Press copy of Televised Remarks of the President to the Nation on the University of Mississippi, 30 September 1962

Press copy of President John F. Kennedy's radio and television address to the nation regarding desegregation and racially motivated violence at the University of Mississippi. In his speech the President regrets the necessity for any action by the Federal Government, but explai...

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1962 OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETERY THE WHITE HOUSE TELEVISED REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION, SEPTEMBER 30, 1962 Good evening, my fellow citizens. The orders of the court in the case of Meredith versus Fairiare beginning to be carried out. Mr. James Meredith is now in residence on the campus of the University of Mississippi. This has been accomplished thus far withoutthe use of National Guard or other troops. And it is to be hoped that the law enforcement officers of the State of Mississippi and the Federal Marshals will continue to be sufficient in the future. All students, members of the faculty, and public officials in both Mississippi and the Nation will be able, it is hoped; to return to their normal activities with full confidence in the integrity of American law. This is as it should be, for our Nation is founded on the principle that observance of the law is the eternal safeguard of liberty and defiance of the law is the surestroad to tyranny. The law which we dey includes the final rulings of the courts, as well as the enactments of our legislative bodies. Even among law abiding men few laws are universally loved, but they are uniformly respected and not resisted. Americans are free to disagree with the law but not to disobey it. For a government of laws and not of men, no man, however prominent and power, and no mob, however unruly or boisterous, is entitled to defy a court of law. If this country should ever reach the point where any men or group of