To Richard M. Nixon
11 January 1957
Atlanta, Ga.
After visiting Hungary in December 1956, Vice President Nixon recommended
federal aid for Hungarian refugees in a 1 January report to the president.
The Southern Negro Leaders Conference calls on Nixon to make a similar
"fact finding" mission to the South. Nixon did not respond.
RICHARD NIXON, VICE PRES=
THE UNITED STATES WASH DC=
DEAR MR VICE PRESIDENT:
ALL PERSONS OF GOODWILL WERE IMPRESSED WITH YOUR DEEP CONCERN FOR THE
SUFFERING OF THE HUNGARIAN PEOPLE WHICH EXPRESSED ITSELF IN YOUR TRIP
TO AUSTRIA, YOUR EPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE URGE YOU TO MAKE SUCH A FACT FINDING TRIP TO TROUBLED AREAS OF THE
SOUTH IN ORDER TO REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE =MERICAN PEOPLE THE
INTENSITY AND EXTENT OF THE ECONOMIC BOYCOTTS, REPRISALS, THE BOMBINGS
AND VIOLENCE DIRECTED AGAINST THE PERSONS AND HOMES OF NEGROES WHO ATTEMPT
TO ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
TO BE SPECIFIC, WITHIN THE LAAST YEAR THOUSANDS OF NEGROES HAVE FLED
MISSISSIPPI. THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO MORAL OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IF YOU WERE TO MAKE THE TRIP INTO THE SOUTH TO EXPLORE THE FACTS,AND
TO TALK WITH VICTIMS OF RACIAL OPPRESSION, YOU COULD THEN RECOMMEND TO
THE PRESIDENT AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A COURSE OF ACTION THAT MIGHT BE
AS EFFECTIVE AS YOUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF HUNGARIAN REFUGEES.
RESPECTFULLY,
THE REV M L KING JR MONTGOMERZ ALA
THE REV C K STEELE TALLAHASSEE FLO GF THE REV
F L SHUTTLESWORTH BIRMINGHAM, ALA
THE REV T J JEMISON, BATON ROUGE, LA
FOR SOUTHERN NEGRO LEADERS CONFERENCE ON TRANSPORTATION AND NON-VIOLENT
INTERGRATION MEETING IN ETLANTA, GEORGIA, JAN 10-11, 1957.
APPRECIATE REPLY BZ WIRE TO=
REV M L KING JR 530 SOUTH UNION ST MONTGOMERY ALA=.
PWSr. PPRN-CYlNL.
1. See "The Text of Nixon Report to President on Problems
of Hungarian Refugee Relief," New York Times, 2 January 1957.
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