Letter from Floyd Looney to President Harry S. Truman

10-21 SOUTHERN BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF CALIFORNIA 243 HOLLAND BUILDING PHONE 4-5866 FRESNO 1, CALIFORNIA FLOYD LOONEY, EDITOR CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN BAPTIST November 12, 1945 Mr. Harry S. Truman, President United States Hoed White House Washington D. C. P.P.F. I-H Dear Mr. President: CON I am writing you at the request of the Board of Directors of the Southern Baptist General Convention of California con- L cerning two or three matters of grave concern to Baptists and the millions of other Christian people of our nation. They have asked me to assure you of their deep and profound appreciation of the numerous stands you have taken personally in matters of human welfare. They deeply appreciate your oft admitted faith in God, and your urge upon the people of America to pray for you and the peoples of the earth. They have asked me to reassure you of their own personal pride and joy in having you, a fellow Southern Baptist and brother beloved, as the President of the United States. There are two things however, which they along with millions of Christian people everywhere view with grave concern. The current magazines and newspapers constantly mention your occasional drink of bourbon and friendly game of poker. Mr. President, Southern Baptists are deeply conscious of the many social responsibilities imposed upon the President of the United States. They feel however, that his personal moral and spiritual life should be a sort of model, inspiration and example for every American boy from the glittering boulevards of our fairest cities to the fartherest cabin nestling in the hills. They consider such practices a de- triment to the high principles of morality and the noble conce pts of spirituality. It is said of Gene, Autry, the singing cowboy, that he does not permit profanity among the cow hands on his ranch. He doesn't even smoke cigarettes. He says, "There are just too many boys in America who consider me a model. I should not and I will not let them down." If it is important that a humble movie star make such a pronouncement, how much more important it is for a national leader to go to any length