James E. Amos: From Teddy Roosevelt's Valet to FBI Special Agent

“It was not very long after I went to work in the White House…that the President’s family was preparing to go to Sagamore Hill for the summer. Mr. Roosevelt called me in and asked me how I would like to go to his home in Oyster Bay and take charge of it during the summer. And so I soon found myself at the Roosevelt home on Long Island, where I was to spend so many very happy years.”

- James E. Amos, in his book Theodore Roosevelt: Hero to His Valet

Allow me to introduce James E. Amos, who served as the Roosevelt family’s butler and Theodore Roosevelt’s personal valet both during and after his presidency. Highly regarded by Theodore, his wife Edith, and the Roosevelt children, Mr. Amos was called on by the family to attend to Theodore Roosevelt in his final days. Roosevelt’s final words – “James, will you please put out the light,” were directed at Amos, who was keeping watch over the sickly former president at his home, Sagamore Hill.

But who exactly was James E. Amos? Well, let's start at the beginning. James E. Amos was born January 29, 1879 in Washington, D.C., the son of Joseph Ferdinand Amos and Maria Louisa Bruce Amos. Joseph, his father, was born into slavery in 1844, gained freedom in his teens, and served as part of the U.S. Colored Troops for the Union during the American Civil War. After the war, Joseph and Maria married and settled in the greater D.C. area. Joseph was appointed to the Capitol police force on May 6, 1875, where he served for decades.

The elder Amos first met Theodore Roosevelt shortly after TR's surprise 1901 inauguration. Amos was working as a mounted police officer in Rock Creek Park, one of Roosevelt's favorite riding locations. A chance encounter, and a brief conversation about wanting his son James to find some direction in life, led to Roosevelt offering young James a position at the White House.

James E. Amos’ first duties were to keep an eye on the young and sometimes unruly Roosevelt children, a task he excelled at where others had often failed. Mr. Amos was soon asked to work as a butler for the president and oversaw much of the dining and entertaining, from family dinners to meetings with dignitaries. He also accompanied Roosevelt on trips, overseeing arrangements, billing, and other details of the president's travels. Mr. Amos worked closely with the household staff at Sagamore Hill during summers, residing at the Gray Cottage with his wife Annie.

Despite his relationship with President Roosevelt, Mr. Amos clarified in his 1927 autobiography, Hero To His Valet, "My orders came usually from Mrs. Roosevelt. During those White House days she was my real boss. And no man ever served a gentler, kinder, more considerate mistress than Mrs. Roosevelt."

Mr. Amos would go on to say that the President, "would never argue or coax, and would accept my word as law in such matters because he would know I had received my instructions from Mrs. Roosevelt."

Mr. Amos was often tasked with interrupting profound late-night conversations between Roosevelt and his associates to remind him of his bedtime, with Roosevelt responding, "Well gentlemen, James says it's time to rest and I suppose I'll have to go." The two became very close over the years and shared many interests. Roosevelt introduced Mr. Amos to Shakespeare, Dickens, and Twain. Amos, whom Roosevelt once called "the best shot that I have ever seen," offered advice on Roosevelt's gun collection and purchased and tested all of his firearms.

Seeking a higher wage, James E. Amos asked Teddy Roosevelt for a letter of reference and left Sagamore Hill in 1913, soon becoming employed by the William J. Burns detective agency as a private detective. He occasionally returned to work as TR’s personal attendant at the family’s request.

On August 24, 1921, Mr. Amos was sworn in as a Special Agent with the Bureau of Investigation (eventually, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI), only the second Black agent to serve after James Wormley Jones joined the Bureau in 1919. Special Agent Amos became known as an expert marksman, but was also skilled in fingerprint analysis, disguise, ciphers, and other detective work. Although not required to arrive at work until 9:30 a.m., Special Agent Amos often was in the office by 7. His work as an agent was so valued that Franklin D. Roosevelt extended Amos's retirement three times. Special Agent Amos finally retired at the age of 74 in October 1953.

In his 32 year career, the following are just a few of the cases Special Agent Amos helped bring to justice:

• The Louis “Lepke” Buchalter gang, a notorious band of professional hit-men known as “Murder, Inc.”

• The Duquesne Nazi Spy Ring: Because of his knowledge of New York, Amos was asked to shadow Duquesne and locate his home. At the trial, Amos refuted the spy’s claim of being a close personal friend of the late President Roosevelt.

• Marcus Garvey and his Black Star Steamship Company, which defrauded African Americans by falsely promising paid passages to Africa.

• The notorious “Tri-State Gang”: brutally murdered a postal truck driver, a police officer, and others.

On December 26, 1953, just two months after retiring, James E. Amos passed away from a heart attack. He was buried in Flushing Cemetery in Queens, New York.

Today we honor and remember James E. Amos, a true American patriot. Hopefully Mr. Amos can be a role model for future generations of African-Americans. Sure, a guy like LeBron James is cool. But it is in my humble opinion that a man like James E. Amos is much cooler.

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