Turning his attention to two national heroes, the New York Times bestselling author of George Washington's Secret Six and Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates, Brian Kilmeade, delves into the remarkable alliance between Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington.

In 1901, when President Theodore Roosevelt welcomed Booker T. Washington, the country's most prominent Black figure, into his circle of advisors, they confronted a disturbing and violent wave of racist outrage. The preceding decade had witnessed the legalization of discrimination in the South through Jim Crow laws, eroding the social and economic gains made by former slaves. Lynching incidents surged, and Black Americans encountered new obstacles to voting. Although slavery had been abolished, the prospect of newly freed citizens being relegated to lives as sharecroppers raised questions about the actual improvement in their circumstances. In "Teddy and Booker T.," Kilmeade narrates the tale of how these two vastly different individuals grappled with the challenge of steering America toward the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Theodore Roosevelt, born into wealth and privilege in New York City, was white. In contrast, Booker T. Washington, born without even a last name on a plantation, was Black. Despite their stark differences, both men embodied the rugged, pioneering spirit of America. Kilmeade takes readers to San Juan Hill, where Roosevelt led the Rough Riders to a triumphant victory that paved the way for a legendary presidency. He also explores a small Alabama town where Washington established the first university for African Americans, laying the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement. Both men shared a disdain for the nation's moral decline and believed in the potential for improvement through collaborative efforts. They trusted that American ideals of individual liberty and hard work could propel the underprivileged toward success if those obstructing their progress would step aside.

Just as he did in George Washington's Secret Six, Kilmeade transforms this nearly forgotten chapter of history into a compelling narrative. Readers will be captivated by the story of how these two heroes, through their principles and courage, not only influenced each other but also played a pivotal role in establishing the groundwork for true equality.