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12191320
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Memorandum, E. Frederic Morrow to Sherman Adams
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12191320
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Memorandum, E. Frederic Morrow to Sherman Adams
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Records of E. Frederic Morrow, Administrative Officer, Special Projects Group (Eisenhower Administration)
Personal Files of E. Frederic Morrow
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1955-12-16
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1955
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THE WHITE house
WASHINGTON
December 16, 1955
MEMORANDUM TO: Governor Adams
Your memorandum of December 13 to Val Washington, detailing
results of the latest Gallup Poll, indicating that the Democrats still
attract the bulk of the Negro vote, has given me some concern for
many months. I have discussed this problem with many leaders
and scores of individuals in various sections of the country, and have
come to certain conclusions based upon personal knowledge and con-
versation.
The
It is difficult for any non-Negro to understand the Negro's attitude
toward civil rights. Undoubtedly, the present Administration has
done more to raise the Negro to the status of a first-class citizen
than any other administration in history. Any non-Negro would ex-
pect evidence of extreme gratitude on the part of the Negro race, but
the average Negro feels that he has merely come into something that
should have been his at the dawn of the Republic, and while he rejoices
in his new status, he feels no extreme obligation to anyone for giving
him what he believes to be his inalienable rights.
Unfortunately, despite the Republican Party's noble beginning under
Lincoln, in assuming the role of protector of the newly freed men,
over a period of 80 years or more, the Party has assumed a paternal-
istic attitude toward its wards. It was not until 1933, during the
heart of the Depression, when the Democrats, by necessity, gave the
Negro unprecedented opportunities, job-wise, through WPA and relief
setups throughout the country. It was his first chance to acquire
white-collar job opportunities, and he was grateful to the Party des-
pite the fact that the Depression caused this) for permitting him to
rise in stature in the economy of the country.
For more than 20 years, the Democrats have pointed out that when
they are in power, the little man benefits, and because of this long
period of tenure, thousands of Negroes have been cemented into little
jobs in the Government, national, state, and city, through the Demo-
cratic machine. It is the area of economics, job opportunities, etc.,
that have more interest to the Negro race than anything that will be or
- 2 .
has been done in the field of civil rights.
In the past year, the Negro has been extremely concerned about the
plight of his kinfolk in the Deep South, and particularly in Mississippi.
Almost every Negro north of the Mason-Dixon line has relatives in
the South, and whatever happens to them is reflected in the northern
Negro's attitude toward those in power for what he feels is their failure
to protect his defenseless kinfolk in the Deep South.
The failure of any prominent member of the Administration to speak
out against, and deplore, the present condition of terrorism and
economic sanction against the Negroes in Mississippi is causing deep
concern among Negro leaders in the country today. They feel that
despite the magnificient record of the Eisenhower Administration, it
has completely abandoned the Negro in the South and left him to the
mercy of state governments that have manifested their intention to
violate all laws, human and divine, as long as it results in "keeping
Library .0 The DATE
the Negro in his place".
It is this kind of situation that makes these people, in their emotional
fright, forget all the good things that have preceded these inhuman
incidents. It is characteristic of a benighted people to think with
their emotions, rather than their minds, and this is understandable
only to one who has suffered from denial of citizenship privileges.
Another weak link in our armor is the fact that we have not had suf-
ficient manpower, unrestricted by the Hatch Act, to carry the message
to the people in the country. The achievement of the Eisenhower
Administration in the field of human rights has not been given the
publicity that it should have had.
Of the more than two hundred odd
prestige-appointments of Negroes made by the present Administration,
less than six of these individuals are in a position to speak freely on
the accomplishments of the Eisenhower Administration. An effort is
being made to remedy this, and it means that much attention will have
to be given to the situation during the next twelve months.
We have a wonderful story to tell that can be told with sincerity and
conviction, and we need only devise a method by which the information
can be spread throughout the country.
In view of these observations, I have a few concrete recommendations
to make:
- 3 .
1. That some responsible member of the Administration make a
statement deploring the breakdown of law and order in Mississippi,
pointing out that this is contrary to the Eisenhower philosophy of
government, of human decency, and of citizen responsibility.
2. That the National Committee make a determined effort to have
state, county, and city chairmen implement the Eisenhower philoso-
phy of first-class citizenship in all the activities of the Party, and
that attention be given to placing Negroes in positions of responsi-
bility wherever the Party has jurisdiction.
3. That when national efforts are made, like the "Salute to
Eisenhower Dinners" to be held throughout the country in January,
prominent Negroes be asked to participate in these programs. I
have had several of these affairs called to my attention in the large
cities in this country, and I am not aware that a single Negro
LIDERAY
The
speaker has been requested for any of these occasions. That is
not wise planning!
4. That the tendency to play down the accomplishments of the
Administration in the matter of race relations be abandoned, and that
full acknowledgment be given to all efforts in this field.
5.
That a conference of a dozen or more of the leading ministers,
white and Negro in this country, be called together under the auspices
of the Administration to discuss what can be done to allay the fear and
despair of Negroes in Mississippi as a result of the recent wave of
terrorism that has swept through that state. I suggest ministers
rather than lay men so that such a conference would not give the ap-
pearance of being political or endorsing any kind of philosophy in the
field of race relations. However, such a conference would lift the
flagging spirits of Negro citizens in the country. and would also let
the world see that this Administration is interested in doing all it can
to create peace, whether in domestic or international affairs.
E. Frederic Morrow