Martin Luther King And The White House - 922 Words

Martin Luther King and The White House Throughout the Civil Right Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) and other civil rights leaders worked with the executive branch to move towards equal rights. Though the civil rights movement spanned many administrations, the most progress occurred during the terms of President Kennedy and President Johnson, thus we will examine the relationship between two different Presidential administrations Martin Luther King, Jr. Each correspondence between the two groups is different. They vary in formality, recipients, and purpose; therefore these primary sources also show the evolution of the relationship. Citizens of this country, especially minorities, have not always been treated with rights grant to†¦show more content†¦Johnson (Civil Rights). Though Martin Luther King Jr. worked very closely with the White House, many of the early correspondences were very formal. Two prime examples of this are his invitation to John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and a telegraph sent in response the Birmingham bombing (Figure 1). The stiffness of the invitation might seem obvious, but it is very important to note. Though MLK did not attend the ceremony, the letter signifies the desire of the administration to have him seen as a political ally. Two years later MLK sent a telegram to the White House. In the telegram, he condemns the bombing and implores the Kennedy administration to make change saying, â€Å"However, I am convinced that unless some steps are taken by the federal government to restore a sense of confidence in the protection of life†¦ we shall see the worst racial holocaust this nation has ever seen,† (Figure 1). This is not a suggestion passed along casually, but an attempt to establish respect on a very perti nent issue. It is true that corresponding with the highest position in the land might call for some formality, but MLK was often times informal during one on one conversation with White House personnel. This can be seen in his letter to Special Assistant Frank D. Reeves. In a letter written on February 28, 1961 King addresses Reeves as one might a friend. King only uses last names in both his greeting and closing of the letters. Moreover, King reveals his personal thoughts on