St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-04-27
McALPIN
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my task easy. After reading the
rules that would govern the press
conference.-the divulging of "off
the record" information, no credit
ing the source of background in
formation, no direct quotation of
the President without his special
permission he announced that
there had been some question about
where he stood on various things,
particularly Breton Woods, the in
ternational monetary set-up. He
said he was for it.
That was my cue. If he was 60
ing to discuss where he stood on
various questions, my question was
now Gin order" Immediately,
said "Mr. President" But some
one with a louder voice got his at
tention. He was asked about his
position on the reciprocal trade
agreements. He said he was for
it.
Again, 1 said "Mr. President"
This time louder. This time he
looked directly at me. 1t meant 1
was recognized.
"Mr. President" I began, "as
much as by any other group in
America, the loss of President
Roosevelt has been felt keenly by
Negroes. They looked on him as
a symbol of justice, fair play and
equal opportunity. They felt con-
fident in his stand on fair employ
ment practices, on the right to
vote unhampered by poll taxes and
other artificial restrictions, on equal
justice under law free from lynch
ing and mob violence.
would you comment on these
matters and any others that may
give reinsurance to Is million of
your fellow Americans who, today,
look hopefully to you?"
knew 1 was making an embryo
speech as much as asking a ques-
ton. But I knew no other way to
do it without giving the impression
I was trying to put the new Presi-
dent con the spot"-which I was
not trying to do.
1t took about three quarters of a
minute for me to ask the question.
During the entire time, Pres. Tru-
man looked me straight in the eye.
He did not f1inch-as 1 have seen
so many government officials do
when faced with the so-called "Ne-
gro problem" in the presence of a
large group of whites. The length
of my question no doubt gave him
a chance to frame his answer. When
l finished, he smiled and with sin
cerity and no hesitation said he
would give me some advice-I need
only read the Senate record of one
Harry S. Truman.
The next question was on the
possibility of his going to the San
Francisco conference opening on
April rs. About ten more ques-
lions were asked, another one of
which he answered by referring the
reporter to the record with a sug-
gestion that he read it to find where
he stood.
"Thank you, Mr.. President"
brought the conference to a close.
A reporter standing near me tapped
my shoulder and said "A good ques-
ton, Mac"
AS passed in front of the Presi-
dents desk he was shaking hands
with those Immediately preceding
me. To each one he said he was
glad to see them. When I reached
him, he started the same greeting
as he had given the others. Then
his face became pleasantly serious.
He held on to my hand with a firm
grip. He looked me straight in
the eye. He said he was sure if 1
looked up his Senate record not
only would 1 find where he stood
but that I would be pleased with
what I found. He said the Negro
had nothing to fear.
He was still holding my hand in
a friendly clasp, and said: 81
know your record and where you
stand, Mr.. President. thought,
however, that the world should
know that your stand as a United
States Senator is still your stand
now that you are President of the
United States"
He smiled, gave my hand an
extra squeeze and shake, and 1
left. Like every other correspond
ent there, 1 was impressed with
the way the new President had
handled himself and the many
"touchy" problems that had been
thrown at him at his first press
conference.
think he'll do all right.