Letter, Val Washington, Republican National Committee, to President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Republican National Committee 1625 EYE STREET, W ASHINGTON 6. D. C. . NATIONAL 8-6800 VAL J. WASHINGTON 10 MEADE ALCORN DIRECTOR OF MINORITIES CHAIRMAN July 18, 1957 The President of the United States White House Washington, D. C. 1 Ni 0 Dear Mr. President: I did not feel until today that it was necessary to write you about this unfortunate Civil Rights fiasco which is in the headlines of every paper throughout the World. At the outset, let me say that your Civil Rights Bill is a very moderate one, so what is there to compromise? It does nothing more than call for protective measures guaranteeing all of the rights due any citizen under the Constitution of the United States and the Supreme Court decisions. Most certainly if the southern opponents of the bill do not intend to continue taking advantage of and ignoring the Civil Rights of Negroes, there is nothing in any of the four points which they could possibly resent either in language or fact. I am not a radical or extremist, but as a Negro I have always sought and demanded my rights within the orderly processes of the law. I shall continue to do so. There are many of us who have worked and patiently waited years for a Republican regime willing to change unlawful traditions which rob us of our rights as first-class citizens. We knew that in you we had a leader who would, when given an opportunity, rectify the flagrant injustices and inequities by which we have been penalized. This situation has existed for years through no fault of our own. I refuse to believe that you would ever compromise any basic right because of pressures from those so prejudiced that they wish to continue humiliating loyal citizens. We have a right to share and share alike in all that is a part of the American way of life - the sweet as well as the bitter. I know you will not let us down. Sincerely, Val