Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "201511",
    "label": "Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Ernie Roberts",
    "core": "doc",
    "dtoType": "document",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/201511"
}

{
    "id": "201511",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/201511",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Ernie Roberts",
    "description": "This letter is President Harry S. Truman's response to a letter from his friend, Ernie Roberts, in which Roberts criticized Truman's civil rights program. In his reply, Truman describes some outrageous acts of violence and discrimination against black Americans. He insists that he will continue to fight for equality of opportunity for all citizens, regardless of race, even if this results in his defeat in the upcoming presidential election.",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/201511",
    "collections": [
        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
        "Personal Files"
    ],
    "subjects": [
        "Roberts, Ernie",
        "Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972",
        "Correspondence",
        "Presidential campaign, 1948"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602209/967555/967555-038-01.tif",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602209/967555/967555-038-01.tif",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602209/967555/967555-038-01.tif",
    "imageCount": 6,
    "hasImages": true,
    "source": "import",
    "hasTranscription": false
}

{
    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/201511",
    "naId": 201511,
    "levelOfDescription": "item",
    "productionDates": [
        {
            "logicalDate": "1948-01-01",
            "year": 1948
        }
    ],
    "recordType": "description",
    "ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}

{
    "seq": 2,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602209/967555/967555-038-02.tif",
    "mediaId": "ddb963031001feab",
    "ocrText": "TROMAN\nHARRY\nNATIONAL\nARCHIVES AND\nRECORDS\nLIBRARY\nSERVICE\"\nOPPOSITE\nGOVERNMENT\nHISTORIC MORMON TEMPLE\nCENTER OF\nSALT LAKE'S SCENIC WONDERS\nHOTEL TEMPLE SQUARE\nSeptember 2, 1948\nDear Harry:\nI am late in answering your very nice letter of August 18 which\nreached me, along with your other important literature, at\nTwin Falls, Idaho, I feel very much honored in hearing from\nyou, and sincerely appreciate your taking the time to putting\nme right on an important issue.\nOn this one certain subject you have a big job on your hands,\nbut when one is right, it's pretty hard for anyone to be\nagainst righteousness. I know you are a busy man, so will not\ntake up much of your time with my correspondence, but I would\nlike to leave this one thought. The South has never known as\nwe now know what equal rights mean, and this bill to them is\nlike introducing a new food product or maybe a new brand of\nsoap, and all they think about our vision when one mentions\nequal rights, is the thought of social equality. They overlook\nthe justice in it, and the paramount impression left in their\nminds is the social equality which they think you are trying to\nforce on them. It is something you must clarify in the minds\nof many classes of people, that social rights does not mean\nequal civil rights.\nIf I were handling this specific issue, I would be like the\nmanufacturer who had many new items to introduce in a market.\nI would take one item at a time and place that one item, then\ngradually work on the other items until I had a complete line\non the shelves. I would start on justice and make the South\nrealize that our Constitution is based on justice, and that in\nthe eyes of God, all are entitled to a fair trial. That would\nbe my way of approaching the South-one issue at a time until\nin time the entire Civil Rights Bill would be accepted.\nAll this is going to be a big fight, but since hearing from you\nI am better fortified and have a clearer understanding of the\nfacts concerning this issue, and just know I will continue to\nstand for the man who I know so well and regard so highly. I\nwish you well on your swing over the country, and trust I will\nhave the pleasure and honor of meeting you enroute.\nWith all sincerity and best wishes to Bess and\nMargaret, I remain\nXXXXX\nErnest W. Roberts\nTEMPLE SQUARE\nP. S. I am treating your letter confidentially,\nas you requested.\nSALT LAKES NEWEST HOTEL"
}