Lesson Plan - Lyndon B. Johnson and the Voting Rights Act Donna Cleavelin, Parkway Central High School

Essential Question: How can the national government protect voting rights in a federal system?

Objectives: Students will be able to explain the 15" and 24* amendments. Students will be able to describe limitations on voting designed by state governments: literacy tests, white primaries, restrictions on voter registration. Students will be able to describe the events surrounding the March to Selma. Students will be able to explain the impact of the voting rights marches on the efforts to increase voting rights for minorities. Students will be able to explain the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Students will be able to explain the impact on federalism of the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.

These objectives are related to the following core curriculum objectives: Recognize and evaluate amendments Recognize the influence of interest groups Analyze the roles of the three branches of government Analyze the relationship between the national and state governments . -

Examine federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances Examine the rights and responsibilities of citizenship

Procedures: Using a copy of the U.S. Constitution and the civil rights chapter in a U.S. Government book.. .

Review the 1 5 ~ and 24th amendments with the students. Review the limits some state governments placed on voter registration and voting after World War 11: literacy tests, poll taxes, and white primaries Highlight the main provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Document 1 - Excerpt from Annual Report of Roy Wilkins Collection: Legislative Background Voting Rights Act of 1965 Box 1 Folder: Preparation of Voting Rights Bill Lyndon B. Johnson Library

Provide students with a copy of pages 1 - 4 of the excerpt fiom the Annual Report of Roy Willcins, executive director, at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on January 4,1965. In this speech Roy Wilkins is celebrating the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and highlighting the need to expand voting rights for black voters. He emphasizes the problems black voters are having in achieving civil rights in Mississippi.

Guiding Questions for Document 1 1. Who is giving this report? Where? When? 2. What law passage is Mr. Willcins celebrating in his speech to the NAACP? 3. Which president proposed this law? What incidents caused this president to

propose it? 4. Who signed it into law? When did this president call for the law's passage? 5. How did President Johnson enforce the new law? 6. What provisions of the law did the Supreme Court uphold? 7. What does Mr. Wilkins say the federal government must do to help expand voting

by Negro voters? 8. As Mr. Wilkins celebrates the passage of this law, what three setbacks to

achieving Civil rights for Negro citizens in Mississippi does he mention?

Show the section of the DVD "Eyes on the Prize" covering the march in Selma on March 7,1965 and the march &om Selma to Montgomery on March 21. Allow students to do research on the march &om Selma to Montgomery. Who were the leaders? What was the purpose? What places did the marchers stop on their route to Montgomery? What incidents occurred during the march? What was the result of the march?

Document 2 - President Lyndon B. Johnson's News Conference # 38 Collection: Legislative Background Voting Rights Act of 1965 Box 1 Folder: Drafting of the Voting Rights Message and Reports on March

1965 Activities in Alabama Lyndon B. Johnson Library

After the protestors marching for voting rights in Selma, Alabama were met with violence on March 7,1965, President Johnson held a news conference on March 13. In it he describes legislation he is proposing to ensure that the 15& amendment is canied out. He describes Governor Wallace's view of the demonstrations and his own solutions to resolve the protests.

Provide students with a copy of pages 1 - 6 of the news conference.

Guiding Questions for Document 2 1. What is the setting? When did this occur? 2. To what recent event does President Johnson refer in his opening statement? 3. To what amendment does President Johnson refer? 4. Describe the legislation President Johnson proposes to ensure that this amendment

is enforced. 5. Describe Governor Wallace's view of the demonstrations. 6. Describe President Johnson's view of the solutions to the demonstrations. To

what amendment does President Johnson refer that justifies the demonstrations?

Document 3 - President Lyndon B. Johnson's Message to Congress, March 15, 1965 Collection: Legislative Background Voting Rights Act 1965 Box 1 Folder: Drafting of the Voting Rights Message and Reports on March

1965 Activities in Alabama Lyndon B. Johnson Library

Provide students with pages 1 - 5 of President Johnson's speech to Congress on March 15, 1965. President Johnson's speech to Congress was scheduled to coincide with the 95'h anniversary of the passage of the 1 5h amendment. In his speech President Johnson explains the historic limitations to voting and 3 specific techniques used by many southem state governments to prevent blacks kom voting. He ends with 6 components he proposes to be included in the Voting Rights Act.

Guided Questions for Document 3 1. What was the setting? Date? Purpose of the document? 2. Why did President Johnson choose this date to give his speech? 3. What right does the president consider to be the most vital of our rights? 4. List the historic limitations on voting mentioned by President Johnson. 5. What 6 amendments had been added to the Constitution involving voting by

19651 6. Explain 3 common techniques used to deny Negro citizens the right to vote. 7. How effective were these techniques? 8. Define litigation. How is litigation a common theme in the Civil Rights Acts of

1957,1960, and 1964? 9. List the 6 components President Johnson wants in the legislation he is proposing?

Discuss: How does President Johnson's proposed law (in Document 3) relate to federalism?

Document 4 - Proposed Letter by Dick Goodwin to the Washineton Star on Voting Rights Collection: Legislative Background on Voting Rights Act of 1965 Box 1 Folder: January 1964 - August 1966 Voting Rights Legislation Lyndon B. Johnson Library

Provide students with a copy of the letter written by Dick Goodwin to the Washington Star. Dick Goodwin. a soeechwriter and a member of the White House Staff. wrote this letter to the editor of thebashimeton Star in response to an editorial which ckticized President Johnson's March 15,1965 speech to Congress. The editorial staff of the Washington Star did not believe that discrimination existedin the South.

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Guided Questions for Document 4 1. Who is the author of this letter? 2. Where is this newspaper published? 3. What examples of voting discrimination in Mississippi and Alabama are given by

the author of the letter? 4. What accusation does the Washington Star make against President Johnson? 5. According to the author of the letter, who does the Washington Star favor? 6. What do you think is the purpose of this letter?

Document 5 - "The Road to Equal Rights" by Cy Hungerford, Pittsbureh Post-Gazette, August 7,1965 LBS political Cartoons The Public Years, compiled as an exhibition at the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum

Show students the political cartoon published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on August 7, 1965, entitled "The Road to Equal Rights." To whom is President Johnson being compared? Why?

Document 6 -Memorandum For The President fiom Joseph Califano Collection: Legislative Background Voting Rights Act of 1965 Box 2 Folder: August 6,1965 Signing Ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda Lyndon B. Johnson Library

Show students a copy of the memo from Joseph Califano to President Johnson. Joseph Califano, a member of the White House Staff, is suggesting adding names of prominent civil rights activists to the guest list for the signing ceremony for the Voting Rights Act. Who does Mr. Califano suggest should be invited to the ceremony? Why?

Using the civil rights chapter of a U.S. Government textbook, ask the students to list the key provisions of the Voting Rights Act. When was it passed by Congress and signed into law by President Johnson?

Document 7 - Remarks of the President At the Signing Ceremony of the Voting Rights Bill Collection: Legislative Background Voting Rights Act of 1965 Box 2 F o l k August 6,1965 Signing Ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda Lyndon B. Johnson Library

Provide students with a copy of the Remarks of the President at the signing ceremony of the Voting Rights Bill on August 6, 1965.

The Voting Rights Act was signed on August 6,1965 in the same room where President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. After his speech President Johnson signed the bill surrounded by civil rights leaders and Congressional leaders, distributing signing pens to each of them. Students may listen to the speech through the American presidency project audio of presidential speeches.

Guided Questions for Document 7 1. Explain the references to Jarnestown, Andrew Jackson, and Appomatox. 2. What are the clear standards for implementing the Voting Rights Act? 3. What steps will be taken as of August 7,1965? 4. What is President Johnson's message to the Negro citizens of the U.S.? 5. How effective was the Voting Rights Act in achieving its purpose?

Document 8 - Statement of the President on the First Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Collection: Legislative Background Voting Rights Act 1965 Box 2 Folder: August 6,1965 Signing Ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda

Aftermath Lyndon B. Johnson Library

Provide students with the draft of the statement by the President on the first anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965? In the draft of the statement by the President commemorating the first anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, President Johnson cites statistics showing the progress made in voting rights for Black Americans since August, 1965 and highlights the voluntary compliance by some state and local officials in the expansion of voting rights.

Guided Questions for Document 8 1. What statistics are used in the speech to show the progress made in voting rights

in the year since the signing of the Voting Rights Act? 2. What is the significance of the voluntary compliance by state and local officials

found in some areas?

Assessment: Students will answer the following questions in an essay format or through designing a flow chart. To be successful in the assessment the students must provide evidence from the documents studied in the lesson as well as accurate information from the lesson, textbooks, or other research.

What led to the successfulpassage of the Voting Rights Act of 19651 What were theprovisions of the Voting Rights Act and why were they successfullly implemented? How does the Voting Rights Act impact the system of federalism?

1 ..,'rrot rrem Annual Report of ~ o y Wllkins, cxacutlvw d i rec tc i . L: - annil - 1 hontinq oP thc National Assoclatlon f o r the Adv4nccr;ic: ; - r n l u ~ 4 Pwplc. a t the National Haadquarters Offlce, 20 Wcst k3.r :~

Yc, k 18. Ma, York, Janwry 4. 1965, lOtW a.m.

l h c achlevmcnt above a l l others i n 1964 was the micmx; a:

inr Civ l l Rights Act 6f 1961. Such an Act has ban tho Qoai of i:.,

c l v l l r igh ts mvanent since the mdc rn c l v i I r igh ts crusade bi;;;n ir.

1909 w i t h the orpanizatlon o f the NUCP.

S t I s not por r lb le I n a report whlch mustmuch upgn r;.:ny

t o name a l l the persons, proups and factors whlch play<d a a j r r i a

achlcvlng the rmst mmprohenslvo federal c l v i 1 r igh ts law eve; '~:o;;i~c.

President .bhn F. Kennedy proposed I t in June, 1963, a f t e r tr.o 'LC:.-

r t r s t l a n s I n Birmlngharn, Alabama, and elseuhcrc, and tho ass;. ..:;;:,i,,

o f Redgar Lverr helped t o convince him that such l o ~ l s i a t i o n * i s ;i;-

qulred. -1,

.\,<... . One year t the date o f h i s formal recwmanaatlon m i 5 i , i

1 /'i ,passed tho Senate and war rlpned I n to law. by President Lyncst L. I { bhnron J u l y 2, 1964. The passage followed by 9 days tne i i i :or: ;

f i r s t - t l a - I n - h l s t o r y Senate ~ t e o f c lo tu re on such a maasL;=.

Thore I s cred l t c ~ u g h fo r everyone I n t h i s vlc:oric- i L.: ,... :.:. Tills im ludas rhs 100 natlonal organlaatlons who vcrked c:;cq.:. -: ':, ..:.. Lcadcrshlp Conference on C i v i l Rights, e s p u l a l l y the Catnc:i2, .-r;:;:-

tant and Jcwlsh faiths and organtzed labor, bur many, m a y i.;-.:.,

laroe 8116 smal I. I t Includes House and Senate leaders i n = >-.:

both the Rcpuolican and 0-cratlc part les. I t includss Psis:-..:

hnnron who ca l led for the enaetmenr of tho leg is la t ion i n r.(r , ,?-':

nlr:ssagr l o the Congress and the natlon f t v e days a f t e r the ?,;r.'.r ::

, 3al lns ant) .*no continued to urge I t u n t i l i t became l i w .

itui 6 special kind o f accolade murt go t o Clarence r.; :-. . . ; . - ,,, r c l . , r . 1 8 ; ' tne SAACP Warhlnqton Bureau, chalrman o f the c:;-.; .

n r . . ' , i , , i i . , : s ; ~ ~ i v o r .p r~s~!nca t lve~ in tha Laad~rshl? iiic:.:. . .

r 4 r . : ~ , . . 8 aver c h i s l ey is ia t lon frm w r n i n g u n t i l nisnr, 5 : : - - .

:L: . . u . . ..,;., r , i ; i o z y r io r one so I i6 year. ine i c i ~ i i n ; ::.

nrso lh?c.. l m e I n the states and Congralrional d i s t r i c t s was o: :;.e frost

dmi rq ted and s k i l l f u l k lnd on the pa r t o f every rnember o f the $ r a p ,

rrfl..:senting a spectrum of organlzationo. Clarence Hltche;l syri.b;irod

in h i s ceaseless a c t l v l t l e r and i n h l s s p i r i t the essence o f cr;? Lsrs-

ciat lon. Without him we mlght have had a victory, but not or.e of c h i

proportion. s i ~ n i f i c e w e and inpart of the one achieved.

Because of t h i s one acconpliahnent alone, representins ss i t

does the f ina l Congreasional a f f t m t i o n o f the Negro's status Snc.

r i g h t s as a const f tut lonal c i t izen, 1964 was a banner year f o r the

NAACP which has been the ch ie f proponent of t h i s l eg i s l a t i on ovs- The

years.

! President JDhnson has mved promptly to implement the Ac;. Trre

1 Cornunity Relations Service began t o function i n July w i t h bormvst: i 1 funds and per-nel u n t i l Congress appropriated m e y . ihe t i ; la eu-

, t ho r l r i ng scrut iny of2 and d isc re t iomry wichholdfng of isde;s: :.:.<s I ' a1 locsted t o t h e r r a t u I f these are spent f n a discrlmlnatory rczr.air i s has been publ icized and c i t e d by Uashington.

The Suprem Court has ru led unan~mus ly tha t the pua i i c icccr.r.a-

dations t i t l e i s consti tut ional. C q l i a n c e wl th t h i s t i t l e ir. ?zr:s

of Deep South states has been surpr ls lng and grat i fy ing, aiti?o~g:: =:

present on a token bar ls i n some areas. Credi t for st lmrrlst:nj si;;.; cf

t h i s atmsphere must go t o the NAACP Board members who descgizgz=zr

hotels, motels and restaurants i n sme Hlss iss ippi towns dur<cg :~?e::

tour l as t JUI y.

I The development second i n (y lor tancs i n 1964 was the irrrj2;;:. i .

o f Negro Anerlcan voters as a very r f gn l f i can t force I n ;he ; s ; ' : ; < c r ; i

a f h l r s o f the nation. A voter registration campalgn on an ~ni: . 'cc- '

dentod scale resulted i n a vote on Novmber 3 that r a k e d S ~ p r ; -...I

~ i t h t s as a key Issue i n a l l future campaipns, federal, s;;:r ;.:: I;;. ...

W,. note chat other c l r i l r lgh ts organizations are j us t nod ;i;:diz,

; . . r i i l lcii: i . ~ t i v i T y as a primc program Item. Our Arsocia'.ii.: :. - .. n i r ~ d -nu mphilrlzed i r r lmportonc~ fo r 55 years. h r f::~: :... .~~ .

V. :. S r i > r i l ~ e Court was a voter reg is t ra t ion case i.? :>;;.

i I The HAACP has had a Southern w t e r rep is t ra t ion campaign can- ; i , tinuously i n belng slnce 1957, operating out o f Offices i n Ricktrmnd.

i

Virginia, and Hemphis, Tennessee, w i t h f u l l t ime t t a f f manbers a; work.

: The special Voter Education Project, cana of whose funds were m d e

j avai lable to us i n 1463 and 1964 only (and were p ra ta tu l l y received)

merely supplemented our awn program, ftnanced by us. To th!s Sournero

i capa lgn we added, beplnning i n Febrwry, 1964, an intensive w:or I !

; I 'eg i l t ra t lon campaign in @on-Southern states. w i t h laore than 500 W C P

' Branches part lcipatlng.

. Despl t e a l l denials, the Golddater capa lgn r a l l e d on the rac i m !

/ t h m , covert ly and overtly. The W C P leddershipis~ sponsorship o f 1 ..hi. h. WL./ / M t e r reg is t ra t ion a c t i v t t y during the moratoriun I rproposed an demon-

/ I I ! Strat ione beginning July 29 helpsd t o de-fuse the appeals t o racism.

j I out of t h i s s m r ac t t v l t y o f the NAP.CP came the important pronounce-

ment by the FBI that the r i o t i n g i n ce r t a i n c i t i e s was not c o n o e c : ~ ~

wi th the c i v l I r i gh t s laovemnt.

Amng the i tsnu o f highest p r i o r i t y i n the NAACP p:o,gr3m for . . , . . . . . . . -. ~ .-

I '9_6!..t?r?us!! l968..~!! ! _48J?.~.c%E!n??!on SLr_rhe v p t p , ~ . s r a r i c n

campalon. We w t l l maintain our EM Southern off ices. As i n the past. ----.- - the campaign w l l i consist o f voter ehlsatton, not only on the v o t i n g

process and the rep is t ra t lon procedures, but on ths issues Izc lng our

minor i ty and others e $ r l l a r l y situated. I t w i l l help registrants t~

reg is te r i n difficult areas. I t w i l l attack apathy i n the areas wheii

there i s no active apposition t o r e g l r t r s t i o n and voting.

But t h i s program cannot be ca r r i ed ou t on the requireci sca:d by

the W C P alono, nor by any canbinst3on o f privately-f inancod c i v i i

r igh ts groups. The two nmjor p o l l t i c a l par t tes must help wi;k T x e :-,..,.. -

I: than t i l u i r routine a c t i v i t y in 'the l a s t few weeks before an ale:::cn.

I L ! 30th Donxra ts and Republicans should rmin te in intormatton CJ-ri:;,

~ ~ ~ ~ v e M e - ~ h e y . a ~ ~ 1 ~ ~

im,?ortenc 01' a l l , both par t les should make available attornL;.: ;: .. . - .

vocorr zo thread t he i r way through tire obstacle courses oi' ;;:ir:.- , ..

Unlj ro a ~ t s c k the conr t i cu t lona l i t y o f those oostacles. - .....

The par t ies w e t h i s service as en earnest o f t h e i r oft-declared 1 ,oral t y t o the h r i c a n way o f l i f e . That ray depends v l t i m t r l y uwn

! a free electorate. The Negro rnlnorl ty must have as free access t o the ..*- . . . . . . . . . - -. I 1 ~ 0 1 1 s as have the declared anti-Negm elements. Denied This, the . . i minor i ty m u l d be driven t o b l i n d disruption,, e i thar through i t s cw.7 , .

determination or through the manipulation of chase whqse pr inc is6 l

,I object lva i s not correction, but d i s r q t i o n .

In addition, the Federal Government must a1Sms an expended m d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... even nwre vigorous r o l e InS?D% in-L~oi .np ~~,~nPmeon~t~J~tio,~~,,~~~~- __...-.-- r i e r r t o Negro voting. Under the new C i v i l Rights Act and un&r tie

and explorat ion o f any o l d s ta tu te the Federal ~overnmcnt J

I ( mist place addit ional funds and personnel behind t h i s drive.

I Ingenuity and daring are demanded. To the degree that imagiza-

t i v e and uncwnproml sing Federal act lon i s successful, problems whfch

i n w present t h m e l v @ s to Washington w i 1 I be dealt w i t h on locai end I .! s t a te levels. Horeover, the mebashed represston o f Negro cit i rensh:p i I efforts, exemplified by the wholesale d i s f r anch iamn t in the St-te of

Mississippi and i n par ts of other states, threatens the whole nat io?.

I The challenge th ts week t o the seating o f the Mississippi Con-

g r c r w n I s an ac t by the Hwre of aepresentatives tha t i s i i z g over-

due. These nen do not represent the 42 percenr of the Mississippi

c i t i zens who were barred f r o m voting. These men have used t h e i r of f ices

t o perpetuate and t o c-t the r e n d - c l a s s c i t izenship i l rws rd Lsan

Negro N~sl iss ippians. They have e l ther approved o r have s t w a ri.;liu

whi le unspeakable c r w l t i e s and perversions o f jus t i ce in rhe courts I , : , , . ' , .

a r ~ v i s i t e d upon Negro cit izens. I

I n sheer self-defense and i n defense of Ule nation's idcc i s , 'zne

Congress should require then t o stand aside, les t m r a than I s,s><ci.%2

of softness on i l i ss i rs ipp i - tun st tach t o the Congress itse:.

NO e f f o r t w i l l pay as great dividends i n denacracy as r cr :%z

t o ond t h i s inequity.

i n l i n e w i th our convention resolutions, we w i : : ci:.;i--- "

. , , c i,u, our e f fo r ts t o mzke the anti-poverty Act maninpfu: :4r ..-: -

'W i l k i n r - 5

~ c i t l z e n s . we Join other d t i z e n s and groups i n t h e i r esrfmate of the

Present program and authorized expenditure a8 a mere beginning. We

,dote w i t h approval the predict ion that two 51 I l l o n &I la rs may be

requested i n h i s next budget by Presldent Johnson f o r t h i s Crusadc t o

iupgrade the poverty-str icken areas i n 4nuric.n l i f e .

We are et work on our own anti-poverty program I n our capaigns

for tho rermval oP racia l barr fers to the aployment and upgrading o f

Negroes i n business and industry. Last yeer nurked progress was mde

I n the a u t m b i l e Industry, w i th m t a b l e breakthrowha occurr lng in

the,General Hotors Corparatlon and some cracking o f cer ta in construc-

t i on Industry unlonr which have cont ro l led completely the t ra in ing o f

workers end t h e i r employment. A key advance i n the employment f i e i d

was won by our Ie9al deparhnent i n the N U B r u l i n g tha t e union i s

gu i l t y of an u n h l r labor practtce, a f f ec t i ng i t s ce r t i F i cs t l on as a

bargalnlng agent, If It practices rac ia l discrimination.

O u r program was car r ied forward on a l l f ronrs i n 1964 with space

I icoitat ions p r e v e n t l n ~ m n t i o n of awry acwmplirhment in t h i s o ra l

report t o you. Deta i ls w l l t be sat f o r t h I n the regular p r ln ted report.

But our Church depa rmn t was ac t i ve i n the campalgn for the

C i v i l Rights Act and i n many cumunity ac t lon programs.

The work t o ol lminate de facto school segregation i n the North

touched 85 c i t i s s i n 20 states. Since 1962, forty-one Korrhern acd

Wartern c i t i e s heve cwp lo te l y o r substant ia l ly desegregated t h e i r

school systems.

The Northern campaign has lndlcated strongly tha t a prir.Cipa:

obrtaclo t o desegregation f s the publ lc school establfshment l t s E i P - - i

substantial proport ion o f the officers,administrators. supervisors.

d i s t r i c t officials. pr inc ipals and teachers.

In the South the r u l i n g that Prince Edward County, V : r i i r . i i ,

nu r t re-open I t s schools, coupled w i th a f lnd lng that the srzza c i - : c

wt p3y t u i t i o n g r m t l t o pr ivate schoolr helped tho cam;lsiti;, i.: ;..c::.

South, also, h is to ry was made by the doregregatlon c: ;.-..;

' Wi lk ln r - 6

I n tho South. too, the NAACP uqs restored t o a c t i v i t y i n Alabama

by 8 Suprem Court i u l f n g e f t a r an ln junct lon i n e f f e c t from June I,

1956. Representatives fm m r e than twenty c i t i e s met in Bfminghzm

October 31 end began the roorganfrat ion o f NAACP Branches i s t h e i r

c i t i e s and counties.

A reg is t ra t ion of 2.810 delegates, la rges t in the h is to ry o f the

NMCP, e t our national c o n m t i o n in Washington last June t e s t i f i e d t o

tho h igh peak o f support f o r the Association.

That anvan t i on recognfzed t ha t m r e than ever before the

A?Soslation's program must be a vor ied and f l ex i b l e one. not t i e a t o

the one nethod of dermnstrations. Two other organizations, farrails for

dennristrations, have asmunced since our c o n v ~ t i o n and since the

bvember e les t ion that. i n effect, they will f o l l w , programs s ta r t f np l y

l i k e that of the NA4CP.

Pursuing the t r m d tarard self-examination, sel f -help and 1 strengthening of the group frm withln, '#a w i l l help our Branches to I I e r tab l fsh c i t i zensh ip c l i n i c s i n conmunltias across the nation. Given

I the impetus of the C i v i l Rights Act, the broad goal o f these c l i n i c s I

1 w i l l be the asswnption o f fu l l ci t lzenshfp respons ib i l i t i es along d t h

u t i l i z a t i o n o f f u l l c i t izenship r ights.

We bel ieve the i n p s t u for t h i s program must corns from w i rh i n

: the Negro comrunity i t s e l f . I t nust address i t s e l f to thoso aspects o f

: housing, mployment and publ ic education mt involved i n the continuins

b a t t l e against d l r c r fm ina t i o~ . For example, w e must get infom2z:cr.

darn t o the neighborhood level on the resources avai lable t o heip solve

w m u n i t y problems.

IWoranCe of the Negro's contr ibutions t o the gcnersi see<-:y

and o f advsnees that have been nadc i s widespread i n the Face 07 ;:ko

propegznda that nothing has been accanplished and no change c:n :a

efCected. i.e., the creed o f hopelessness.

A id to s tab i l i z i ng fao i l y l i f e i n cooperatfon wi:h :;roo;;,

sociai apencics and churches w i l l be a function o f the ~1:::::. ::

w i ; i ue errontion t o delinquency. vandalism, crime, groli.2 .:A;-- --.. .-

' dards and other matters demanding frank and helpfu l evaluation and un-

! apologetic action.

Ewhasis w i l l be upon the pos i t i ve po ten t ia l o f Negro Americans

: and t o emourage then t o prerr t o r t h e i r enrichmmt ?nd expansion w i t h

the sarns determination and s k i l l they brought t o the f i g h t for t h e i r

r ights.

A panel of outstanding men and wrmen i n a var le ty o f f i e l d s w i l l

be i n v l t ed t o serve as consultants M prob lem turned up by the W C P

Oranch c l in ics , w i th the prospect that xna c l i n i c s w i l l be Functioning

before the end of the f i r s t quarter o f 1965. I

The year j u s t closed had i t s low 0s we l l as high points. The

murder of three c i v l l r igh ts workvs i n Phfladelphia, Misrisr:ppi, and

the freeing by a N i s r i r s i pp i C m i s s l o n e r o f 21 lnen arrested by the Fa1

inc luding Sher i f f Lawrence Rainay and h i s deputy, Cecl l Price, war per-

haps the l a tes t and w s t aatowding point o f me year. P r i o r so that

:ha lo* po in t had bean the freeing o f 9 men who had p rac t i ca l l y con-

fessed t o bombings i n WConb, Mississippi, by a judge who sc ia :he

bombers "were prov~kad" by c i v i l r igh ts ac t i v i t y . Byron de l a aecknith

t r i e d twice as the assassin o f )i.dpsr Lverr, was Free v i rhaut bond,

subject t o the c a l l o f the murt fo r a r h l r d t r i a l . I t was predicted t

tha t he w u l d not be t r i e d again m less new evidence appeared.

In t h i s atmsphere we have takm on a n w potent ia l :or more

ef fect ive work trhouph our Special Contr ibution Fund, s i f t s t o which

are tax deductible. I n 1965 we look forward t o exwndeZ : ep ; i i t i v : ; r

and t o other program wcrk open to such flnancing.

The focal point i n the South continues t o be Mississippi. 7hcro

we w i l l press an across-the-bard program through our Branches, esch

p r o j ~ c t bearlng the label o f the N M C P i n order t o w o l d conii;sion w i

t o encourage our membership In end ou t o f the srate.

In carrying forward the g i v i l r i gh t s program we musi .-ox i.;-s.-u

r,.c rnrcar Prm the ultra-Rlght. These forces fouth= :io C : v : : .:. ~:.

;cr. lou.;l.t tho UMCP. fought the supreme Court an; foi;:; r:j. :.. ...

: , u , > F r c :or c i v i l r ishts. rney are s t i l l f i ~ h t i ~ ~ c:.;: ,,-. , , , - .

overuhclming defeat i b v e r 3.

l!e must mt be deceived in to thinking they w i 1 l go away. They

are trying mightily to prow that 26 mi l l ion wren for Gofdwater was

26 mil l ior, for the ultra-Right program. The John Birch Society has

opened several naw offices. including one i n White Plains, N a r York.

The West Coact Regional o f f i ce o f the N U P reports that a

"Shadow of Reaction" Is v l r ib le t h ~ r e with the approval of Pr0posi:lon

1 1 to forbid any fa t r housing legislat ion i n the future.

I The propagan& cry of "cormunisnr' is thestockin trade o f rhcsc

I muld-be dlctators and racists. We must not be dqrered from o u r p a l s .--. - . .. .. . : : a?d our activity, but we must be careful that in our re.; t o en i is t . . . - . . . - , -, -. - - . - - - .- . . - - -... ; support for wr Cause, we do mt become, wft t ingly or uriwirtiogiy, the -. . - .. ' irk; Ln.fo;ihose interested gly.-tanqenri.a! f u r ! our fight.

L' - io'aie.on the threshhold of a great naw surge. i t s r t r en~ch m i

I t s rewards w i l l depend on just what th is novement has depended upon in

times past: (a) the dedication and training and discipline of our cu.n

people; and ( b ) the sk i l l f u l use o f the structure of govermnc anti oP

the resources available i n a po l i t i ca l -racy.

In 1965 lour NAACP, as i t has for 55 years, w i l l continue i t s

leadership tarard canpiate f i r s t class citizenship.

NOT- her^ . b a d SO no prernarr ralazre of Wr Yassazc to ti;e - Congress, nor should its sontcnia bo paraphrased, alluCed to or hintod zr in earl ier srorbr. There i s a total emberpa rm thir meesrgc d l 9:Oa P . M . , A6elch 15, 1965. r h i c h i a ~ l u d s a any and aU references b any material in tbl. rncraago.

George E. Reedy Press Secretary to t t ~ a Proli6ent

---..---------.--------------------.-....------*---.----..---------- THE WHITE-

TO THE CONGRESS O F THE UNIT= STXTS:

In thi. same momh ninety-5- years ago -- on Piarch 30. 1810 -- the Constitution of the United States was amended for the fifteenth time to guarantee t h e no clUman d our land should be denied the right to vote becauso of rrass or eoloz.

The command of the Nftecmh Amadmemi is unsqufvocll and its e@ force upon State Govcmmenta d the Federal Ooverlvncnt is unlrCuab?e.

Th. rLgM 01 citiaen. of the udtrd S~a tc s to vote shall Not be dented or abridzed by the United States 0. by any Stat0 on rsceunt a1 race, color. or prpulms ~ondi&% of sarvtblde.

By ho 02th 1 have t&;t "fa ~ ~ C I O I Y O , protect and defend the CMC~LUUOU 01 the Quitad S1.tcs." duty direst9 -- nnd strosy PCIPOM! can~crion impcls --that 1 r d v 3 e the Con-rc5s tba: action i s necessary, and rrcnsrar; naw, i: the Cenethtion is io ba uphcld and the rights of ell dtircna arc nn to be m ~ k e d . atpsed a d denied.

1 must rogrrt<dlu rcllort to th. Congress the f o l l o w 4 last.:

I. That the riltecnth ArncL&ent of our Co.llfiNLiorr is %day bcln: sy .tcm.tlically bod v m N l y circuznvc.l:sd in certair. Slate aod loc;l jurirdudons of our Nation

2. That ctepresent-livlo of suoh State nird Local ~ o v e m m r n t ~ a d a x "mder the coloior ol laur,#* are Am*ric>= citisonn the ri&M to rc ta on t k sole basir af aceo or color.

3. 'I'IL~~, LI e r o a ~ l t of thebn p.aoi~cor, in area. of our ccan;rv today M rif i icknt >umber of Amfdczn citimenl of the K o ~ m race =an bc re&sisred to vote except upon the <Nervemion aed order of a ~baril ccurt.

4, 'Loat tho remedies rv;rllab!e vrdsr law b ciLirens thnr drnicd their Cmstii-r'.is=+l x t h t s -- and tha ant-rity pre%u!,Lly av~i l lb lc to the Federal Covcm;r.anr to act I:, tSe5.Ir behatf -- are clwrty i-deqdate.

COW LBJ L I B W

5. That the deniiil oi theso i i&hts and the frustraliun of efforts lo obwln rnsaoing!ul relief f rom such denial w i t h u t undue delay i s Coatributhg to thc srcatinl of co~di t iona which are both inimical to our daniesti: o r d s ~ ar.d tranquillity md incompatible with the stand~rds ot equal justice url individual dignity on which our ~ o c i e r y stands.

I am, thcrefoxe e a l l l n ~ upon the Congreas to d i s c h a r ~ e L a duty authorized i~ Section 2 of the Filtesnth Amendmoot "to cnbrcc this Article by aIyropriatc leLisllUon,

It could never be 8 welcome duly f o r m y President to place before Ccn~re.a such a report of the villfui failure and refuaal of puolis oifisinls to honor, respect and abide any ~ r o v l s i o n of the Conrtilution of tile United States It i r es~esiaLLv r c u m a l ; t to report such dwrevard d i r e ~ l e d against the ~ i i r e r n t h . ~ m i n i m c n r by oificials a t the ~ L t c and l o r l l i.ve1..

The csscnca of our Amczican lrrdition of State and local govcrncnonla i 8 the bellel oxpressed by Thorn... Jeffereon that Government is best whxsh 1. SIOSC~L U, the people. Yer that b s l ~ e f is betrayed by tho.@ State and &ELI ofiicirle who rngzge In denyan@ the r i ~ h t of cltilann l o vole Theix .stions serve only to assurc tlxat their Swta goveromenrs and local poverr.- mentr shall bc rernotc f rom the people. leas1 repros~n(.tive of thm people's wiu and least roapmslve to the people'. wtahrs

U there wera na othcr reasons. the r t r e n g h e n i n g m d protection of the vim1 rola of Slate rod l e u 1 gorcmrnemtr would k reasons enoo)h to act againrt the denial af the r izht to vote for siiy 01 our citizens.

But there are other reason?l to ac t -- clear. compelling and ~ r ~ . c n t ,ca.ons.

I The ehrl lrnge n w present4 is more than a c h a l l e n ~ c U, our Conrtirvtion -- it is I M t a n t affront to the conscience of this pencration or .irnnrirana. I)lscrimlnatian based on race or color i a rcl;r&ensible end intolerable 10 the &rest American majmrity. In every opri-1 forum. where the). have chosen to tr.a1 ~op~1.1 sentameol i.fCrrlcrs 01 d lECr imiml io h a r e mat xesoundin8 rc,cctiol Americana now are not wlll:nl that the acid of tho P w ~11611 be allowed to cor rvds the souls 01 the many

The Con;re$s, the Courts and the Exosu(ive. ncling toscthcr in c lear r c s p m e c to the will of the people m d thc mandate of the Constltulios. have achieved more propress *-ward cqunlity of ZiLhts It) l acen t years l h ~ a i n a l l the years p ~ n e briore. Thia tide will not bc turncd. The purporelul many ncsd not and will not bow to tbe will!vl few.

2. In our system, the i i r r t r i gh t and most vital of al l cur rights is the rilt.I to vole. Jeiier=or do,scrlbcd the elecrivs franchise as "!A0 erk oi our la fc ty ." Ici. i.02 the e ~ a r c i s e of thil ripht that the guarantee of a11 o u r ot!.si riphts flows.

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Unlese the ribbt to vote be secure and undccie3, a l l ohex rinhts are insecv-e an3 subject to denial fox all olrr citize:is. The c b l l e a g a 10

:hi. right i s a ~ h a l i e n a e to America itself. W e must meat this challenge E B decisivaiy as we wonld m r c t a challenge m a ~ n t a d against oar l a r d fran enemies abroad.

3. Ira the wofld. ~ ~ e r i c a s~andc io r -- and works lor - - the right el all m a to p v e r n themselves through f r e e ur.in:lititcd elecriona. An i sk b. ~tle broken againel an ,.niorie.nEmbasrg, a fire set i n an i m o r - isan l lb ra ly , an inrult committed against o u r American flag. anyahere i a tho world. doe. ia. l e s s injury to our couatxy .d our srvac than the diserlminatory denial o i the rlglrt of any American citizen at hame to vote on the basis ol i aco 0. color.

The ream- prrsantrd by the ~ r c s c n t sholloage to our Coneti:ulion and our fonsciencc tran.sendr l ~ ~ ~ l i r m , althouth i t d a . not innacerdAe law itself. WE are ck l lcnged to dem'motrate that there are rro sansruldes within ou r law lor those r h o ilaunt it. We are Challenged. also, to demon- . ~ a t u by orr prcunpl. iircing and adequate respense now that 81- hope of our lys rem is not fuiie, not arms . not the might d nriliria or m r i s h a l s -- but tho l aw itscif

Tlrc problem ofdiscrimlnatory denial of the r ibht to vote has b e n with ue cver since rolonlal timer

Tltc tss: of real property ownership was universal anrong the coloniea and relirious pualliicnlons were numerous. R a s e c01.r. .ox, age. employment and resldenre ware all used as the basis Ior qualifyiny voters. Such rer tr icl ions continued to flourish arnoay the Slates eveu after formation 01 thc Umloe

The I i r s t l i teracy tests were l c ~ i s l n t e d i n Noz:harm States i n an effort to ~ x c l u d e l s m i g r a n r e -- erpeclniiy I r i s h -- I r o n tile Irarchise. When the Piitecrtth J mondmcnt was rdopted. tllcre were or?^ r ix Sbt.8 wCish Bad nave7 discriminated .gain.< valtng by N"&rofs.

1f &i.crimination his been a prevalent pract ice in o u r :>istory of w t i n g rlyhts. th. rtruzgle against discrlmi~?olion has been ou r ~ o n r i s l a ~ t yurpore &eneraiion alter gcnerat$ea.

Sinco the a d o ~ t i a n of tbc Bill OI P.l$hta, no other right has boen r t ranslh- eued and fortilied 9~ often by Constilutional -4meudrncnt as the r ight ro vots. A # ear ly as 1L04 -- and as recently 1s 1964 - - rhc tonstitvtion of the Unlted States h a s bccn amended on a t least six occasions to prabibi! Xircriminntion against tile riplrt to vote, to anlarge khc franchise. and to asruis tho erjrca- *ion of the peopicsa will as repislured by *ham rt the polla.

The Cbailenpe facing us t o a y 1% not 1 Ehrllcnee of what the Cunstilulion of the United Slates rhai l say -- but of what i t .lull mean.

What tho Fifteenth Amendment rayr i s unmtr tabb ie . What thc Fi;- teenth ;mendment ~ c t u a l l y mcans for a ~ m e :merieanr in .or.:< jurisdi-t - ions is dianlrtricully o ~ o a l r e to the clear intent ef the lrnpuncc.

more

By the device ofo<u;L h w s , urnequally applied, N e p o Arnerxcana a r c b.i-8 demed the rrkht atid opportunity 10 vote and dissrrminarron i s ~ u c u sanctisn u n d ~ r color of law. V ~ r ~ e t l e s of techdques are infmite. Three are most eammanpkce.

1. The technique of technical 'terror."

Nnpro applicants for registration are disqualified on grounds of tcchnlcal "errors" in their regirtraticn forms. In8tancoa of record .how Ncproe. di'qualified 10, "errors', such as failure to wr1tc out middle name.. abb~evisting the words "etreetM and 18vcn.re'4 in .ddresscs. or hil ing ta compute age exactly ts the day. Whcra this techaiqus 18 employed, "errerr" are feuad in substantially all zap- pl ie t ioo . filed by Nc~r-ss. but lev or none m application. filed by vrhltcs.

2. The hctcchniqve of non-cooperation.

A technique commonly "led in conjunction with the c'error"tech- nique involves airnpls non-cooperation by the registrar. Thua, he m y he "out" lor moot of the day during rcglatratiom periods. Re- gistr*tior. m a y be pon~ible only on certain days each month. ldmita may be imposed upon the number of applicants processed each rc - gl.ttatian dsy. The variety of circumventione possible by thzs device i s endless.

3. tcchnigvaof subjective testr.

By h r the most common tccbnique by which Negro citizen= a re prevented I r a n exercisbg their rigfit to register and to vote is the ule of subJective tests, h i r l y administered literacy tent*, tests Of "wldetstaoding, "and tests of "charastar. " The only standard used i s the whimof the registrar. Such dovlc=a arc uard a* vehicle. for the re].ction of untold t h o ~ t a c d s of v o t e r s - - solely on the basis of race and calor.

Whntover the ~ c h n i q u c , thc intended purpose of such devices is effectively eervod.

-- In onc State ten year* ago, 59.6 percent of voting age Whltc persons were reglatered to vote. Only 4.3 percent 01 eiigihic Negroea wore registered to vote. The changes rincc then arc negligible.

-- In acvsral States, there are counties with sizeable N e ~ r * popu- lationa where not a single Negro i s regimered to vota.

-- In asnres of other counties where discrimination i s not 6 0 blatant, it remain* far more difficult for Ncgroos to zegister thar, for white..

TOO frequently discrimination i s the r im m d intcnt of such devices bnd d i a s r i r n i ~ t i o n is the result.

T h e C O ~ ~ I O S S and the Executive Branch of the F ~ d e r - 1 Government have recognimd -- Lnd sought 10 m e e t -- tbeso challenges to the ruthodry of the C~n'titution of the Uhitnd States. I am proud rr have been d o r e l y risoslntad with the ncccersiol ol Fcderal enxcima~rr, begirninz in 1537 With tho f irst Civil Rishts Law in m o r e than eiphty yea;..

mo-E COPY LBJ I

1. The civil Ri8h11 a c t of 1957: The approach of tbie 5taNte Was lo chdlen'e tnrough Htlgation tno discriminatory use a1 *O(C tO.t..

2. The Civil I(ights Act of 196% This atatuLe, pursuing the *=me approsch, rougbt to sumplily such lirigarion.

3. T h c civil R i ~ h f s M of l96r; Sttu follewiog the same ap- proach, aought to urpedfte litigation.

m sonic areas litlgatior has been offcctivo. BUI clght year. of tltllatton h u Md. It clear that the prompt and fa i r t s p i ~ l r a ~ l o n of 4udificd Nenro citrzcns c m t be achieved under P*L..N 1.eiotatIon- & tha Iaso o? censis:ent defiansr of the Inws of Coigraes o r b e com- mand of the Constitution.

IV . - The e h a l l q o facing ua i e clear and immedi.tc .- it is also profeund.

The Conetirution is being fleutcd.

The Intent of Cangrcas expressed three time. intha Last seven year. 1. balng fruarrated.

Thc nrtbnd will la bshp denied.

The integrity ofour Federal .).#lorn i s in contest.

Unless uc act amcur. d t h dispatch a d rcsolulion, we rh.11 8mction a aoe -6 wrxoMul C O U ~ ~ L for uu IYNIS. For Jl ULe FiflOenL Amend- mow i s turccrzCullv Routed ,,dm. tomor- h e First Amendment. the rourth ~mendmcnt ; L e PiRh A&ndmcnt -- the Sixth, the Eighth, . bdcsd. PLi the provisions of Ule Constitution on h i c h our 8ySLem stands -- will be subject to disxegarii and erosion. Out esrentlal strength as a -sicty governed by the rule af law will be crippled and corrupted and the unity of -r systorn hollowed out m d lcft mcamingIe#m.

For thsrrc rcrsone, therefore, I ask the bngreas under the power clorrly granted by the Fifteenth Amandmcnt to onact lep i~la t lon which wuld:

. . 1. Strike down rostilctians m voting in all nlcsfione -- Federal. State. and locd -- whlch hare bcon uaod to deny Negroes the right m WtE.

2 Estrblish in 4 1 State: and ~ o u o t i e s where the rlght to r o t e h a s bean denied oo ascouru of r.cr a dmpl. standard of w!er rcgirt!a- tton which wilt make i t i r nps l i b i c lo thr.arl the Flhcenth Ammdmcnt.

3. Pmhibit the nee of new teots m d devices wherever they may be used for &acrSminawry purposas.

4, Pmdrr adequate power to insure. u nccesrzry, that ~ c d c r a l ofliclats can perform funCt3c.n~ cslo,>tIal to the right to votc vhmcvfr Stit. ofriclalr. d a y L n t .13,t

5. Z1%inaa use ~ ~ ~ n u n i t y to delay the right to vote by r e r o i l to tcdious znd u m ~ e c e ~ s a ~ l h ~ ~ u i t m .

6. P m i d a autharity to insure that properly registered in- dividual. w i l l not b. prohlbitedlrom uatlng;

Our purpose ie not -- and shall never be - -e i ther the qucet for power or tha desire to punish. Wo leek to increase the power of the peepla aver all thoir gorernmmts, nor to enhanee the pwcr of the Fedora1 GoverluDent over ury ol the people.

Forth life of Ulis Republic. our people have ~ee lou r ly guarded their Llbcrt againat abuaes of -cr by the:. govem~p.ents. The o m weapon thsy h r v i rsod i s me miy irwrt ucs;on 1". the ara.o.1 of demo~racy --- the vote. This has been enough. for as W o o d r w W d w maid, "The inrrrurncnt OI all reform i n America is rbs ballot:

Yet today. in area8 of America. ecgments of ouz pr+ulacs m u t llve in just that involuntar~ oonditlon -- policed by forces they have no voice in ehooainp md forced to abide by hw6 they have no vote in adopting.

A people divided over the right to votb.cm never build a Nation united.

I ma determined that ihwo ~ a r a sml l be dcvetod to perfecting mr unity so that b;e may pureuc n o r e .rccaa.frily tho fu:!lllmcnc of o.%r high ourm'er u home md in the uorld. ylhlle I have mzo~os4d to vou ocher . . - . measures 0 serve the etronctheninn of our free society and the happiness of ow= heo penpla. I r ega rd i r t i on> tho rnoasuxe. pripoacd in th;; Mes88gs to be f i ~ r t in priority. W e c ~ l n o t have gmcl~nmsnt for al l the propla unti lwr f i r s t make certain i t ia gwarnmont of and ty r l l the people.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

THE WHITE SOUSE,

March 15, 1965.

COPY L BJ LIBRARY

This Copy For - PREBIDENT LYNDON S. JOHNSOB'S NEWS CONFBPSNCX )3B

Held i n C>e nos. Gardm A t "ha white nou.. Washington, D. C .

W c h 13, 1965 A t 3:45 P .N . EST (Saturday1

O f f l e i a l White House Transcript

TW PW3SIn?mr: 0008 a f t e r n m . lad ies and gentlemen.

This March week has brought a very deep and painful chal- lenqe t o the unending search f o r h r i c a n f r e d m . That chsl- lenge is not y e t over, but before i t is ended, e v a q resouroe of t h i s Government v i l l be d i n e - t o inamrim j l s t i c e f o r a l l men of a l i races, i n Alehama and everywhere i n t h i s land. Thl- is the manins of th. oath t h a t I swore before Alniqhty Qo6 when I took tha o f f i c e of the Presidency. That is what I be- l i eve i a with a l l of my heart. That is what Ule people of th ia country 6emnd.

Last Sunday a group of Negro Anmricurrr i n Selma, Alabama, attempted peac0fu11y t o p ro tes t the denial of the m a t basic p o l i t i c a l r igh t Of a11 -- th. r i g h t t o vote. They W n at- tacked ma m e m n bru ta l ly teaton. Prm t h a t mmmnt an t i1 t h i a , we have acted e f fec t ive ly t o p m t e a t the const i tut ional r i p h t s of the Citizens of Selma, and to P n v e n t furk?t)r violonce aria 1awle.mnes. i a t h i s c o u n t y vher-ver~ it ocourr.d. Plore than 70 United S ta tes Government o f f i o i a l s , including FBI agents, I n ~ l u d i ~ &.tic. mmarmnt lanrers. Governor Collins. the ~ . s i ~ t u r ; ~ t t o r n e y D;netal, HI. john m a r , whom I amkei t o go to S e w , h a w h e n continuously present i n Selma. limy have a l l bmen vorking t a keep the peace and to enforce the la.

A t a l l t i m s tha f u l l power a t the Pederal esvernrnant :-<r b8.n ready to protect the people of Selma against fu r ther la- 1 . I s ~ s s . but the f i n a l MWsr t a t h i s problem w i l l be found not in a m 6 conf rwta t lon , bot i n the pr0ce.n of law. we hav*

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acted M bring L5ir c o n f l i c t I r a the s t r e e t s t o the court r-. Your G a v e r a n t . a t my dIrcct ion, asked the Federal Court i n Alabama t o ordnr t h e leu o f fac ia la of Alabana not to i n t e r f e r e with American c i t i zens who are peacefully denon- s t r a t i n g f o r t h e i r conr t i tu t iona l r igh t s . When t h e court has ma& its order. i t -st be obeyed.

The events of l a s t Sunday cannot and w i l l not be remate; but the demonstrations in Selna have a much la rger maninq. They are a pro tes t against a deep and very unjus t flaw i n American demosraq i t s e l f . t i i ~ t y - f i v e years l l q ~ our Constitu- t ion was amended t o require t h a t no l u r r i c a n be denied the r i g h t t o vote because of race, or color. A l m e t a century l a t e r . luny Aamricans are kept frol voting s h p l y bccasaa they a m N . g r ~ . m . ?harefore, t h i s -day I w i l l send t o the Congress a requaat f o r Legislation t o carry out t h e uundnunt of t h e Constitution.

wnerever t h e m is discrimination, t h i s law w i l l s t r i k e down a11 ras te ic t ions u ~ e d t o deny t h e people the r i ~ h t t o vote. It w i l l establimh a mimple, u n i f o n standard which can- n o t be used, h m v n r ingmnuou~ rllo e f f o r t , to f l aun t our Con- s t i t u t i o n , I f s t a t e officials rs fuae t o coop.rate, then c i t i - rena w i l l he regis tared by Federal o f f i c i a l s .

Thi. law i a not m mffort t o puniah o r Nurn anynu. Its object 1s one which no Rmeriean i n h i s h a r t can t r u l y re jec t . I t i s t o give a l l our people t h e r i g h t to choose t h e ' r leaders; to deny t h l s r igh t . I think, is t o deny d-ceacy it- s e l f . What happned i n Selma was an American tragedy. The blovs t h a t were received, the b l d t h a t was shad, the l i f e of t h e q d man t h a t warn lomt, nust s tmngthen t h e deteminat ion of each of ua t o bring f u l l and equal and exact Suetice t o a l l Of our people.

This i s not jus t the policy of your Oaverrwbnt o r your President. I t is i n t h e h u r t and t h e purpose and the meaning of America i t s e l f . We a l l kna, h w complex and hov a i f f l c v l t it is t o bring ah* bas ic .ooial change i n a democcaey, but

this cmplex i ty must not obecun th. olaar and slmple moral i.su*..

It is wrong t o do violence to peaceful citizen. i n the s t r ~ t a of their Unn. It is wronq t o deny hwr icans the r i g h t to vote. It 1s wrong M deny any person f u l l equalis

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Paqe 3 - + 3 P

because of the color of h i s s k i n . The proraise of America i s a simple promise: Every pereon s h a l l share i n t h e blees insa of t h i s land, and they s h a l l shera on t h e bas i s of t h e i r mer i t s as a person. They s h a l l no t be judged by t h e i r co lo r o r by t h e i r b e l i e f s , o r by t h e i r r e l i g i o n , or by whore they were born, or t h e neighborhood i n which they l i v e .

A 1 1 my l i f e I have seen ivnarica move c l o s e r toward t h a t goa l , and every s t e p of the way has brought enlarged oppor- t u n i t y and more happiness f o r a l l of ou r people. Those who do i n j u s t i c e are srr Burely t h e viatims of t h e i r own a c t s as t h e p o p l e t h a t they wrong. They scar t h e i r own l i v e s and they scar the cornun i t i e s i n which they l ive . By turning from hatred t o understanding they can insu re a r i c h e r and f u l l e r l i f e f o r themselves, ae wall as f o r t h e i r fellows. f o r i f va put a s ide disorder and rriolenec, i f we put a s ide ha t red and lawlessness, ue can provide for a l l out people q r e a t opeor- N n i t y almost beyond our imagination.

We w i l l continue t h i s b a t t l e of human digni ty . We v i l l apply a l l t h e resources of t h i s q r e a t end powerful government t o t h i s task. We ask t h a t a l l of our c i t i z e n s u n i t e i n t h i s hour of t r i a l . We w i l l not be w v r d by anyone o r anythinq frm t h e path of jus t ivs , and i n t h i s task we v i l l seek t h e help of the Divine Parer whiah surpasses t h e pe t ty b a r r i e r s between man and man, and peeple and pcople. Under His guidance, we can seek t h e b i b l i c a l promise: "I s h a l l l i g h t a candle of under- s tsndinq i n t h i n e hea r t which s h a l l not be put out: And we w i l l fo l law t h ~ t l i g h t u n t i l a l l of us have bowed t o the com- mand: L e t t he re be no s t r i f e between m and thee , f o r we be brethren.

I mat today with Governor Wallace of Alabaaa t o discuss very thoroughly the s i t u a t i o n t h a t exinta i n t h a t S t a t e . The Govermr expressed h i s concern t h a t t h e demonstrations which have taken place are a t h r e a t t o the pact and secur i ty of the peopla of A l a b m . I expressed my mn concern about the need f o r remedying those grievances which lead t o t h e denonetratiw.s by people who f e e l t h e i r r i g h t s have been denied. I sa id t h a t those Nagm c i t i z e n s of h labma who have systemat ical ly been denied t h e r i g h t t o r e g i s t e r and t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n the choice o f those who govern them should be provided t h e opportunity af d i r e c t i n g nat ional a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i r p l igh t . They f e e l ti.?t they are being denied a very precious r i g h t , and I understand t h e i r concern.

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In h i s tcleqru, Laat night to me, Governor ' taliace e x - pressed h i s bel ief that a11 e l i g ib l e ci t izen0 are en t~ t lmd to .X.ZO~S. the l r r i g h t to vote. tl. w ~ e a t e d t ha t bC1i.f today. and he s ta ted that he i a against any-diacrinination i n that- regard. I an firmly convinced, aa I -aid to the Cweraar a Eew Writs ago, t ha t when a l l of the e l i g ib l e IWro.s of Alabama have bean r eg i s t end , the economic and the social injust ices they have e x w r i s n n d throughout w i l l be riqhtcd, and the dunonatrations, I believe, w i l l #tap. I advised tha Governor of my intant ion to press r i t h 111 the vigor a t my cumand t o assure t ha t c w r y c i t i m n of t h i s c-try i?l givsn the right t o part icipate in h i s Governaunt a t every level throwh the colpleto w t i n g process.

The Dovernor's expressed in ta res t i n law and order met with a wan nsponse. rt. ue a nation t ha t i s governed by laws, and our procedures f o r enrccirm a@ a n d i n g and repeal- ing these laws m u s t prevail. I told the Dovernor t ha t we b e - l i eve i n maintaining la and order i n every cwnty and i n er.? precinct in t h i s land. I f S ta te and local authori t ies are un- ab le t o f u n d o n , the Fed.ral 5w.r-t v i l l coQplctcly ~ e t its responsibi l i t ies .

I told the Governor t ha t the bru ta l i ty i n Sahs l a s t Sun- say just nut not DI repeated. He agnod ;hat he abhorrd bru ta l i ty and regretted m y inatance i n which sny American c i t i zen mt with ViOlenC.. h the Oove-r had indicated h i s desire t o take actiona t o -dv th. rrxistinq =i tuat ion i n Ale- h.. which cawed p.ople t o demonstrate, I ra;pectfully s.u- gested t o him tha t ha c0n.id.r the f o l l a i n g action. which I believed and tha Attorney General and o t b n famil iar d t h the matt.=, Uld a.*ociated rith n, hclieved would Dm highly aon- s t ~ ~ c t i v e a t t h i s atage of the game.

Fi r s t , I urged t h a t the Governor publicly declare hie svpport f o r rmivera.1 suffrage i n th. State of Alabama, and the United States of Mcrica .

Second, I urged nirn to assure t h a t the r ight ef peacvful assembly v i l l he permitted i n Alabana so long a. law and order is maintained.

Third, I expzeased the h a w tha t the Governor weuld ca l l a bi-racial me t i ng when b n t u r n s t o Alabma, to BeeX grea-. .z owperation and t o ask for g rea te r unity among m r i c a n s of both races.

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I asked the Governor t o r hi. c e o p e t a t i m and I exproemen my appreciat ion f o r h i s c d n g t o Washington to discu.. t h i s p rob lm.

QUeSTTONi nr. P r e s ~ d o n t , againat t h e background of what you aa id , and s i d e f r r n the s i t u a t i o n i n Selma, I wonder i f you could t e l l ua your general philosophy, your be l i e f i n hcn demonstrators m o t h e r par ta of the country ahould conduct th-alvea? For example, har do you fa.1 about th. b n s t r a - t i o M t h a t a r e going on outs ide of tha White Rwse r i g h t now, or i n other pa r t s , m other c i t i e s of t h e United States , and i n f ron t of redera1 buildings?

TllE PmSIDEnTr I t r i e d t o cover t h a t i n my statement. bu t I bel ieve In the r i g h t of peaceful asranbly. I bel ieve t h a t people have the r i g h t t o dermnstrate. I th ink you must be concerned with the r i g h t s of others , and 1 do not think e person, as ha8 heen sa id , has the r i g h t t o h o l l e r .Fire" i n a srarded theater . Sut I think t h a t p o p l e should have tha rig?.,. t o ~ a c . f u l l y assemble, t o picket. to demonatrate cha i r view-, and t o do anything they can t o br ing tho- views to the a t t sn - t i o n of people, provided they do not v i o l a t e l aus UKmsr1v.s. and provided they conduct thunre lms as they ahould.

QmsTIONi Mr. Prcaident, d id Governor W a l l a a indicate. sir, a t a l l , an area of undermtandinq and coopmration and ao- csptanee of r- of your .ugge?itiona t o solve t h i s violsnce t h e n ?

THg PRKSIDIUT: I rill h a w t o l e t t h e Governor speak for himself. Ha is going t o spar tcmorroo. Wa .polre vary f rankly and w r y fo r th r igh t ly , and rc axch*nwd views, snd we a r e not i n agreement on a good many things. I lu hopeful t h a t the v i s i t r i l l b c he lp fu l and I did 8P$ h a r t t o laske my vi-int 01.d.r. Mr. C o d e r ?

QmSTION: Mr. P ~ ~ s i d o n t , I waa going to ask you hosr the Gowrnor reacted.

THB PItESIDKt49: The Governor had him ahara of th. oonver- sa t ion. BL) t o l d re of the problems t h a t he had i n Alabama. t h e fear. that ha enter ta ined and he expressed t h e hops t h a t I mould do .-thing t o he lp bring the d a w n s t r a t i o n s t o an end. I t o l d him very f rankly t h a t I thouqht our problem. vhioh I had been working on f o r several m k s no*, wan t o face up to the fause of th. demonsttation and -OM the cause of

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the demonstration, a d tha t I hoped i f he would g i w assurance t h a t people would be pr0tect.d i n t h e i r deaonstrationm i n Alabama, he would give assurance t h a t he would t r y t o improve t h s voting s i tua t ion in A l a ? m , i f I could submit my wasage t o the Cangnam and ge t p r a p t act ion an it t h a t would i n s u n the r igh t of the people of Alabama to Mt., t h a t I thought thac we could improve the d m a r s t r s t i o a s i tua t ion .

Qumrrm: yr. PresiCent. a two-part guts t ian on the s;.. rub ject:

Can you t e l l us what your thinking is i f Oovermr Wallac. would not accept any or a l l of your suggestions: and secondly, i n announcing from lloPrtgmry t h a t he bad asked t o see you, he l n a i c a u d t h a t he vw concernad about a t h r e a t throughout the country. m you share t h a t f ~ l l ~ e r n ?

TWS PRE3IDEUT: I m deeply concerned t h a t our c i t i zens anywhere should be discriminated *gainst and should be denied t h e i r const i tut ional r ights . I h a w plot ted my course. I have st.-d my vieus. I have mrde c h a r . whether the Governor agrees or not, t h a t law and order w i l l prevai l i n alabaru, that paople rill ba -- t h e i r r ights t o peacefully asamble w i l r be presnwed. aad t h a t t h e i r w s s t i t u t i o n n l r i s h t s w i l l he ?r.- tected. Uz. Robeets?

QUESTIOII: Mr. Presid.nt, 1 m of the c l e r g p e n who cam out yestarday reportcd t h s t you had b t e c t e d a resurgence of moderate s p i r i t m n q the white* in the South. Can you tell us what evidence you have swn Of tha t . and W h p s anything that 1% being done M encourage i t ?

TEE PRESIDBNTt The presence of a good many people f r a a the Somth i n S*lma, the pr*nence of s m of the ministers f r e m the 80Uth here, the meS8sgOS U u t I h a w received from me c i t i z e n s of thst .red. the SuPPort t h a t the buainesmen and tha clergy and the l&r ~ o p l a have g i m n the Civ i l Righta M t Uul i t s enforcement. have a11 given n. mteengtb and c m f o r t and encouragement.

QUESTION: MI. President. I would l i k e to tom t o the other prob1.m t h r t ha. ocoupied a0 much of your hours i n Viet Nm. Abut f ive -La agor when You hlt it necbssary t o give an order t h a t our wiv*s and childran of our M n i n V i e urn be witheawn, a high o f f i c e r said to me, 'Give u s a year and they w i l l be back." I have two question.:

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i ! tick ~ ~ - d . > i n r.,d I iirv: nddad a few rrn,fs

to t& evlE~ list fur the .i~;.ir.; 1c;;lorrow.

I Y:C a l : * ~ tecor~-:~nd t:xc s.z;iirioa of tks fullextc::

sc.2 a0

. , A v * u & ~ , A%$? , , . - . I _ . . _ . , ,. >. j .. 4r:. FOX R i l l t.:oyor.

1 FRO:.; J ~ Q Cnliiasa

I 1 Vivian L'alonc <iku first :irl t o

; r t rnto rhr: I::,;rernh of r\.L?bmna at 'rurc.lloosa) I i.. z;r,..!i i;:v::c:i a,;:! is caeliag: t:le s-in= i r true 1 0: ?:G:.:A 1'~z::z %.oim*n .::to %Laz:ca i t all b3. . refi:rrt::. to :o i3 th+ b&-L u: I!,* b-$6 Yo:,rzomery. i I;:=:: r?:E kc . i ' s lo iz tovrl, I-;;:?,

j :.eriii,'x CI:U i s in f izeril ol. to i i ; ~ T.,~,.:~ or

i 1'1o *::.?T p ~ ; ~ ; ! ; : i,iw..~..-n rr 3 o l r c I ol i ;dn:r~ien.

, . I . ! . .- ,

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MKMORAXDUM FOR

'Innu:

THE \V111TE HOCSK ,

W I I H l S O T O I . ,. .

Mr. Marvin Watson

U you m r h sa Armed h 5 r r c l Aide 10 iceampany you to the HIII turnnrmw when you sign tho Voting Riplats Act of 1965, may I tespectfuUy aaggest thnl yau consider Major Elugh Robinson to accompany you on this oscaslon

GIL~: G e+utb, , 9 6 5 ~ . , ; n j ~ e y ; n ~ ~ ~ + ~ l R o ~

f..yA.- B. ?kmsa. Lib-? COPY L E I LlBHARY

Dirk Ooodwln prepared t h e r o prepoe;& istt ir~' cathe Star. . , I* it .I1 right to send fhase out?

YES NO ! . :

U. Watson 1 :

3-'19-65 1 i .- ,. . . : .....- . /

!

. . -/ j15,+ . I &

,/f/ +,- 7 P C .,- X !

In hi6 eloquent speech MmAy night Residen5 Johnson sa:d tbz, "in - ! !

pheer i n m e e m n w mw awl -n ara kept rrrrr voting becau~e they are i 1 tiegm." I@ them polnteb mt the nany Dbstaeles tilat are ?&sea III the uay m the

r ight to vote c-lu&ing that "the only w tow theaa barriers i s to s%u I ;

a "hit. ski.." !

me r s t that thia is tnu i e &n=-m m every tmqhthrl observer uca>t , x. i it .e~ss, the i k a h i ~ SW. Y- eataria liw tha t tms pdslrge is %be

X 1 msen ta t l on of ilctiea u a c t . Pather it i s %he Star rhieh h.. cMlrZlsed rn

. sects,vlth uh.t they vlah -'true: I

xela ue a icrr e-les: In the eatire s t a t a oi Kississimi QO 6.S of i v m . ~ e Ne-e an w i l t e r e d . lo Cbickasav Caunty, msaissi~2i out or i

I 3054 xe-a m r a, m~ me is reglstexo.. a ~olnes C~W?& xegroes 1 at on 8,757,mr 21 a r e ngia terrd .

las f-ea tor w -a e-ties teil the mi. atam o t -. j c-r,: -

--tic or the =st bwio /~crrieao right. :n ~ u a s cnin$:=.e~-:.~ I r, c d y 2.1 $ or Ueerws over 2.l are regletere&. Tn Gem. an& Hale cm~nt le l if

1. W . In Irnmdes County not one X.gr0 ia r a s t e r e d , a l m h there 1 ;

uur than 5WO wer me nge Of 21. !

This 2. not fiction. Thie 5. the reality OS a t eanfrmta Iem h e ~ i c a u l 1 in maw places vlmn they try to w m i a e their colultitutloopl rims. ?!Sey

ha- rand, u the Resident said, d,t a blnair s i d a alme i s ermyh tO keep i

7L. luu ir- th. p~LUag W e a . Star d e s the came of e w t y a great 1

I dlseeNIce. an4 the Resident a grave injurtlce; when it"aen;ses Nm 0: frisriortiem ' .

, / M he b i e a to open tho e p a OS th. h r i c s n wwla to the terrible KO=

s t i l l MPg c m t t c d in thi. had .

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s .mtc skin vas the rmly (Furantee of %he Wt t o me. "F,,~,I.

I m L d think that anyone uhO nnted to aeevsc the *aidant Oi a qp. nore tba4 seventy mlUlon hri-s--a the lnerican Co-sl--night

a t i p s t make n- effort LO f ind at thr facts. Instead YOU scea i o rely

uprm the n k m n t s of G r m m W c e - - t h a t iamou PMBW of b e a w and

BOOd ~ W m C l l t . l y

Ym should LnOY v k t Souther. Uegroes bw velli miing i s nied t-3

t M . c vhoee skin i s blacii. +

Let's tar. Onpian County i n W . s s l a s M . There - abmt?OX widtea

.od 6OW Negroes -r 21. Ilore Ma. 7500 vhites sn =sieterrd, j 5 Ke-a.

tb 8 % ~ tblnL thaf this i s the r a t of objective- w l r t b r e b tests--

or il it the color of skin thlrt matters. And tbls 11 only one e-Ple o f zany.

1n aa- of envltioa i n tim Smth rropl Oi LU Yegroea over 21 sz registored.

In same earntie. ~ 0 % rt owle Negro is reglatarad. In Butawe C o u n t y b l r k

it in 1.s oi Xegroes wu PI, In Haruso C-ty, 3.65 a d so on.

me,. U. tho Mtl. ha t h e h h r*llity beNnd them i a kna"n t o -erg

-them I-. Next time the Star -LB LO c u e the afcvncy Oi e

Roaidont, i + ~ v l L L & o L O t b o m m d a w a ntbuthaatsiling thaMsdOi

.n irrespanrib.bln d.l.gogue.

8 6 ~ : 1

~ q ' q - ~ , ~ ~ ' ~/.L-JR&* %kStm

7 COPY LBJ LIBRARY

m WBCPE R w s e ~ O P 5 R ( ~

ATTHE

a1(NIl(a c%ima.Y

W l'5 WlIW RImS BIU

(At th. Cspifol)

I&-. vies Re~ia t f f i . &. speaker, menbere ob Cmweas, e s s Of tb. Csbiwt, diatiquish.d guests, w isllnr hericow:

Tcdv is a triw for ire- .s hwe as q vistory that IYu erer baa rm on w battlcrield. y d t. seare t h e n x e a of t u a dar, we wt -duke t m e .

m e e aa. mlr centuries the firat m e s amivet a t J-twn. The9 did mt w i v e in brwo alps pa i n c h or a hme fw he-. Thw did Iqt idmale tear a M Joy, 1. crpectrtim tbat in this new world .rrytbine v d d be w i b l e b . ~.n em& to ream r(o it.

Wa9 -in d.I.Dss and they -a in chains. *, -

&4 toaay we etrixc a v q ths isst msJm shackle or those fierce 4 a n a t -5- T- the N- stmy & the ani- stmy fuse an6 b l a h

h a l e t ue rmmbu a t a t w s not a l w s so. The stmien of ax- nation ond the *meri- il- are like two m a t rive?.. U n g up frca that tiw 3sawem aprine t hm rim thme the cmturiea alms divided charnels. YhO zionCci-8 mbNbdllld a eODtinen~ to & nerd of -, r u y a d m a -. i r mr the 8.gm. Y h e th. l i b e y bell N* a r t in Phlfldclphla, it did mot toll mr +& If-. men me- rer:on thrw ogcc tbe d-m-s or dc:oCrOC~, -ley &id Mc opll for h I!-.

It m a or& a t Ap-ttm, a aentury w, that an Americnn victwy n s &o a ii- vittexy.; ~d the tuo river. --a sbiniog with w i s e , the other dark-stallled vi th msssioo -- b- lo nrnc tow& olrc another.

Iet. lor almost I eentvy the p r d s e of that day vss wt fulfi l lad. Fcdw is a taerins and w k that, pa this generation. that ~romis. w i l l - = kept. In time the two -en& rill nwlly mingle am m h a. me m a t am66 t b e uaowtain amd t he p m l a r a Y R V ~ pi the BmeriCa

Thiu act flors I t a m s 01- and e i w e m 8 . It# only purpose is to r u t that rrw. f l l l U a or haicpns arc aenied the rlgbt to vote because of thdr color. %%is llw rill nrs- them tbc ri&t to vote. mc vro.4 ra m e which no Ancricaa, i n his heart, justiG Zhe right i s one larch no ha-, true t o our princrples, can a w .

Y1 1957, u +A. leader or t h e nyoriw in the mite6 States S a t e , ~ p l k i n g i n rupportiw l e s i s l a t im to -tee t o tbe r W o r all m m a rrgt t o vote, I said: This 11Bt t o vote i. the basic rieht without uhlch &lloUlers are m e a n t x l e e s . It siws people, p d c lu individ-ls* -WM mr their oun de8timles."

Ylst peer I said; %ti1 n e l y q w r i e d & s m resMueas of . . tbe calm of U s skin -- 1P8 the a t , q u e s t i o n e d sad mrrcetmiacd, to 60 i n and & his b a r n i n every precinct in this eeet of m a , I ea not a to k BatirSed."

rmdfa t e ly afttr tha r u ~ t l o n I birectea the ~ t t a m e p ~ e n w t o -# mpidly u ~ 0 6 & b , the - tO t i a m fish* t 0 Vote.

And t h m lsat k c h -- w i t h th. outrwe of Selma s t i l l fresh, I eamr dcm t o t h l e a p i t o l m e and aeraa the C w e a a amd W pople ior w i h and ior weoplng .cum to mr+-w* to crw m and vosan Oh. r ight to mt.. In 1.p. th.n 48 bavs t sant'the v o t i ~ ~ l g h t s Act of 1565 to the C w a e s . In Uttle m o m tba. f- months the C ~ e a s , with amho la1nu Wor i t i e a , e-tea o r the lrat monmentlrl i n O e mtlzp hiatom of h i - i r e e h .

The members or tha -..a, and the -priwat* citlrma, who uorke-5 m = m e md rase tun b u w i l l m f i f e 01 hcaa in nu hiatory rn thls me act urn..

mere were those who v l l d this i s an oldinJusUre, and U e Is 110 nee3 to m. Bvt tllaefy-rlr. m e passed since t h e F i n ~ e t h h a a e n t Ewe rill U-us the fight to vote.

!+A the t ime nx v a i t i w is gone.

*e w e r e thase vho d d -urn and m w e gwdunl r.sures M d be * l ea . But they h a d heen tried. pol y e a snd y e a theV rn baen Pi.d,nnd trled,aad trld, d, thep had failed, and ?ailed, and f8iled.

T h e rerc thee uhc mid thal thls 1. r --sided amd very m n p l u Problem. But b w . r 'slewed, the d e u oi the Wt t o vote l e s t i l l a -my mw.

b 3 ths t lxe for injustice bas g-.

Td. k.v m e n nny fases. But the b& of the a c t i a plain. Ul.mrr - - b y 01.w 0 b J e W ~ e s- -- rmtea Md 0MtlU LVe S i W r.sulatL-, m inup, or testa to deny me right t o vote, the. they vi11 be amck d m . I f Lt l a o l u tht amtc oiiiclals still i n td M OlrCrirmIYLte, then FederiU d m rill be sent i n t o rester all el i s lb le rotere. When tho p r o ~ p o t of d l s a n a t l p is 8-, the exa~uners v l l l be m t e l y " i thbmm. ,-

&a, ~ a e r this A O ~ , i f any ~ o u t ~ w e r e i n *is mtion does ~t M t 7-1 i n t e m m i m it need only open i t s po?Jiw places t o all of i t s wale.

This good C e e e s s --the 83th W e * . - - acted swiftly i n r a s s iw thir act. I intend t o act with equal d lapMh i n eniorciog this act.

And mom- a t l:m RI, the Att-cy Omml has been directed to f i l e kvsn l t s cbl lewing the -st i tut imaUty ot oho poll tax in the state of urssisrrppi. mi. v l u begin the 1-1 pr~esse ruth, I mndaotly beunre, rill ven som prehlbit w mystte n'm rmviriw the pa~nent of mmey i a order to exerciae the right to-.

h a also by the Tustiee Deprtacot -- tlwe@ Wli-+ion JD the Pcdersil Regtster -- v l l l k r ofneinIlJ ccrt ir ird tho statee vbere discrlmi~nitirn =%at#.

- COW LBJLIBR4RY

I hare, b &ditLco, r e b d the -81t of Justlee to &k all tbrDIlgh thim veekend 10 thrt on l h d ~ y morning wt, they

k L S a t 0 ..I\Y col~tie. where p a t expcl.ieoce cl-ly .bus tbat haw1 oalm 1s neces-y end >&-a. Aad by lbeaPIJI Wrming, trained PwJarnl cxan(nas w i l l be at work r a t e r i n g e l l a l e nrm and w e n 1. t a t o rift- carnies.

&d on tbat @me 8ry, aexi md.y, a d d l M poll tax suits W i l l be.fIled la the state6 sf T-, m, and Vlrpwnin.

Lnd I pledge you tbat we Vill not d&br a ve will not healtat. OT V* -1 hot turn wide, mtl l Ileeicarm of nee raee Md color aM mien im Ohis owtry m e the m a rlat as all Others to B h V O in the

60. tbowh th i s *ct, d iit €UP?x.?, .p impmtSnt i M W t or hoda pelt.* &ta the m s ar nilUCM of our eltisene.

But ths t isa-t &st be wd.

Reeldents .lid C--a, Isv. & b n u l t m aan open tho d0mS t o the rellillg places, rod the h e t o th. ~Mdlrevs rev- which avait the vlne use of the ballot.

Pat only the icdIvLdua1 neeo. d ell o t h a a vbo have been denied the rlat to vote. can really wan through those d m = and csn me th.t rlght d can t ~ a r u f m the rcte Into ma i s a t rw t of Jwtica .nd h l l l i 1 m n t . D

bI kt CC O W eve- LgO 1. tbl. EOUIIUY: YOU PYt regleter. You wt wte. You m u s t lem, ao yaw chaise adwreces your interest and the interest oi our beloved mtlon. r o w Zuture, en& rour Ohlld2.~~'. PlltWe, dep~nd - it, d I don't believe tbat ppu We to l e t then d m .

ThIa Act 1s not a y s v i c t o q ra. Ucs-o leadership. This Act 1s a p e a t c k l b n g . t o that leader.htp. It i s n c M l l e ~ vhioh e-t be n r t e l m 4 by protests 4 aemmtratlons. It maas t&t aedicated leadera m e t m k u w n d the c W +.a teach pwle th.ir rri-ibilltie. a d to lead then tO exerc iu thoae r ights and t. fvJSill those resp~ns ib l l I t les and w e e duties to thelr c-try.

If you do thle. then you d U iid, as others h v e r o u d b e c w you. t M t tb mte i s the m a t powerful instr-at ever devised by m m 3 lor breaklw d m 1nJustiep rod & ~ t m y w the terr ible -11s vhioh i w i s o n men beomue thex are d m e r e n t frca other mn.

T d y what is w b p s the k t M the legal barriere is tmmbli%. Thlro uill be mny aetiem M many a m i c u l t i e a belore tho r ights w v m Into l=a u e . la0 urnen into the Pabrlc oC our nation. But th. strvggle i m egwlrty nut nw nnm t d a d m - t b a t t k 2 i . U .

It 1s mthi.g less th.D g a n t h g every w i o u l Negro hi. rreedan to enter the minetrean of American Ilic: not thc ~DntDnLty t ha t b u s emichlw dlllersnce. or eultvro and tradition, but rather the oppmmi ty at g l m each e ehensc to ohwse.

For centarks oi 'oppression and hatre3 h v e already talren their p i n f u l t o l l . I t sa. be i c h t h r o u o u t our IMd in u i t b u t sk i l l s , In chilbren vithaut fatbus, In famines th.t ara m i . o n e d in 4 In p o m t y .

Fm It im M t j u s t t o glve ren rlghts. They plst be eble ta tise tmr rights In the i r p r r a u l w s u i t M balrpincse. me vavds e d the vealmnues, the out& v%lle 4 the b u d scar6 -- uhlch dlminlsn m h i e v e w t -- are the wrk of h r i e a m eociety. We rovt a l l 'now kelp to end thaa -- help to end them tboue;b expnnding program ~Iresdg deYiaed M throw nw 0- m search mt .nd tmerer en6 the special handicaps or those who are black in a nation tha t h a m - t o be ljatly white.

So, it 1s for th i s WPse -- t o P u V i l l th= rights tht uc ~u locwe -- tlmt I haw called a m i t e Soure c o e e once in the rat.onSm Capital th i s f a l l . T

Se, r e "Ill nee step by step -- often mlntully but, I think, vl th clear viaIon -- abns the p t h t o m a h r i - heedom.

C W Y LBJ UERARY

It is difficult to fight for mew. But I a h mow how d i f f x c u ~ t I t can be to bend law g u v n or &bit and c w t m to grant it. There I s 2m rma for injustice m s In ths brican -1011. But t W a is .%Ye S.x undcrabrdlng toud thaw, vho see the old says oruabllrg. Am3 to tbem I a y ~(nply Lhi~: It wt come. I t l a rtebt thst it &"ld come. Ad *. it his, you vlll find . blPden that hns been llrted ircp yovr shouUlers, too.

I t is mt fwt a ~uest iolr or guilt , al-t@ there is that. It 1. thst m w t l l v e vlth a lh .nd not De a t a f n d hy it.

'i%a central i.ct of Imsrlrr. c i v i l l z ~ t i o . -- one so bard for others to uaderBtan3 -- is that freedan .nd d w t i s e .nd the dlgnity or arn sra not lust wma to us. Wc believe in tbem. tkder aY the grwth and the t d t aria a h d m e , ue -1ie-e. A M so, as low a= some anme us M w e a s e d -- .nd we we prt cQ that W e S S L o . -- it nut blmt o w faith .nd aav tae strength M m h l a -8..

Thus, thla i. . viotOry fm the iraeaan of +& h i e a n Negro. SUt it 1 8 ah0 a Y i e t o y for rae iredm oi the *mi- nation. Ad e n y familz -- aemzs thla meat, entire searchins 1Md --will Live suonser In l iberty, rill lln m e eprMJd in emectstirn, .ld w i l l be pmuda to be brlcr. beoause of the Act that you hsle passed that I w i l l a le , w.

You.

B I D

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COPY ia, LIBRARY

8/3/66: Rosent 1 966-24$&

D m - STATEMPJT BY THE PRESIDENT

ON ll3E FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

have recognized

tha t the

of the Voting Alghts 12 ihmfk ij M O ~ Q L < S .

Act of 1965, it i s f i t t i n g tha t we take note of A his tor ic aaeel- mar.- la.-: a~

e+atieR. For i n a year 's time, th& m s e w e has done l l i ~ ~ ~ t o Prp-G. ~ccL'LC 24.. * u, $b .-....-%

the than ara+&p-c&kce womencs

suffrage was granted 46 years ago.

When I went t o the ~ a p i t o l ~ a ~ ~ ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ >

t o sign the new law, there were 112,000 Negro c i t izens registered r t o vote i n Alabama. Today, tha t f igure has more than doubled-- .' t o over ~ , o o o . t

Last year, there were 35,000 Negro c i t izens regis-

tered t o vote ln MieSisSippl. Today, tha t figure has more than

guadrupled to over 140.000.

Last year, there were 680,000 Negroes registered t o

vote i n the f ive s t a t e s of the Deep South. Today, tha t f igure . . - so - --

has lncreassd more than 60 percent t o 1,@30,000. w ..?C

Last yea$kout - 4 ~ of the Negi-o c i t izens ' of voting age i n those s t a t e s were registered t o vote. Today,

the t o t a l i s nearly half--and faa t approaching the average

national 'peroentage f o r voter registrat ion.

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~~ .. . .

Attorney O ;en 1 Katze=ba,ch aed=&2- \ .-- . e . . A a :, .. . ; . , . . A-__,._.. . . . . . .

---)-"and C h a i m n xacy &i the c i v i l s e r v i c e . , I. .. . . . - - ... .,--- ! ~ ~ o p i s s ~ o n ~ ~ ~ - f i ~ ~ 1 ~ a ~ t h e ~ r ~ r e ~ ~ o n n i b i l f ties

.$,' , -- with-enesg+and-+hdorr. Federal examinepi have worked

d i l i g e n t l y i n 45 count ies i n four s t a t e s . Federal observers

have l e n t o b j e c t i v i t y t o e lec t ions i n t h r e e

s t a t e s . And government atborneys have been s k i l l f u l and m r In bringing cour t ac t ions t o prevent o r remedy

evasion and obstruction.uP-a&zmx&e.

But these figwes and these f a c t s do not

t e l l t h e whole story:

It i e a p a r t of the s to ry t h a t i n one

county, f o r generations t h e r e had n o t been . -r

a s i n g l e Negro registered,,_no* t h e r e areurnore than a thousand.

It i s a p a r t of t h e s to ry t h a t 75 percent

of the o v e r a l l gain i n Negro r e g i s t r a t i o n flows from voluntary

compliance by s t a t e and l o c a l o f f i c i a l s .

It is a p a r t of the sto~ey t h a t leading c i v i l

r i g h t s organizat ions have fused t h e i r energies knto such

r e g i a t r a t l o n and c i t i z e n s h i p e f f o r t s a s t h e Voter Education t

Pro jec t of the Southern Regional Council.

tinat Negroes have he*brs.ir/ &st p ! -f G ,

t o vote, but have -w

It i s a p a r t of the s to ry t h a t scores of

1

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Negroes have mn and campaigned for poli t ical office In atates

covered by the Act and that ma / ta story thatj

increasingly,

-- not ~ O F Negro leaders, not for local officials, not for the

fedem1 gove-nt. More--much more--must be done t o reach

merely of the Votlng R i g h t s Act but

democracy. '7 - -- .-.- -

We have ma a good beglnnlng. But t h e e GIU u.t 1) &

ora-bsno end .until evew cltleen is ireeland ablel- \ I

to p e r f o m W c h t r n 1 act o f f j Z Z ' c l t i e e n ~ 1 ~

, . : . ' , . ,: . . . . . . ... ,... .. .... . . . . . . . . . . : ~ ~ . " ,'pmu&hout ollr hlstor~r, Awricana ,have maognlzed

. . . . . . . . . . . . .* . : . ' 7 . t h a t of demoorsoy 1s the vote. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - .. . . . . . . ,, . . . . . . . . . . , ., ",,,..- . . . . . . . _ , , - . ' . :... b a y , : tho . , i i m t a n n i ~ s a r y ~~. or the voting ~ i a t o

. . . . . . . . ~. , ': "'Aot oi 1965;'it 1s : f l t t lng ' that we take note & s h i r t o r i . ~ , aoeel- . ; . . . . . . . . . . . , .

, , . . . . . . . . . . . . . '.oration. Por. in i yeiols tilde, that .iwasun, has done m o m t o . k ' ..: . . I ' . . , .

. .: : ;';,..!vlndioat8 +:right %"vote thnn any s-i aot slnoe women~r . , . . . . .

1 . . ~ ( ~ / ~ , : : . : a ~ i w . . . . k. wanted . . 96 ~ e a c s 'wo. ' . ' , . . . . . . . . , , . ' . . . . . . . .

, I ." .:.',<,.' .; . : .. ,.. . , ,. ./ - - . . Wen I went t o the ~ a p l t o l l a s t year o i this day

i . . .

.<! .,.<., ;*:' ;, .:.$ - . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - .... -. .. . . . .......... .'; 'to sign t+ I+ hi, the;-&wl12,000 Negro oitizena registerad

. . . , . . , . . , . ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ...- . . .~~ . . . . ..: -~:~: :., .

.... .~ ~ .':;~ . . . . . . . . - Last year, t h e n were 35.000'2iegro citizens regla- . .~

. . . , . . ~ . . . .

. ;.'.:...,':! . . . . . .:..-&I to vote~.in m & & ~ ~ i . , '1 Tadag,: that fw has - tm . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . , ~ . . . . . . . . j 1 . ' . . .. , . . .

:. .:-: . . . . . . . . . : ' :' .: guadmpled to .ever . , l40,003., .. , ., . . ., . ' '

. . . . . . .~ . . . . . . . . - . ......... , ; . . " . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-- :~'. .~::~&.'yea,.r,, . .tbenr wee 680,000 Negroes registered

- :;. . . . . . . . . , .I.

......... - . ,;: ~'vot. in &..em ... s t a & i , o ~ the Doep 'south. zaiiry, that figure ... i : :. . . ........ .

, . , . _.ii . , i .

. . . . . .. d . ,, .. :. .. tms i n o n a ~ - ' , n i i . . than ~. 60 pemsnt to . 1,133,033. ,.. ::.: . . . . . . . . . . < . . / I . ,

. . .: . . ~. . . . . - , Laat year, about' a quarter of the Xegm citizens . . . . . :: . . . . : . oi v o t ' ~ . ~ in thai states kro fagistemd to vote. Taday,

i ,. . . . ~

i .'. th. 'tot+ i n '&=l~ halt--and fact a p ~ o h i n g the avefage i

60-707. , . rut&nl p.rc&ge' ?w voter +e;istcetion.' , . I . . . . . . . . . . ~. . . . . . . . . r

. . . , . ~ . , . . - . . . . . , , , . . . ' . : . . . . . . . : , . ~ ~ . . . . . . . . . , . ~ . . . . - , . :: , . . , , . . . . . . . . . : , . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . ( ' . , . . . .

~ ~~ . . . . . . . . . . . . " . , . , . ~. .. . . . . . . . . . f ' t -.::,.. . . . . . . : . . . . . . . ...

, . . , i I

. .

M W LBJ LIBRARY

, .

. . , . . . . . . ' -2-

i , .

t : i ' - Attornoy G c r w n l .Qtzanbsch OM tho Dejzrt- f

I mont of Sustice, and Chaimn ikcy and the Clvil Service !

C ~ r a l o n have eboped and fulft l lod thair rc~gonzibi l l t lcs 1

i . with o n e m and wisdom. Fcderol exnclincrs hnvo worIccd i

I I

AM. MIU.) d i l ~ ~ ~ l y in 45 aounties in four ataten. ~ i d a r a l obiemera I

s'c' have painstakingly lent objcotivity t o elestiono i n thrco i ) matea. And govclllmcnt atbarncys hava been s t a l l fu l and , . . i

ALL 6W . .. LA. . : '.: iclpnodlete iab- court aoti- t o prevent o r remedy

(d.(.&an . .: ' . ,a/lj), . . , evaaon and 06truotion or tko voto. . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . But these figures and these. facts do not ~ ,

,, . .

. . , , , ... . . tell . . the . . *h&e 8t-c ' .

I . .

I It l a a pil& of the story that i n one : . . .

I f

& NC~(VB= : . o&tyr f o r exmple, ' a r e foe genemtiona thore had not been ,

, . . m\s,. :.':~::.. . '. . . .. a singla NOW rsgistered,now 'mere am nace than a thousand. . - . . ~ . . . . ,

; . . . . . . . . . . . .

, , . . . . , . . . :. . . . . " , - It is a part of the story eat 75 pcrcunt :

, ' . , . . , . . . j

., .' ... : . - of tha ovenall gain' i n ~ c g ~ o ~ & s t c s t t o n flows from voluntnry , , . .. I

1 ocwlianee by.atate and local officials. i . . , .,

, . . . '

. ,. ,It is a port of the story that l e a d i ~ c iv i l i ScLq rights o-mtione have iuscd their erargios xnto such C Wh*, s-8 j:~ I !

r eg i s t a t i on and ottizsnnhip efforta a s tl?o Vote&* Education i OnPmL., Pnojeot of. the Southern Regional ~ounci l . ; case i

, . . . . 1% is a w e t of the otory that Xcgroes have i

t not 1~4mlyobtalncd the r igh t t o voto, but have exorciosd i t ,

m. 1@9..0 i n numbem never before oaon in tho Scuth. I N ALh. (fm pa- 6 m ~ ~ ) It :a rr pact of tho story that soorca of

" . COPY LBJ LIBRARY

. <. . I , ,

I. . , > - -3-

. . . .

. . N8-a have nan and canpaizncd for poll t ical office i n stotea

. oovewd by the A c t and that m y have von. ' i , !. ,. . . ' , , . . , . . And i t 13 the o u m x of tbe story t P 3 t

. . . . ,. inareasingly, pol i t ical appeals and PLWZPP~C~--~OC 0010ng blind . , . . to the needa oad deaimo of Nc~ro cltizcns--nre b e i a genccd

. . , ' . . : . ' 4 . t o a11 the people. . I ,

. . . . . . . . ., . , . . . . . . . . . ye t aa anniveraa+ does not end the otocy--

;.. ' , , . . , , . , . . ' ,. .:not tor Negro leadem, not fw local officials. not fm the . 1

r . .... ': . . . . . . . . . . . . 'federal govenunent. &lore--much ~?aco--must be done t o mncb \ '

. , ' ' I . .

.. c t h t u l l ' w t e n t i a l not merely of the v o t t t ~ i s h t s ~ c t but i . . . . . ' . th. i u a l qotential, of durrocmcy. I . . . . . . . ,. ... . . . . . . " .

t:o hhse mdQ a good bcglL?w. But thore . . . - ? , , - , - ( W ' . : i

f . . ern be no end un t i l every oitincn l a free,and ablq 2nd wil~w ; 2 . . , ..: . . . . , .

; *. to. pe~ocpl tpe 'aentwl ac t o~ his citizenship in this aooiety: I .. ... . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . , . , . ,

, . . to vote. ' . :;.

. ~ ~. c . v ' - . . . . I . . COW LW L I B M Y

lYM4eSsq: .dhkayadms9csthcplmtion . cxi~aim a thesis that ir c h l y stlral or m n & Wed i s d e p r t y ~ w i t h i n t r o h r c t o r y a n d c l a s l o g ~ 6 , d b o d y ~

awd main agumcnis w m b dear mmsilions

e t f c c t i v c l y . a i a I y m a ~ a M e n u m b a r o f ( b e ~ imxqmks &mmwnt citation

~ ~ a p p m p r i . t c o u ( a h l f m o l ~ ~ ~ y o r ~ w t s i & L n o w l e d g e is well-vmiuen with few or m amn in rcncaro rrmcone. spelling, punctuation. cdpwzatios and verb IaM

TiU3wm~: .dirratyaidKs-(be& wntaim a lhair that is mul ms(mn@y implied

i s quim wakw@z& shbou* anae mmsitions may be Any: bas rsasaubly wdl- &evclopod inbudwmy, c w and body paragraphs mfen to rcval donnu*n tnn may not always include document dWon

~ s k o v l d c a c a o f d a w n e n t a n a l y s i s baa modat inclnaico of information horn bxkgound as ly is quite hi inchdes some enom in gamrm and splling

m2eWg: addrrsres (be quation but *ol. som fk

~eaatainsastatedorrwgdmbkhsia bas a folkma* orgwimion wilb main ldarr divided inm pnagraphs; iamductory po~qmpb is reasonably elar bn tbe focus may not be maintab3 Ihmughout UM a y cmtainr tt&mm to aaral doamvntl but k wuld easily be more

conte ins~omcfFix ta tdacummt~h ~ o h l r k s ~ d t D t i o a caolsina liuk mamini fmm m W (be donuneno ihcmsclva . i s ~ ~ ~ w i m e m q , l c t e ~ ~ e 8 . b u t c o a a i n s m o ~ y a r m s ~ v a r b ~

-5 ~ 0 0 . sp@ng, and oapitdization

The I a*: . is b%q& in dmessing m identifying (be question . i s o f ! m l s k i n g e ~ I b e a k d c f i m p l i ~hruns*arorgmizarian.TbismayirclodEa, ' a body plp.gnphs &at do W t f ~ w i n a n ~ u r g g a o e d t y ~ i n m L Z ~ p b

'makes &QM to very few dwmene witb atarions &sing has liabsvidsnco ofdommml .nalyaia

*b96linleormindusionofIl l . (a*lfrmntbe~eMay c o n L a a s s d a u s a m n i n ~ r m K n a a n d w ~ h i n d c 8

(

(

\

Rubric for the DBQ Essay: Scoring Range 4 - 1.

0011*0*11*g*1 440