MEETING WITH GOVERNOR WALLACE I met today with Governor Wallace of Alabama
to discuss very thoroughly the situation that exists in that State. The Governor expressed his concern that the
demonstrations which have taken place are a threat to the peace and security of the
people of Alabama. I expressed my own concern about the need for remedying those grievances
which lead to the demonstrations by people who feel their rights have been denied. I said that those Negro citizens of Alabama
who have systematically been denied the right to register and to participate in the choice
of those who govern them should be provided the opportunity of directing national attention
to their plight. They feel that they are being denied a very precious right. And I understand
their concern. In his telegram last night to me, Governor
Wallace expressed his belief that all eligible citizens are entitled to exercise their right
to vote. He repeated that belief today, and he stated that he is against any discrimination
in that regard. I am firmly convinced, as I said to the Governor
a few moments ago, that when all of the eligible Negroes of Alabama have been registered, the
economic and the social injustices they have experienced throughout will be righted, and
the demonstrations, I believe, will stop. I advised the Governor of my intention to
press with all the vigor at my command to assure that every citizen of this country
is given the right to participate in his Government at every level through the complete voting
process. The Governor's expressed interest in law and
order met with a warm response. We are a Nation that is governed by laws, and our procedures
for enacting and amending and repealing these laws must prevail. I told the Governor that we believe in maintaining
law and order in every county and in every precinct in this land. If State and local
authorities are unable to function, the Federal Government will completely meet its responsibilities. I told the Governor that the brutality in
Selma last Sunday just must not be repeated. He agreed that he abhorred brutality and regretted
any instance in which any American citizen met with violence. As the Governor had indicated his desire to
take actions to remedy the existing situation in Alabama which caused people to demonstrate,
I respectfully suggested to him that he consider the following actions which I believed and
the Attorney General and others familiar with the matter, and associated with me, believed
would be highly constructive at this stage of the game. First, I urged that the Governor publicly
declare his support for universal suffrage in the State of Alabama, and the United States
of America. Second, I urged him to assure that the right
of peaceful assembly will be permitted in Alabama so long as law and order is maintained. Third, I expressed the hope that the Governor
would call a biracial meeting when he returns to Alabama, to seek greater cooperation and
to ask for greater unity among Americans of both races. I asked the Governor for his cooperation and
I expressed my appreciation for his coming to Washington to discuss this problem. Q. Mr. President, against the background of
what you said, and aside from the situation in Selma, I wonder if you could tell us your
general philosophy, your belief in how demonstrators in other parts of the country should conduct
themselves? For example, how do you feel about the demonstrations that are going on outside
the White House right now, or in other parts, in other cities of the United States, and
in front of Federal buildings ? THE PRESIDENT. I tried to cover that in my
statement, but I believe in the right of peaceful assembly. I believe that people have the right
to demonstrate. I think that you must be concerned with the rights of others. I do not think a person, as has been said,
has the right to holler "fire" in a crowded theater. But I think that people should have
the right to peacefully assemble, to picket, to demonstrate their views, and to do anything
they can to bring those views to the attention of people, provided they do not violate laws
themselves, and provided they conduct themselves as they should. GOVERNOR WALLACE Q. Mr. President, did Governor
Wallace indicate, sir, at all, an area of understanding and cooperation and acceptance
of some of your suggestions to solve this violence there ? THE PRESIDENT. I will have to let the Governor
speak for himself. He is going to appear tomorrow. We spoke very frankly and very forthrightly.
We exchanged views--and we are not in agreement on a good many things. I am hopeful that the
visit will be helpful and I did my best to make my viewpoint clear. Q. Mr. President, I was going to ask you how
the Governor reacted. THE PRESIDENT. The Governor had his share
of the conversation. He told me of the problems that he had in Alabama, the fears that he
entertained, and he expressed the hope that I could do something to help bring the demonstrations
to an end. I told him very frankly that I thought our
problem, which I had been working on for several weeks now, was to face up to the cause of
the demonstration and remove the cause of the demonstration, and that I hoped if he
would give assurance that people would be protected in their demonstrations in Alabama,
he would give assurance that he would try to improve the voting situation in Alabama,
if I could submit my message to the Congress and get prompt action on it that would insure
the right of the people of Alabama to vote, that I thought that we could improve the demonstration
situation. Q. Mr. President, a two-part question on the
same subject: Can you tell us what your thinking is if Governor
Wallace would not accept any or all of your suggestions; and secondly, in announcing from
Montgomery that he had asked to see you, he indicated that he was concerned about a threat
throughout the country. Do you share that concern ? THE PRESIDENT. I am deeply concerned that
our citizens anywhere should be discriminated against and should be denied their constitutional
rights. I have plotted my course. I have stated my
views. I have made clear, whether the Governor agrees or not, that law and order will prevail
in Alabama, that people will be--their rights to peacefully assemble will be preserved,
and that their constitutional rights will be protected. GROWING MODERATION IN THE SOUTH Q. Mr. President,
some of the clergymen who came out yesterday reported that you had detected a resurgence
of a moderate spirit among the whites in the South. Can you tell us what evidence you have
seen of that, and perhaps anything that is being done to encourage it? THE PRESIDENT. The presence of a good many
people from the South in Selma, the presence of some of the ministers from the South here,
the messages that I have received from the citizens of that area, the support that the
businessmen and the clergy and the labor people have given the Civil Rights Act and its enforcement,
have all given me strength and comfort and encouragement.
