Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "12023121",
    "label": "Letter, Val Washington, Republican National Committee, to President Dwight D. Eisenhower",
    "core": "doc",
    "dtoType": "document",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/12023121"
}

{
    "id": "12023121",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/12023121",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Letter, Val Washington, Republican National Committee, to President Dwight D. Eisenhower",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/12023121",
    "collections": [
        "Records of E. Frederic Morrow, Administrative Officer, Special Projects Group (Eisenhower Administration)",
        "Personal Files of E. Frederic Morrow"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/598780/598780_0006.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/598780/598780_0006.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/598780/598780_0006.jpg",
    "imageCount": 2,
    "hasImages": true,
    "source": "import",
    "hasTranscription": false
}

{
    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/12023121",
    "naId": 12023121,
    "levelOfDescription": "item",
    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 18,
            "logicalDate": "1957-07-18",
            "month": 7,
            "year": 1957
        }
    ],
    "recordType": "description",
    "ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}

{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/598780/598780_0006.jpg",
    "mediaId": "5136579bb854b935",
    "ocrText": "Republican National Committee\n1625 EYE STREET,\nW ASHINGTON 6. D. C.\n.\nNATIONAL 8-6800\nVAL J. WASHINGTON\n10\nMEADE ALCORN\nDIRECTOR OF MINORITIES\nCHAIRMAN\nJuly 18, 1957\nThe President of the United States\nWhite House\nWashington, D. C.\n1 Ni\n0\nDear Mr. President:\nI did not feel until today that it was necessary to\nwrite you about this unfortunate Civil Rights fiasco which is in the\nheadlines of every paper throughout the World.\nAt the outset, let me say that your Civil Rights Bill\nis a very moderate one, so what is there to compromise? It does nothing\nmore than call for protective measures guaranteeing all of the rights due\nany citizen under the Constitution of the United States and the Supreme\nCourt decisions.\nMost certainly if the southern opponents of the bill do\nnot intend to continue taking advantage of and ignoring the Civil Rights\nof Negroes, there is nothing in any of the four points which they could\npossibly resent either in language or fact.\nI am not a radical or extremist, but as a Negro I have\nalways sought and demanded my rights within the orderly processes of the\nlaw. I shall continue to do so. There are many of us who have worked\nand patiently waited years for a Republican regime willing to change\nunlawful traditions which rob us of our rights as first-class citizens.\nWe knew that in you we had a leader who would, when given an opportunity,\nrectify the flagrant injustices and inequities by which we have been\npenalized. This situation has existed for years through no fault of our own.\nI refuse to believe that you would ever compromise any\nbasic right because of pressures from those so prejudiced that they wish\nto continue humiliating loyal citizens. We have a right to share and share\nalike in all that is a part of the American way of life - the sweet as well\nas the bitter. I know you will not let us down.\nSincerely,\nVal"
}