St. Paul recorder., 1963-12-05
The New President,
Needs Some Time


Vice-PreSident in us. history assumed the Presi-
dency following assassination and made what
could be called outstanding record. Only time and
events will tell whether President Lyndon Balnes
johnson viii be an exception to the lack-lustre
record made far by all Of his predecessors except
one. In a sense the main thing the new President
needs is some time.
In another Mr.. Johnson is fortunate that
John Kennedy had caught the imagination Of the
world and the majority Of Americans and by
present day standards doing a good job in very
difficult office. The JFK legislative aims for the
balance Of his term Of office were 50 clearly defined
that if Mr. johnson plans to press for their frItion
and enactment into law. he viii be in the fortunate
position of not having to start entire program
anew.
In his first two addresses 10 the nation via the
joint session Of the Congress and the Thanksgiving
Day opportunity, President Johnson said things in
a firm resolute voice that struck responsive note
in the hearts Of those Americans who had some trep
idation about his actual feeling and views of civil
rights, and those who know the nation must face its
most dfvisive domestic problem.
President johnson, in his message to Congress
appealing but firm the civil rights question
in which most readers of this paper virtually in
terested. The greatest applause which he received
he renewed President Kennedy's pledge that the
chief executive wanted laws written which would
protest the basic rights Of the most humble Negro
in rural Mississippi.
He drew splendid applause when he dweed on
the need 10 drive hatred and its concomitant evils
from the land Such applause may herald the
desire and determination of the most reluctant
members of Congress to come to grips with the
issue
Again in his Thanksgiving Day address from
the White House the President returned 10 the
theme that intolerance and bigotry too expen-
sive for the country to continue to tolerate
It should be admitted until the day Lyndon
Johnson took office President there and
still many Negro Americans who view his
statements position and actions with something less
than trust. His statements far have been
suring. And also anyone who has taken the time 10
observe and read will learn that Johnson chair
man of the Presidents Committee for CONTRACT
Comphances made record against job discrimina-
ton by firms holding US contracts which is cred
tied with providing Negroes with 10000 jobs at
their highest stils in industry. In a similar role
under Eisenhower Wce-President Nixon, Northern
was a dismal failure
Many could observe that Mrs. Lyndon Johnson
has included the wives of us Officials who Ne
gro in her social affairs Others will remember that
Carl T. Rowan now Ambassador to Finland who
has hesitated to condemn race discrimination
from platform, public, stage and in his writings is
close to the President and that there other
young non-compromising Negroes like Howard
Woods of St Louis and Detroit attorney Hobart
Taylor of Detroit and Washington who high on
the list Of the new President
This newspaper believes a visitor Friday, No
vember % to the White House who conferred with
the President is indication of the rights position
of the new President That visitor was Roy Wilkins
of the NAACP, the organization upon which all
southern racists groups vent their ire Wilkins audi
with the President is just a sign of the
way the winds blow with the occupant at the
White House.
Even all Of the circumstances we have men,
toned before do not tell the full story for we believe
that Presidents largely nodded by the times and
events. No matter who is in the White House he is
bound to be influenced by the issues which face the
United States and the world today.
In such a situation the man in office will either
accept the challenge of the day and give leadership
to resolving the problems which face the nation or
not. There is small hiding place for President. He
is either voice to which all turn for leadership
victim of the tides of time. unable to stem the stormy
which would swamp the ship of state
Lyndon Johnson is ideally fitted we believe for
the heavy task he has assumed. His long service In
the Congress- his political now-ow and his disposi-
ton and philosophy provide the possibility of the
man from Texas making great President. Certainly
of now-lnost loyal Americans shocked momen-
tarily by the tragic death of President Kennedy
prepared to put aside partisan politics long enough
for the countrys sake to wish President johnson
well.