during the first red scare of 1919–20, following the russian revolution, anti-bolshevik sentiment in the united states quickly followed on the anti-german sentiment arising in the war years. many politicians and government officials, together with much of the press and the public, feared an imminent attempt to overthrow the u.s. government to create a new regime modeled on that of the soviets. authorities viewed with alarm african-americans' advocacy of racial equality, labor rights, and the rights of victims of mobs to defend themselves. in a private conversation in march 1919, president woodrow wilson said that "the american negro returning from abroad would be our greatest medium in conveying bolshevism to america." other whites expressed a wide range of opinions, some anticipating unsettled times and others seeing no signs of tension.