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.
By the middle of the following month the President had definitely
decided to attend the Peace Jubilee at Atlanta. I went to
Washington again and saw him, with a view of getting him to
extend his trip to Tuskegee.
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