St. Paul recorder., 1963-10-10
MIR. Nixon Places Blame
On Wrong Shoulders


candidate for the Presidency who is usually quite re-
tdcent about discussing the civil rights issue is re-
ported this week making critical comment about
President Kennedys civil rights posture and record.
Mr. Nixon is reported in the press blaming
the present civil rights crisis campaign promises
made by Mr. Kennedy which he did not keep. Nixon
claims the Kennedy promises resulted in the wave
of racial demonstrations and disorders which still
prevalent in all parts of the nation.
We think Mr Nixon is wrong. The civil rights
crisis would have developed in 1858 without any
campaign promises by John F. Kennedy In our
opinion, even if Mr. Nixon had been elected to the
White House in 1860 without making single cam
paign promise the civil rights issue, the situation
would have been the same it is today and prob
ably worse.
President Kennedy involved himself in the civil
rights issue directly from the day of his inaugural
when he observed as he stood in the inclement
weather that not a single Negro cadet was among
those passing the reviewing stand from the US.
Coast Guard Academy, and wanted to know the
why.
From his first day in the White House he began
to practice in both his public and private relations
civil rights program which set an example both for
public officials and for leaders in all of Amer
loan life.
In government he set off the biggest attempt to
bring the end 10 discrimination against Negroes in
federal service that the nation has seen and
one which has revohItonized the entire employment
policy of the biggest employer in the U.S.A., the
federal government
Kennedy personally set the stage for civil rights
advance However he put off pressing for civil rights
legislation ait the federal level because he knew he
would risk passage of other key legislation which
he felt should have opportunity for passage before
the Congress was asked to enact rights legislation
The Negro press, lberal whites and the leaders
on the bi-ractal civil rights organizations were
naturally critical Of the administration for its failure
10 press Immediately for federal rights measures
and kept the heat on Kennedy despite the example
ne set in the areas where the executive branch had
control.
The growth OF the Negro Revolution" forced
the hand of Kennedy 1t would have forced action
by whoever in the White House and the admin
isuration had 10 take leadership in the interest of
national peace and tranquility in program to en-
act laws which would halt the widespread denial of
the American Negroes basic rights.
Thus John Kennedy who did not want to en-
gage in fight 10 the finish with the southern
segregaionists who have a vested interest in keep
ing the Negro in state of semi-savery for fear of
endangering other legislation which he considered
essential to the entire natons welfare, was forced
by the circumstances of the hour to change his
for human dignity and justice in a country which
boasts gave birth to both of these virtues
Mr. Kennedy like any other President under
similar conditions and like Mr. Nixon who now
criticses him, will have to face the revolution Of
people tired TO death of receiving less than their
just due from nation which Is indebted heavily to
them.
1t ought to be pointed out again and again that
when the chips were down Mr. Kennedy has not
once took the coVwardly way out He has reacted as
any President of all the people should and nothing
Mr.. Nixon anyone can say or do can take that
away from him.
This issue would have been settled years
ago if we had had President in the White House
in the past five decades before JFK who could see
the seriousness of a problem crying for atten-
tion and sensible solution.
That Mr.. Kennedy has Joined in the civil rights
crusade, instead of hanging back is to his credit His
position required courage and faith for his political
foes are not hesttaing to mahgn him for trying to
clean up mess which neither of the political parties
have applied themselves to in the past 100 years If
Mr.. Nixon wants to do the nation which has honored
him with the Vice cePresidency real public service he
will support the efforts Of Mr. Kennedy to get Con-
gress to pass meaningful rights legislation
MorshoI1 nOosn9f Wont