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Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-132-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s radio and television address to the nation regarding desegregation and racially motivated violence at the University of Mississippi. In his speech President Kennedy regrets the necessity for any action by the federal government, but explains that the freedom to disagree with the law does not include the freedom to disobey it. The President calls upon the citizens of Mississippi to allow student James Meredith an equal opportunity for education and to preserve law and order by upholding their tradition of honor and courage.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-09-30-B
AR27
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-020-007
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-020-005
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-020-003
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-020-002
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-017
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-016
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-014
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-013
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-011
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-010
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-009
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-008
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-007
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-019-004
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-098-001
This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning desegregation, civil unrest, and racially motivated violence at the University of Mississippi. Materials in this folder include newspaper clippings, a press release of President Kennedy's telegram to Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, a summary of foreign attitudes towards race relations in Mississippi, a draft of President Kennedy's speech on desegregation and racially motivated violence in Mississippi by Special Counsel and speechwriter Theodore Sorensen, and memoranda concerning incidents of violence, military operations, the history of Presidents sending military forces to restore law and order, and advice from staff as to how to remove obstructions of justice.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-097-012
This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning desegregation, civil unrest, and racially motivated violence at the University of Mississippi. Materials in this folder include newspaper clippings, telegrams to Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, memoranda concerning student James Meredith and Governor Barnett, transcripts of telephone conversations between President Kennedy and Governor Barnett, transcripts of Associated Press news articles concerning violence and desegregation, press releases regarding unlawful obstructions of justice at the university, a memorandum from Special Assistant to the President Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and a draft of President Kennedy's statement on desegregation at the University of Mississippi.
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-005-004
Textual folder
Burke Marshall Personal Papers
BMPP-005-002
Textual folder
Walter Lord Personal Papers
WLPP-006-003
Content warning: This folder contains materials that promote racist ideologies, including offensive depictions of Black people and segregationist propaganda. The material is available here it its original form to facilitate research of the historical record.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Central Subject Files
JFKWHCSF-0366-007
Materials in this folder include correspondence from President John F. Kennedy to regional law enforcement officers expressing gratitude for escorting student James Meredith through the University of Mississippi campus and maintaining public safety in Oxford, Mississippi.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Central Subject Files
JFKWHCSF-0366-006
Materials in this folder include telegrams, memoranda, a newspaper article, and correspondence between President John F. Kennedy, various members of the White House staff, individual citizens, and state and local officials concerning the removal of unlawful obstructions of justice and desegregation at the University of Mississippi.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Central Subject Files
JFKWHCSF-0366-005
Materials in this folder include telegrams, memoranda, newspaper articles, and correspondence between President John F. Kennedy, various members of the White House staff, individual citizens, and state and local officials in Mississippi concerning racially motivated violence, desegregation at the University of Mississippi, the activities of civil rights advocates in the state (often referred to as Freedom Riders), and the use of military presence to enforce civil rights policies. The folder also contains press releases of President Kennedy’s Executive Order to remove unlawful obstructions of justice. This folder contains some French language material.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Central Subject Files
JFKWHCSF-0369-006
Materials in this folder include letters questioning the constitutionality of the use of Federal troops in the University of Mississippi unrest, telegrams regarding the possible internment in Arlington Cemetery of slain National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Mississippi field secretary Medgar Evers, and telegrams suggesting the President withhold Federal funds from Mississippi. Of note is a telegram from Evers to the President concerning the mistreatment of African-Americans in Jackson, Mississippi. Also included in this folder is a letter from Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors member Frank E. Smith to Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Burke Marshall concerning Smith’s knowledge of De La (Delay) Beckworth, the man charged with the murder of Evers.