Memoranda for the President--Anecdotes-Original Memos for President's File [4 of 5]
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Graciela Rivera
703 ACKERMAN AVENUE
GLEN ROCK. NEW JERSEY 07452
October 18, 1971
The Honorable Richard M. Nixon
President of the United States
White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President:
Yesterday I was among many millions who
enjoyed watching the finale of a truly exceptional
World Series and the incomparable exploits of my good
friend and fellow Puerto Rican, Roberto Clemente.
However, not everyone who watched was
able to perceive that which I did, and for that reason
I am taking the liberty of telling you about it.
Everyone who watched will acknowledge
that Clemente was in all respects superb, and everyone
would agree that he ranks high among the very finest
baseball players of all time, but not everyone, especially
those who do not understand Spanish, was able to compre-
hend the added dimension that this truly great man had
portrayed.
After the game, as he was being praised
while being introduced before the television cameras,
he asked to say a few words to his parents. In genuine
humility, this 37 year old man said in effect (in Spanish) :
"On this the proudest moment of my life, I ask your blessing.
I tell you this because, although every
Puerto Rican is not a Clemente, this is how I recall most
of my fellow Puerto Ricans to be--humble and kind. Yet,
from that which most frequently manages to reach newsprint
and the airwaves about Puerto Ricans, the masses have been
made to believe the opposite.
I know that you, as well as many other
sports enthusiasts throughout the nation will now pay
tribute to Roberto Clemente, as he so richly deserves,
but I would ask of you that in so doing, kindly not to
minimize neither the fact that he is a Puerto Rican--a
Puerto Rican in whom all of us are exceeingly proud--
nor the fact that he is, as most Puerto Ricans are, proud
to be an American citizen.
Respectfully,
Relations
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