Letter from John Neff to President Harry S. Truman

P.P.F. 200 Neff's Super-Market 47 con "NUF SED" k. Watseka, Illinois file October 7, 1947 JOHN W. NEFF, Owner Mr. Harry Truman President of the United States Washington, D. C. Dear President: When you took office, and up until recently, I have been 100% in favor of your policies and actions. However, your re- cent radio talk has lead me to believe that you should take a little more interest in the American people and less interest in foreign lands. I have not had the opportunity to visit these lands as you and your assistants have, but I have, for many years, been dealing with farmers and the lower classes of Americans. I know their problems, their difficulties, and their needs. I have also visited the slum area in many of our cities. Ihave also taken extended trips through the South and have seen the needs for housing and education in these areas. It seems to me, that you having been born and raised in the Middle West and possibly have seen some of the living conditions in your own home state of Missouri and the desper- ate need for education and training of our own American people--- would be much more interested in this program and less interest- ed in the need for foreign people and their countries. After having read your recent radio talk carefully, I am definitely of the opinion that you are being influenced by some of your advisors who are not acquainted with the Ameri- can people and do not appreciate, know, or understand the real Americans. Also, Mr. Truman, I think it is time we stopped taking *127 in refugees and stopped all immigration into the United States. X133-A Please do not take this letter lightly and do not take it as being from one of your critics, because I am definitely a supporter of yours; but I think you are going too far on the Foreign Aid Program when we have so many people in desperate need of housing and the proper education in our own United States. Yours very truly, John W. Neff