Memorandum from Stephen J. Spingarn to Clark M. Clifford

mr. nash TRUMAN BARRY "NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND SERVICE" AUGUNIT GOVERNMENT December 19, 1949 REMONANDUM FOR MR. CLIFFORD: Subject: Proposal for Presidential address to National Emergency Civil Rights Mobilization in Washington January 15-17, 1980. I understand that the President is being invited to address this group. I believe that serious consideration should be given to this request. About 1,000 delegates are expected at the Washington conference, representing approximately 50 national organisa- tions, including AVL, GIO, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish organizations, Americans for Democratic Action, and the NAACP, which is spearheading the conference. Senstor Lucas has agreed to address the conference, and Senstor Wherry, the Senate Minority leader, and the Honse Majority and Minority leaders have also beenlinvited to do so. Other speakers will include sponsors of various civil rights bills and possibly the chairmen of the major parties. The meeting is frankly a lobbying and pressure movement aimed at getting a vote on civil rights legislation, notably the PEPC bill. Statewide meetings sponsored by the seme groups have already been held in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Cklahoma, Virginia, New York, and the New England states. No doubt the President would be criticised in some quarters 15 he addressed such & group. On the other hand, there 10 for consideration the fact that & Presidential address to this group would certainly help to set at rest the rumors inspired by Negro Ballaceites and Republican sources that the President gives lip service only to the civil rights program. Since the likelihood of enactment of any consequential civil rights legislation in 1980 seems re- note, it would appear to be particularly desirable that the President take advantage of appropriate opportunities during 1950 to demonstrate (as we know to be the case) that he means what he has said about civil rights legislation. If it 10 decided that it would not be appropriate for the President to address this group, 1 suggest that as a minimum it would be helpful 15 be would receive a delega- tion of the group!s leaders just prior to the opening of the conference. fee