Telegram from L.H. Foster, President of the Tuskegee Institute to President Johnson, 2/4/64

ong CSH but to justice Dept Billyite Mouse 1 Mashingies File WA008 NL PD 1964 FEB 4 AM 5 17 JB TUSKEGEE ALA 3 THE PRESIDENT THE WHITE HOUSE THE PHYSICAL SAFETY AND THE GENERAL WELL BEING OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF TUSKEGEE AND OF MACON COUNTY IN ALABAMA ARE IN GRAVE DANGER. I CANNOT TOO STRONGLY URGE YOU TO USE PROMPTLY AND FULLY THE POWERS OF YOUR OFFICE TO ASSURE THAT WE WILL PRINTED BE ENCOURAGED AND PROTECTED IN OUR EFFORTS TO FOLLOW ORDERLY RECEIVED PROCESSES OF GOVERNMENT AND CONSTRUCTIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS. FEB1 1964 CENTRAL FILES OUR PROBLEM IS THAT THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA PERSISTENTLY AND WILFULLY USES THE POWERS OF HIS OFFICE TO THWART COURT ACTIONS WHICH HAVE DESEGREGATED THE TUSKEGEE HIGH SCHOOL AND WHICH HAVE MADE CLEAR IN OTHER WAYS THE RIGHTS OF ALL CITIZENS TO VOTE AND EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. THE MANY OPPRESSIVE ACTIONS AND EXPRESSIONS BY THE GOVERNOR ENCOURAGE LAWLESS ELEMENTS TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE AND TO INCITE VIOLENCE; AND THIS, IN TURN, CREATES DEEP RESENTMENT AMOUNT THE NEGROES AND MANY OTHER CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE STUDENTS OF TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE ARE ESPECIALLY AGGRIEVED. ALL OF US ARE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE OUR POSITIVE AND ORDERLY EFFORTS FOR HUMAN FREEDOM, BUT THE ACTIONS BY ALABAMA'S GOVERNOR AGGRAVATE MATTERS EXCEEDINGLY. WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR PERSONAL INTERVENTION AND THE FIRM SUPPORT OF OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN THIS GRAVE CRISIS so THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK THESE MATTERS OUT CONSTRUCTIVELY AND IN ACCORD WITH COURT DECISIONS L H FOSTER PRESIDENT TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE.