Teddy and Booker T.

How Two American Icons Blazed a Path for Racial Equality

By: Brian Kilmeade

Narrated by: Brian Kilmeade

The New York Times bestselling author of George Washington's Secret Six and Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates turns to two other heroes of the nation: Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington.

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 share croppers, how much improvement would their lives really see? In Teddy and Booker T., Brian Kilmeade tells the story of how two wildly different Americans faced the challenge of keeping America moving toward the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation.

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 listening 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.

©2023 Brian Kilmeade (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Brian Kilmeade has done it again, delivering another great book about a relationship that changed our country for the better." —BRET BAIER, author of To Rescue the Constitution

“A marvelous dual biography of two heroic American leaders. Highly recommended!” —DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, author of The Wilderness Warrior

“The character these two men possessed is incomparable, and the legacy they’ve left behind is a thing of immeasurable value. What a timely and important book.” —MIKE ROWE, host of the hit TV show Dirty Jobs and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation

Hard Truth of History

Brian always hits a home run in these history lessons. Well researched, well written. Great read.

A deep look

I appreciated the research that went into this presentation. The author had to do some patchy voiceover additions and they were distracting. It would be easier to listen to if the audiobook was redone and read by someone who could have the voice inflection necessary, not to distract from the content.

The History Duo of Teddy and Booker

Brian Kilmeade shares an incredible piece of history. Two unlikely icons that played a huge part in our nation becoming what it is today. I must have been watching the clock in history class, instead of paying attention to a story like this one. Hearing it today makes me appreciate it more.

Booker T Washington/Teddy

Booker T Washington is my great American hero. This book highlights his life but doesn’t begin to illustrate the rich story of such an elegant man. One of my favorite things he did was his fireside chats. Evenings surrounded by his students he would give stories that encouraged and inspired his pupils to live valiant lives.

I was charmed to learn about Teddy’s youth and his personal struggles. The stories do give the reader a taste of history.

A Historical Symbiotic relationship between two great people 

This book gives you a great insight into the symbiotic relationships, both friendship and political of two great men. Each man respecting each other for who they were, and what they stood for and yet to be careful of that relationship because of the times that the relationship occurred. A great insight into the beginning, history of equality, where both men felt not to be given things, but to have the chance of obtaining the same thing. Equal opportunity to be given no matter the race you belonged to. In this way the white and black race of that time could benefit from each other .

Great story disappointing narration

Narration was very awkward. It was like Brian Kilmead would jump in with an excited voice as an edit. It was very distracting. I loved his narration in The President and The Freedom Fighter. He should redo it or have a professional narrator. It was very distracting.

Two of the most influential heroes in our nation’s history!

The author tells the story of two American icons. How their lives are intertwined and help to further our nation, and better itself in racial quality. This is a book that is extremely well written, and I recommend everyone read it.

Awesome

Thoroughly enjoyed this look into history. Great book. Will be recommending it to the people in my life!

powerful little details.

ltxs said that the devil is in the details but so is the Savior. As always each must choose.
Love this book. l needed to read this. Thanks, B.K. for your work.

Awesome telling of the life’s of 2 great men

I would recommend this to everyone. I never hear of booker T till now. This book should be included in school curriculum