Nautical clock gifted from Pres. Theodore Roosevelt to William L. Houston

William LePre Houston (1870-1953) was a prominent Washington, DC attorney who was active in the Republican Party and worked for African American labor organizations, including the Railway Men's International Benevolent Industrial Association. According to son and law partner Charles Hamilton Houston, this nautical clock was a gift from President Theodore Roosevelt for his father's role as an unofficial African American advisor.The clock was a significant family heirloom that resided on the mantelpiece of the family's home on Washington's northwest side.