White House Press Release

HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE February 9, 1946. CONFIDENTIAL: The following telegram to the President from Mr. Lee F. Johnson, Executive Vice President of the National Public Housing Con- ference, and the following letter to Mr. Wilson Wyatt from Mr. Fred Bailey of The National Grange, are both for release in all regular editions of MORNING newspapers of SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1946. Release to radio commentators and news broadcasters NOT EARLIER than 6:00 P.M., E.S.T., TODAY, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1946. CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President February 9, 1946 The President The White House Consumers of housing take great courage from the Veterans' Emergency Housing Program outlined in the report to you by Wilson Wyatt, Housing Expediter, and emphatically endorsed in your press statement of February 8. Particularly pleasing to those whose interest in housing is the public's interest is the recognition that S. 1592 the Wagner Ellender Taft Bill is essential to meeting emergency needs and forms the base for ending the housing crisis. The emergency exists equally for veterans whose incomes are SO low that they cannot afford economic rents. Your program takes cognizance of that fact by urging prompt enactment of the low-rent public housing provisions of S. 1592. The housing program that is outlined must receive the enthusiastic endorsement of a vast majority of our citizens if its bold objectives are to become realities. May I assure you of the articulate support of the membership of the National Public Housing Conference of the objectives Mr. Wyatt has outlined as well as our active assistance in helping to carry forward all sound methods of implementing them. Our sincere and grateful congratulations to you, Mr. Wyatt and your other advisers who have crystallized the challenge to secure adequate housing for all American families. LEE F. JOHNSON Executive Vice President National Public Housing Conference February 8, 1946 Mr. Wilson Wyatt, Administrator National Housing Administration Washington 25, D. C. Dear Mr. Wyatt: On behalf of the National Grange, I want to express whole-hearted approval of the objectives you seek in your program for alleviating the critical housing shortage. Your approach to this difficult problem and your grasp of the magnitude of the task must be heartening to the millions in such urgent need of housing. We hope that you will permit us to give you any assistance we can in achieving your goal. (OVER)