I went to Washington, and I was not long
in the city before I found my way to the White House. When I got
there I found the waiting rooms full of people, and my heart began to
sink, for I feared there would not be much chance of my seeing the
President that day, if at all. But, at any rate, I got an opportunity
to see Mr. J. Addison Porter, the secretary to the President, and
explained to him my mission. Mr. Porter kindly sent my card directly
to the President, and in a few minutes word came from Mr. McKinley
that he would see me.
How any man can see so many people of all kinds, with all kinds of
errands, and do so much hard work, and still keep himself calm,
patient, and fresh for each visitor in the way that President McKinley
does, I cannot understand. When I saw the President he kindly thanked
me for the work which we were doing at Tuskegee for the interests of
the country. I then told him, briefly, the object of my visit. I
impressed upon him the fact that a visit from the Chief Executive of
the Nation would not only encourage our students and teachers, but
would help the entire race. He seemed interested, but did not make a
promise to go to Tuskegee, for the reason that his plans about going
to Atlanta were not then fully made; but he asked me to call the
matter to his attention a few weeks later.
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