377

LETTER ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITY
August 1, 1967

Honorable Nelson A. Rockefeller
Governor of New York
Albany, New York

Dear Nelson:

It was very encouraging to receive your telephone call this morning.
As a matter of fact, it indicates beyond doubt that I have been entirely
correct in my assessment of where the real leadership among the
Republican Governors lies.

In response to your request, I am happy to furnish the following
observations and information concerning the steps taken in Maryland
to alleviate the recent racial stresses:

Before the riot in Cambridge occurred we had been working
for about three weeks in an effort to quiet tensions there. I
had sent in my most highly qualified Negro staff member and he
was apparently making progress with the responsible members
of the community. The appearance of H. Rap Brown and his
inflammatory speech (a copy of which we were able to record)
caused an outburst of violence and burning in the town. Prompt
action by the State Police and National Guard restored order by
the next day and we have been able to pull the Guard out with-
out provoking further incidents. Brown is being extradited from
Virginia to face charges of inciting to riot and arson. The case
is well documented and should be successful.

Realizing that an immediate grassroots effort had to be under-
taken in Cambridge and believing that because of the violence
it should be spearheaded by the local private sector instead of
government, I stimulated the organization of a bi-racial com-
mittee which is now operating very effectively. The objectives
are to provide relief for the victims of violence and to begin
digging into the long-range causes of the trouble. My role was
simply to encourage a recognition of the problem and provide
the impetus for the initial meeting.

Immediately after the Cambridge outbreak I provided all the
news media with a definitive statement of my position, stressing
that the firmest governmental action should occur where the
people of the slums were exercising restraint and self-control.
The Mayor of Baltimore and I together began a crash program