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OCR Page 1 of 12(Andrews) RP
October 11, 1972
SUGGESTED REMARKS: SOUTHERN REGIONAL RECEPTION,
Atlanta, Georgia
Note: RN's only previous visit to Atlanta as President was to pay
tribute to the late Senator Richard B. Russell on January 23, 1971, the
day after the State of the Union.
It might be appropriate on this occasion to cite Russell as a symbol of
Southern leadership and bipartisan patriotism. Six Presidents from
FDR to RN knew they could count on him in matters of national security
and defense. As he said about Vietnam, "Where the flag is committed,
I am committed. 11
In 1947, when Congressmen Nixon, Kennedy, and Johnson were support-
ing Greek-Turkish aid in the House, Russell did likewise in the Senate.
Russell opposed efforts to single out the South as a whipping boy or a
second-class region. He fought those whom he called "South haters. 11
Truman remarked that if born in a Northern or Border State, Russell
might well have become President. RN's hope is to put such discrim-
ination by region -- and discrimination in all other forms behind us
forever.
praid South but period am
Some people, as you know, have claimed that this Administration
is pursuing what they call a "Southern Strategy. 11
They never go on to define that term, so we can only guess at what
it means. Maybe it refers to our conviction that this region should be
treated as a full partner in national affairs, not as a conquered province
or a foreign country.
Maybe it refers to the fact that since 1969 more Southerners, both
black and white, have been appointed to top Federal jobs than in the
two previous administrations.
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