Letter from Ashton Williams to President Harry S. Truman with a Reply from William D. Hassett

P.P.F. 200 August 18, 1950 7/19/50 Pro My dear Mr. Williams: W It was good of you to write the President as you did on August first letting him have your fine expression of approval regarding his radio address. Your assurance that the citizens of our Nation are behind our decisions in the present world situation pleased the President very much and he is deeply appreciative. The President asks me to thank you for your good wishes and to heartily recipro- cate them. B Very sincerely yours, WILLIAM D. HASSETT Secretary to the President eb Ashton H.XWilliams, Esq., Lake City, South Carolina. ASHTON H. WILLIAMS ATTORNEY-AT-LAW LAKE CITY, S. C. August 1, 1950 President Harry S. Truman Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. President: I listened to your address to the nation, and it is my opinion that you delivered the greatest speech ever de- livered by an American President. I have not written you before because I wanted to get the reaction from all elements of our people. I think that I can now say that the people in South Carolina and in other states, where I have heard it discussed, are of the unanimous opinion that your speech was really a great one and that they wholeheartedly agree with you. There is one thing, however, Mr. President, that all of the people are greatly worried about and that is the prospect of numerous small wars such as the Korean War, I think that I can state with absolute confidence that it is practically the unanimous sentiment of the people that we should put forth every effort to get ready our- selves and assist in improving the Military situation of our Allies at the earliest possible moment. When this has been done almost everyone, with whom I have talked, and I have talked with hundreds of people, believe that the United Nations should hold Russia as the aggressor in case any other small wars are started by one of her satellites, for Russia will be solely responsible for any of these small wars. I know the people believe that Russia and Russia alone should be held responsible. To carry through such a program, I believe the entire people will support you. Assuring you of my best wishes, I am Sincerely, FORMER NATIONAL EXE- CUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN FOR SOUTH CARO LINA AHW/R