Lindsey Graham

After this and several other incidents, Howard failed his entrance exam and returned home, leaving Smith to enter the academy alone. His time there was marked by isolation, abuse, and injustice.

After this and several other incidents, Howard failed his entrance exam and returned home, leaving Smith to enter the academy alone. His time there was marked by isolation, abuse, and injustice.

To discuss the integration of West Point during Reconstruction, I'm joined by Lieutenant Colonel Rory McGovern, an associate professor in the Department of History at West Point and the co-author of Race, Politics, and Reconstruction, The First Black Cadets at Old West Point. Lieutenant Colonel Rory McGovern, welcome to American History Tellers. Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.

To discuss the integration of West Point during Reconstruction, I'm joined by Lieutenant Colonel Rory McGovern, an associate professor in the Department of History at West Point and the co-author of Race, Politics, and Reconstruction, The First Black Cadets at Old West Point. Lieutenant Colonel Rory McGovern, welcome to American History Tellers. Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.

To discuss the integration of West Point during Reconstruction, I'm joined by Lieutenant Colonel Rory McGovern, an associate professor in the Department of History at West Point and the co-author of Race, Politics, and Reconstruction, The First Black Cadets at Old West Point. Lieutenant Colonel Rory McGovern, welcome to American History Tellers. Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Let's begin our conversation on June 14th, 1877. It's graduation day at West Point, but it's a special graduation, the graduation of Henry Ossian Flipper. Set the stage for us. What was this day like?

Let's begin our conversation on June 14th, 1877. It's graduation day at West Point, but it's a special graduation, the graduation of Henry Ossian Flipper. Set the stage for us. What was this day like?

Let's begin our conversation on June 14th, 1877. It's graduation day at West Point, but it's a special graduation, the graduation of Henry Ossian Flipper. Set the stage for us. What was this day like?

Well, let's talk about everything he had been through and go back a few years to when Flipper arrived at West Point in 1873. I guess let's start with what was the state of the Academy in the wake of the Civil War?

Well, let's talk about everything he had been through and go back a few years to when Flipper arrived at West Point in 1873. I guess let's start with what was the state of the Academy in the wake of the Civil War?

Well, let's talk about everything he had been through and go back a few years to when Flipper arrived at West Point in 1873. I guess let's start with what was the state of the Academy in the wake of the Civil War?

And how did West Point react to the growing wave of integration in education?

And how did West Point react to the growing wave of integration in education?

And how did West Point react to the growing wave of integration in education?

Well, let's talk more about these first cadets. How did West Point begin to admit them? Were the criteria for their admission the same for white candidates?

Well, let's talk more about these first cadets. How did West Point begin to admit them? Were the criteria for their admission the same for white candidates?

Well, let's talk more about these first cadets. How did West Point begin to admit them? Were the criteria for their admission the same for white candidates?

And you've seen the exam that West Point used at the time. If perhaps West Point knew that Black cadets were coming in, was there any indication at all that these exams or admission procedures at all were changed for these cadets to perhaps root them out?

And you've seen the exam that West Point used at the time. If perhaps West Point knew that Black cadets were coming in, was there any indication at all that these exams or admission procedures at all were changed for these cadets to perhaps root them out?

And you've seen the exam that West Point used at the time. If perhaps West Point knew that Black cadets were coming in, was there any indication at all that these exams or admission procedures at all were changed for these cadets to perhaps root them out?