Beschreibung:

NIXON, Richard Milhous (1913-), President . Typed letter signed ("Richard Nixon") as Vice President, to Mrs. Richardson, Washington, D.C., 29 September 1959. 1½ pages, on Vice Presidential stationery. "I COULD NOT ACCEPT HITLER'S IDEA OF A MASTER RACE". A fine letter on the issue of racial policy. Nixon thanks his correspondent for her letter "on the issue of school integration." He notes that the Supreme Court decision (Brown vs. Board of Education) "has presented to the South a particularly difficult problem," but "racial injustice is not confined solely to our Southern states." He proceeds to give his own reasons or supporting the policy of school integration: "Basically, I believe in working for a full opportunity for all our citizens, regardless of race, creed or ancestry." The real reason behind America's greatness is our belief in "freedom and opportunity for all. We fought for our independence to secure political freedom. We welcomed millions of immigrants, many of them fleeing religious, political or economic persecution. Second, to me it is morally wrong to segregate human beings on the basis of race. I could not accept Hitler's idea of a master race," he writes, or "the equally false principle of an inferior race." And, "I am deeply concerned with the impact of racial division in terms of world power. Most of the people of the world belong to the colored races. If we of the United States are considered as racists, then we may lose to the Communist camp millions of potential friends and allies." In conclusion he acknowledges that it is difficult "to change patterns that have prevailed for many years. But we must make this difficult decision, or fail to live up to the sacred ideals of our nation"; he forwards a copy of a speech of the Attorney General on "legal aspects of this problem with particular emphasis on the Little Rock situation." W.P. Rogers's address before the American Bar Association, 27 August 1858, 13pp. , is present.