White House Press Release, Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Charles G. Bolte

410 #849 IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTE BER 4, 1946 The President has written the following letter to Mr. Charles G. Bolte, Chairman, American Veterans Committee, Inc. "U.S.S. ILLIAMSBURG August 28, 1946 Dear Mr. Bolte: I appreciate your favorable response to the establishment of the National Commission on Higher Education and welcome your support of its work. I am keenly aware of the fundamental problem of discrimination in education to which you have called specific attention, and of the broader problem of intolerance which this discrimination symbolizes. Those who. sincerely desire to see the fullest expression of our democracy can never rest until the opportunity for an education, at all levels, has been given to all qualified Americans, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex or economic status. It was with this principle very clearly in mind that I asked the members of the Commission to consider "ways and means of expanding educational opportunities for all able young people". I am pleased that the Commission, it its first meeting recently concluded, has decided to deal specifically with this problem. I am sure that the members of the Commission will spare no effort in devising methods for eliminating existing barriers of discrimination affecting educational opportunity in our institutions of higher learning. We have only recently completed a long and bitter war against intolerance and hatred in other lands. A cruel price in blood and suffering was paid by the American people in bringing that war to a successful conclusion. Yet, in this country today there exists dis- turbing evidence of intolerance and prejudice similar in kind, though perhaps not in degree, to that against which we fought the war. Discrimination, like a disease, must be attacked wherever it ap- pears. This applies to the opportunity to vote, to hold and retain a job, and to secure adequate shelter and medical care no less than to gain an education compatible with the needs and ability of the individual. Very sincerely yours, HARRY S. TRUMAN" The text of Mr. Bolte's letter to the President is as follows: "August 12, 1946 Dear Mr. President: We were pleased to learn of your recent establishment of a National Commission on Higher Education and to observe the commendable caliber of men and women appointed to serve on it under the chair- manship of Dr. George F. Zook. The desire of the veteran of this war for higher education has been demonstrated by the enrollment of thousands of returned servicemen and women in our colleges and univer- sities and by the seriousness of these veteran students. It was with particular interest that we read your declaration that the purpose of the Commission would be to 're-examine the system of higher education in terms of objectives, methods and facilities in (OVER)