmeade has transformed this nearly forgotten slice of history into a dramatic story that will keep you turning the pages to find out how these two heroes, through their principles and courage, not only changed each other but helped lay the groundwork for true equality.
Don't miss this enlightening lecture by Brian Kilmeade at ISI's campus as he delves into the profound impact of this remarkable alliance between Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington. Subscribe to our channel for more insightful content on American history and heritage.