Transcripts For CSPAN3 President 20240703

On freedom freedom. It is my deep conviction that we have reached a turning point in the long history of our countrys efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens. Our immediate task is to move the last remnants of the barrier, which stand between millions of our citizens and their birthright. We must make the federal government a friendly, vigilant defender of the rights and equality of all americans. When i say all americans, i mean all americans. We can no longer afford luxury of a leisurely attack upon prejudice and discriminate never before has the need been so urgent for skillful and vigorous action to bring us closer to. Our ideal. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Clifton Truman. Daniel. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. I am Clifton Truman daniel and it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Opening Event of the truman civil rights symposium 75 years ago today. My grandfather our president , harry truman, changed the course of American History when he signed executive orders that ended racial segregation, the federal workforce and in the u. S. Armed forces. On this proud occasion and on behalf of my family i want to thank all of you who are with us both in person here and and all of those all of you who helped make this symposium a reality, my grandfather once said, i dont believe in little plans. You can always amend the big plan, but you can never expand a little that the civil rights symposium was a big plan. Two years in the making. These three days will introduce us to nearly 40 individuals prominent, military and civilian leaders, elected officials, authors journalists, historians and veterans of all United States armed forces. What an extraordinary opportunity to part of this essential, essential national conversation, a conversation that invites to reflect on our founding ideals on president ial and on the future of equality in america. Grandpa also said that it is amazing what you can accomplish, if you do not care who gets the credit, but i want to take a moment to recognize a few for the tremendous accomplishment of symposium. Do me a favor, please hold your applause until. The last name is read. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the distinguished members of the symposiums honorary committee, including those who are in attendance tonight. Cochairs congressman Emanuel Cleaver and congressman james clyburn, vice chair, admiral howard, judge Richard Gergel, Brigadier General donald. And watching home ambassador john estrada. Id like to thank the truman civil rights Symposium Planning Committee the library of congress and dr. Carla hayden for not only allowing us to use this building for our event but also participating in tonights program. The Truman Library and staff and board all they do to advance my grandfathers legacy and. Our symposium sponsors theyre all listed in your program with a special thanks to our Title Sponsor, boeing and presenting sponsor cp kc. Oh, thank you all. Applause please for our. My grandfather is often called an unlikely civil rights champion and not without reason. But 75 years ago, facing a Reelection Campaign, his first chance to win the presidency, he championed the very cause that could have spelled defeat. He had this to say about win lose, draw. The people will. Where i stand in response to brutality that World War Two veterans faced in their own. My grandfather put aside political concerns and did what was right. The blinding of Sergeant Isaac woodard, whose story we will hear tonight was a turning point in my grandfathers life that ultimately led to one of the most important and politically courageous acts of his presidency. In 1947, grandpa formed the first ever president s committee on civil rights, which delivered its landmark report to secure these rights, which, by the way still stands as a blueprint for building a more equitable society. And i invite you to read it if you a chance. He became the first president to address civil rights, including the acp. He was the first president to call for equal voting rights. Equal employment. Fair laws. Antilynching legislation and more. In a civil rights address to congress. And ultimately, he did what congress would not do. On july 26th, 1948, he signed executive order 9981, ignoring public and even some of his own generals. He desegregated the United States armed forces. And as far as grandpa was concerned, and americans could no longer reconcile racial inequity, the values that our nations soldiers and sailors had fought, bled and, died to uphold. That same day he signed executive order 9980, which banned discrimination in federal hiring. Together, they paved the way for civil rights legislation and Supreme Court decisions in the fifties and 1960s, including versus the board of education, integrating the Public Schools without executive order 9981. Our nation would not have had leaders like army colin powell, who became the first black chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the first black u. S. Secretary of state. We would not have had lloyd austin, a retired u. S. Army four star general, as our secretary of defense, the first black american to serve in that role. We would not have michelle howard, a retired navy admiral who became the first black woman to reach three and four stars in the armed forces and the first black woman to command a navy ship. And we would not have general cq brown junior serving as the chief of the air force and recently nominated as the next chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Ive often said that my grandfathers greatest accomplished point was showing the country and the world that an ordinary middle class american from the midwest, a farmer, a small businessman and a citizen soldier can rise to the highest office in this land and do a better job of it than almost anybody else. That is the promise of this, and it must be extend did to all americans. The objectives he pursued, through his civil rights decisions, remain as and important now as they were in 1948. And we still have lot of work to do. As my grandfather said, whether discrimination is based on race or creed or color or land of origin, it is utterly contrary to the american of democracy. I am excited to embark on this journey with you so lets get to it. It is my honor to bring to the stage director of military and veteran affairs of the boeing linwood ham. Mr. Hamm is responsible for the development and execution of programs. Positively impact the veteran and military families community. And for leading the boeing global relationship with talent management, other boeing stakeholders in support of veteran recruitment and hiring programs. Previously he worked at the institute for security governance, where he led and guided Capacity Building programs, the indopacific region. He also worked for the u. S. Institute of peace, where he led inter organizational projects on addressing fragile states and understanding risk to u. S. Diplomats and Development Professionals and United Nations peacekeeping reform. Mr. Hamm served over 24 years in the united army, with more than 12 years of experience and executing, assessing National Policy directives, the United States department of defense and the u. S. Department of state. Friends, please join me in welcoming to the stage a message from our Title Sponsor of the company linwood ham. Thank you, clifton for those kind words and the introduction. Good, distinguished guests. Good evening, friends i am honored here tonight representing the boeing company and our partnership of the truman libraries commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the desegregation of the United States armed forces. As a proud army veteran and west point graduate and a son of washington, dc, southeast dc. Im one of so many who know the importance of what our president did to open the doors for many of africanamericans and so many of them who paved a very difficult and trying path. So that i could enjoy 24 years of service. As clifton described, it was my honor to do that. But i know that every day it was my opportunity paid for by those who started on that path opened up because of the work of president truman. In the last 75 years, we have seen those from the minority communities raise their hands to serve at a rate greater than their representative rate in our country. Our military is revered around the world for many reasons, not the least of which, and most importantly, because allies and partners from around the world look at us and say, you get the very best from every part of your society in order to make this nation strong. Because we have the strongest defense force, because we pick the very best from everyone. Align with president trumans vision. Boeing is committed to ensuring equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who serve. Making investments in organizations, supporting veterans of color. The families who serve alongside. Were thrilled every single day work with over 500 partners that each day work to advance civic engagement, community involvement, economic mobility, Mental Health and benefits that are that are ill treated, served to the to the and underrepresented to communities where we live and work. Tonight, that was mentioned, which are held later, a discussion about Isaac Woodard. Someone have i thought about, you know, throughout my military career and in particular tonight as i was preparing these words i his the attack that befell that gentleman brought into sharp relief. The distance the chasm between the ideal of equality and the reality of Racial Injustice that existed in our in our country and that president truman took the courage to make this choice, because it was. Right. What was being done was immoral because he understood the human bond that was broken time and time again by these acts and so many others that we didnt even know about. Our nation is the great beneficiary of president trumans courageous act to right this terrible, wrong. Its our shared response ability to advance racial equality, equality, and to strive for more perfect union. I would also like to note that this year is also the 50th anniversary of the all volunteer force that all volunteer forces discussed before was built. The strength of bringing together this nations very best all races, all creeds, colors, men and women. Im hopeful that conversation lines like this one over the next three days and others and the conversations that organizations, like the Truman Library institute, will lead will help us find our way to continue every single day to galvanize the country so we can strengthen our ability to deliver our core values of liberty, justice for all. At boeing, we say veterans make us better. And it is also diversity that will make the country the one that we strive for. Thank you. Please welcome josh earnest. Good evening. Its a special privilege to be back in d. C. And especially to be here tonight in this beautiful space with this distinguished crowd, to mark such an historic occasion. Theres so many lessons to draw from the legacy of president trumans desegregation order. And a close examination can inform our views on an incredibly wide range of issues. The racial dynamics of partizan politics. The impact of military service on our democratic society. The exercise of president ial power. The heroism of servicemembers who bravely defended a country that conspicuously to provide the freedom that they were fighting for. The role of government in creating a path to equality of economic opportunity. The history of the Civil Rights Movement. The current state of the ongoing for civil rights. And so much more. Im sure a number of ideas about the impact of president trumans executive action will be discussed from a variety of perspectives over the course of the next couple of days. But theres one aspect of president trumans decision that i believe worthy of consideration here at outset of this symposium. And its simply this. Some of the most profound sound consequences of this executive order would have been impossible to predict when president put pen to paper. 75 years ago, to say it more plainly, president truman didnt know what the consequence is of his executive action would be. He couldnt have. But he did know one thing. He knew it was the right thing to do. I think theres a lesson there for all of us, even those of us who arent the president of the United States. Just yesterday, i had the opportunity to tour the 19 acre construction site that is the future home of obama president ial center in jackson park, chicagos south side. With the help of technology and a couple of good tour guides, even two years before is completed, you can get a good sense of what mr. And mrs. Obama and their team are aiming for. Yes the museum will explore the biograph physical roots of the president and first lady. It will trace the arc of an insurgent president ial campaign. And theres an extensive review of the issues the Obama Administration focused on so intently issues like health care, national security, climate change, education, the great financial crisis and the rest it. But a significant portion of the story that the obamas are looking to tell is about citizenship and the responsibility that each of us has to engage in our democracy. And do the right thing to change our community for the better. Because as president obama often said, if you can change your community, you can change your state. If you can change your state, you can your country. And if you can change your country, you can change the world. In other words, its impossible to predict just how much good you can do. Thats what both of these president s did when. They were at their best. And fortunately for the american people, the courage of their convictions is fact. What drove so many of the decisions that president truman and president obama made . Even when faced with tough decisions, especially when faced with tough decisions, they didnt on the polls or the politics. They didnt focus on the clicks, the cable hits. They concentrated on doing the right thing and letting history be the judge. Tonight will be access. It will be assessing the legacy of president trumans courageous decision. And perhaps theres no person to kick off this symposium than the very first black commander in chief of the United States military and the 44th president of the United States, barack obama. Hi, everybody. Welcome to the truman civil rights symposia here. I want to start by thanking the Truman Library institute for organizing this event. Together, you president trumans values. And im proud that my friend josh earnest is part of your team. I also want to thank all of you for being here the next few days are about celebrating the 75th anniversary of two executive orders signed by president truman. One banning Racial Discrimination in federal hiring. And the second, banning segregate in the u. S. Military. As president , you learn pretty quickly that there are limits to what you can accomplish without congress. But you also realize that as the head of the executive and the commander in chief, you have opportunities to make a real and lasting difference. Thats exactly what president truman did. The grandson of owners, harry truman, was never most likely champion for civil rights. But during the depths of jim crow, he argued for racial equality, becoming the first president to address the acp. And when he saw black veterans returning from World War Two only to face violence and abuse at home. He went a step further by desegregating the federal workforce. The single largest employer in the country. President truman set powerful example and new opportunities for generations of black americans and by ordering the integration of the military. He advanced the Civil Rights Movement helped prove that america is safer. When americans fight together. Now another thing you learn as president is that no law or executive solves everything on its own. And these were no exceptions. President trumans order to desegregate the military faced fierce opposition, and much of the progress that ultimately happened was the result of the persistence dedication and patriotism of black servicemen and women. But president truman made it possible, and more than that, he proved once again that generation can look upon our imperfections and remake this nation to more closely align with our highest ideals. Maybe we continue to follow his example. Thank you and enjoy the event. Please welcome congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The second. Thank you very much for introducing me. President obama obama. As representative of Harry Trumans hometown of independence, missouri, i am very much honored to be with you this evening. When harry truman became, the first president to address the naacp in 1947, i dont think anyone could have imagined the progress to come. And since that day, just think about it dr. King marched on washington. President johnson signed a number of civil rights bills. Thurgood marshall joined the supreme. And america. Barack Hussein Obama to the presidency in his speech, president truman warned that we cannot afford the luxury of a leisurely attack on discrimination. His words marked the genesis of the civil rights era, ringing out in congress, state legislatures, congregations living, rooms and city streets all around this great country. Today we meet to keep trumans words alive and usher our children and their children into new era of civil rights. Before dr. Divulged his rosa parks took a seat on a bus and president obama swore his oath. President truman signed executive. 9981 and what the stroke of a pen. Truman ended 172 years. 172 years. 172 years of a segregated american army. Africanamerica conservative. Every Armed Conflict the revolutionary war sacrificed, their lives for american promise. And i guess thats what a lot of young people looked at when they said black lives matter. The department of defense sacrificed black lives without, granting them equal honor. Last sunday, my father celebrated his. 101st birthday and and. And i thank god mostly that hes still with it. There are obviously some things we would like for him to forget, but he. Just wont. But one of the things that i told him about coming to this today, i will remember in my little grandson was with me, who i hope i can say it, remind him over and over again that he will remember it for the rest of his life. Like my father, senator, little lunch table. And he said when truman signed. Executive order 9981, he said, my brothers and i has two brothers. We went, zoom. It uses hands, went zoom. And i said, what . What do you mean, zoom . He said. It gave us a chance. Go to college on the g. I. Bill. And he said, are middle class mass is a result. Of 9981. My father went to prayer of you and him university following his brother to prayer of you. And then his younger brother emmanuel went to college. For the first time in my familys history. America kept his promise. President trumans words are salient today, as they were 76 years ago. All you have to do is think about the ndaa that we dealt with in congress. President truman dealt with the same issues. In 1947 and tragically, were still dealing with them today. We cannot afford a relaxed resolve against hate. We cannot afford a dull denunciation against violence. We cannot afford to wait for bigotry to blow the bugle of retreat in the battle for the soul of america. And as president truman said, we cannot afford the luxury of leisurely attacks against discrimination. Maya angelou reminds us that the onus is upon us all to work to improve the human condition. Let me just end by saying most of you and independence from independence, you already know. Most people probably dont know, though. Independence has its own water system. Almost all the other cities in the metropolitan area, they bottled water from city except for independence. Wouldnt it be nice to for some members of congress to drink water in independence. Please welcome, alex burden. Hello, friends. How are you . I want to thank everyone traveled here from missouri, independence, kansas city. To be with us. Weve got a great delegation of truman friends, new and old, with for this wonderful open end to this wonderful truman civil rights ceremony. And what i told myself, i wasnt going to look up at this amazing venue and i just did. But what a spot. Dr. Hayden, sue siegel, wherever you are. Thank you for opening up your hearts and your building to this symposium. Thank you all. Ive got a long list of thank yous all on the list, but im going to keep it to one. Thank you for making this possible. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for being here. And im going to introduce panel because i think youre here to hear these distinguished people talk. Judge Richard Gergel, congressman jim clyburn and dr. Carla hayden, and youll be hearing from them shortly. Jim clyburn is the assistant democratic several. Know who . Jim clyburn is. Can i can i skip this . Im going to skip that part. What i will say is that congressman clyburn has been a devoted, committed friend to the truman. And we are very grateful for everything that youve done for us. He has the honorary cochair of the truman civil symposium. He served on our Honorary National committee for, the seventh anniversary. And in 2017, congressman clyburn came with the late, great lewis to receive the truman legacy leadership award, which was a really wonderful experience for us in kansas city. Thank you again for everything you do for us. Dr. Carla hayden, who i had the pleasure of finally meeting in person and not across the zoom lens, which is a nice experience as a new friend of the Truman Library, i you might become chairman soon. We look forward to that. Dr. Hayden is nominated the 14th librarian of congress by obama and confirmed in two 2016. Shes a really lovely biography. Was really amazed to learn i guess not surprised but amazed that shes the first woman to serve this post and the first African American to serve in this post. The first and maybe only third in the history of the library of congress. That was actually a library and you. You would think that would be of the job description. If youre title is actually librarian of the library of congress. But she will be moderating our program tonight. Very much looking forward to that. And then finally, Richard Gergel district judge, the district of South Carolina, appointed by barack obama. He is the hes written the definitive book about the truman civil rights experience. Its got a long let me get through this. Its called an of courage, the blinding Sergeant Isaac woodard and the awakening of president harry truman and judge waring and book was converted into. A wonderful pbs documentary. If you havent seen that, i encourage you to watch it. And hes a very enthused plastic, wonderful storyteller. So what youre going to see is judge gergel is going to come up by himself and give about a ten minute presentation set in the context, the background, trumans disfigured order. And then were going to flip the stage and congress mr. Clyburn and dr. Hayden will join judge gergel for a little q a session. So thank you all for being here. Thank you for caring about harry truman. His story, matters of history matters. And we need to continue to teach this important lesson. So judge gergel. Good evening. 75 years ago today, july 26, 1948, president harry truman. Lets see if this clicker will work. Im not my tactical people. I told folks beforehand that every time i try our case, i always say that the lawyers will have technical. There we go. Thank you very much. Well have a technical problem. Im receiving the benefit of my advice. 75 years ago. President harry truman issued one of the most consequential president ial executive orders in American History, directing the end of segregation in the armed forces of the United States. At the time, president truman, an uphill battle to win election in his own right. And there was little support for new civil rights initiatives. What inspired president truman to make this bold and transform decision that would forever change americas civil rights history . Putting at risk election as the president of the United States. Let me share with you the backstory of the issuance of executive. 9981. As war two ended, there was a great sense of optimism about americas capacity to spread democracy and individual liberty across the globe. But beneath the veneer of americas grand selfimage as the bastion of freedom and liberty was stark reality. African residing in the old confederacy lived in a twilight world between slavery and freedom. They no longer had masters, but they did not enjoy the rights of a free people. Black southerners were routinely the right to vote, segregate and physically from the dominant White Society as a matter of law and relegate added to the margins of american. In the year following the end of World War Two as 900,000 African American soldiers returned home, most of them to the rural south. Numerous racial incidents arose as many returning veterans began challenging the racial status quo en. February 12, 1946 Sergeant Isaac woodard, a battlefield decorated africanamerican soldier, was discharged from the United States army from the United States army at camp gordon and boarded a Greyhound Bus in augusta, georgia, to return to his home in winnsboro, South Carolina, after three years of military service. Like many of the returning veterans, Sergeant Woodard desired and expected that he would receive more respect treatment on the home front as the result of his Courageous Service in defense of american liberty. While traveling on a late night bus between augusta and columbia, South Carolina, with frequent stops along, the way woodard approached, the white bus driver and asked if he might step off the bus at the next stop to relieve himself. Greyhound busses of that era did not have restrooms, and the Company Policy was to accommodate such requests from its customers. Instead, the bus driver coerced, woodard telling him, i aint got time to wait, and angrily directed to return to his seat at the back of the bus to the bus driver. Surprise woodard snapped back, telling the bus driver, speak to me like i am a man. I am a man just like you. At the next stop and bates burg, South Carolina, the bus driver now no longer concerned with staying on schedule, stepped off the bus in search of a Police Officer to have woodard removed the bus and arrested. Woodard was summoned off bus and confronted with the police of bates park. Linwood shaw. When woodard attempted to explain himself, the Police Officer struck woodard harshly on the head with his blackjack. Woodard was arrested and while being taken to the town jail, he was repeated beaten with shells. Blackjack, eventually driving the end of the baton into each of woodard. As woodard awoke next morning in the town jail and realized he not see a few hours later, woodard was taken to the county court and he he was convicted of drunk and conduct. Woodard was transported later that day to the Veterans Administration hospital in columbia, some 30 miles away, and was to be immediately, permanently blinded. Woodard beating and blinding, tragically not an isolated incident. And there were many reports of vicious beatings and even racially inspired murders of returning africanamerican. No state, no state prosecutor. Any of those responsible for these incidents. On september 19, 1946, a delegation of civil rights leaders met with president truman in the white house. Deeply distressed by this wave of racial violence against returning black veterans. Prior to the meeting, truman staff advised the president that despite his desire to respond to the concerns of civil rights leaders, there was little he could do as president to address these incidents. There was a daunting political problem for truman if he was perceived by the white southern democrats the most reliable of voters for the Democratic Party to support any sort of civil rights legislation. Southern elected officials were resolutely committed to the racial status quo, and even the most modest support by the Truman Administration to advance civil rights would have viewed as an existential threat to white supremacy. Truman staff urged the to express sympathy privately the civil rights leaders, but do nothing publicly to alienate segregationist supporters in the south. The meeting included walter white, the executive secretary of the naacp, then the most influential civil rights leader in america, and a Strong Political supporter of truman. As the meeting opened, civil rights leaders urged truman to call back into session to address the spreading violence against black veterans. The president expressed sympathy, but lamented there was little he could do because there was not public support for new civil rights legislation. It was apparent to walter white that the president did not appreciate the gravity of the situation. White changed the discussion by with truman in detail the blinding of Isaac Woodard as the tragic story of woodards beating and blinding. Truman sat riveted and became visibly agitated with the idea that a uniformed and decorated american soldier had been so cruelly treated, abandoning the advice of his staff. Truman stated my god, i had no idea it was as terrible as that. We have got to do something. The following day, wrote his attorney general, tom clark, and shared with him the story of the blinding of Isaac Woodard, noting that the Police Officer had deliberately put out the sergeant at. Truman made it clear that the time for federal action had now arrived. He stated that he intended to appoint the first president ial committee on civil to propose a new agenda to address what was obviously americas serious problems. Truman called for a meeting. Trumans call for immediate action also prompted the Justice Department to initiate within three Business Days of the arrival of that letter, the criminal prosecution of lynwood shaw show in the Federal District in South Carolina for the violation of the civil rights of Isaac Woodard. Then, an unprecedented federal prosecution on december five, 1946, president truman announced the creation of the first president ial commission on civil rights. At the time, paul. Showed 6 of voters supporting new civil rights legislation. The Civil Rights Committee conveying the first meet its first meeting on january 15, 1947, in the cabinet room to emphasize the importance of its work. Truman appeared at the first meeting and urged its members to be bold in attacking americas deep seated racial problems and to determine, quote, just how far the federal under the constitution has the right to go in these civil rights matters in quite. On june 29, 1947. While his Civil Rights Committee was actively conducting work, president truman accepted an invitation to at the annual meeting of the acp. At the time, no president had ever delivered an address to the nations premier civil rights organization. And if a teacher in the south was identified as a member of the naacp, he or she would be fired. The speech was delivered at foot of the Lincoln Memorial and was broadcast live by four National Radio networks. Reducing the largest audience ever to hear a civil rights address in American History. With thousands present in the malln listening on the radio. President truman delivered in a historic address, redefining the role of the modern National Government as the protector of the constitution rights of all of its citizens. He stated that we must move forward, quote, with new concepts of civil rights to safeguard our heritage, the extension of civil rights a day means not only protection of the government, of the people against the government, but the protection of the people by the government. Recognizing the urgency of the moment, president truman declared that america can no longer afford the luxury of a leisurely attack upon, prejudice and discrimination, or await the growth of will to action by the slow estate or the most backward community. As president truman down and amazed walter white privately congratulated him for his remarkable address. Truman responded, i said what i did, walter, because i mean every word of and im going to prove i do mean it in less than a year after its form in the truman Civil Committee issued its landmark report to secure these rights. The report was an amazing public document, setting forth in clear and unguarded language that stark truth about americas profound racial problems. This was not an easy report to issue a nation in which a majority of states had some form of jim crow laws. The great majority of africanamericans in the south were disenfranchized, as in residential segregation in virtually every region of the country. The report made numerous recommendations to address discrimination in voting housing and employment and racially segregate public facilities and urged the president to end segregation. The armed forces of the United States. Truman publicly embraced the recommendations of his Civil Rights Committee. Most of the recommendations require congressional action an unlikely development in that era. But one of the committees most far reaching proposals, the desegregation of the armed forces, was something president truman could do without Congressional Authority in his capacity as the commander in chief. On july 26, 1948, 75 years ago today, president truman issued executive. 9981 ending segregation in the armed forces of the United States. You also issued that same day executive order nine nonnato ending segregation in the armed forces. What headline . I think its very instructive from the dender in africanamerican newspaper, the day headline, of course, president truman wipes segregation in armed forces. Look at the headline in lower right posse bn lynching searches words for prey. That was america in 1940 748. In summer of 1948, as truman was preparing to launch his Reelection Campaign and facing a third Party Challenge from the dixiecrats because of his civil rights agenda. A friend from missouri wrote, the president urging him to back off his civil rights or face certain defeat. President truman, in a personal note, sharing with his friend the story of the blanding of Isaac Woodard truman, concluded his letter by stating, i cant agree to such going owens and i shall never approve it. I am going to remedy it. And if that ends up in failure to be reelected, that failure will in a good cause. How many . Ill you in. Officials today would make such a statement. The Justice Departments of the Police Officer who had blinded Isaac Woodard produced in the short run a predictable result an all white jury acquitted the obviously culpable defendant. And 28 minutes. But what was not predictable was that the presiding federal judge J Waties Waring charleston, wisconsin, stricken by the brutal beating of Sergeant Woodard and the unjust result and soon began issuing landmark civil rights decisions. The first of the courageous Southern Civil rights judges this included a 1947 decision declaring state Democratic Partys all white primary unconstitutional, which quoted extensively from president truman speech to the acp. Judge waring thereafter became target of a cross burning and constant death threats, requiring 24 hour u. S. Marshal protection. In december 1948, one month after his election, his winning the election, his own right, president truman thumbing his nose at the segregation, has invited judge waring, the white house, to discuss the advance ment of civil rights and publicly praised him as a great judge. In july 1951, judge waring would approve the president right . Issuing pathbreaking dissent in the first School Desegregation case. Briggs versus elliott, declaring that Public School segregation was, per se, unconstitutional, where his reasoning and language would be adopted three years later by the United States Supreme Court in its unanimous decision in brown versus board of education. Washington insiders predicted that trumans executive order, the military and his public support for civil rights would result in his resounding defeat. But harry truman had been underestimated. His entire political, and he set off an exhausting crosscountry tour known as a Whistle Stop Campaign drawing massive crowds in towns that had never seen an american president. Despite the advice of his campaign advisers. Truman refused to back down on his civil rights program. On november two, 1948, president truman won what was then the greatest political upset in American History. In his second term, truman fully embraced the complete desegregation of Americas Armed forces. He appointed a committee to implement his executive order, which was resolutely committed to ending segregation in the military. When the army brass resisted the committees insensitive insistence, they desegregate aspects of military life. Truman steadfastly stood by his committee. By the time president truman left in january 1953, 95 of americas soldiers served desegregated units, creating first multiracial institute in American History. Harry trumans successful desegregation of the military marked the beginning of the end of jim crow in america. When president truman would discuss his commitment to civil rights, he would frequently share the story of. The blinded africanamerican sergeant from South Carolina and the failure of the state to hold those responsible who had inflicted such violence on a returning american veteran. Harry truman was prepared, if necessary, to put his presidency on the line for what thought was the right thing to do. We fittingly celebrate tonight the resolve and courage of harry truman in issuing his executive order 75 years ago today. Ending segregation in the armed forces of the United States. Thank you. Please welcome librarian carla hayden. Congressman jim clyburn and judge Richard Gergel. And you see, im a true librarian. I put the book cover straight out. But before we start, though, were so to welcome the grand niece of sergeant woodward, ms. Would you please stand up. Well, this is more than an honor for me to be with both of you and in full. I have to say the judge who, when seeing the materials that the curators librarians brought out, was greeted so warmly by them because of the research you here and then the congressman who many you may know is, a historian par excellence youre i have been present i have been president at and we like to bring out the library of congress is the of the papers of the nea cpa the Legal Defense fund. Thurgood marshall, frederick douglass. I have seen the congressman gently correct some of our librarians and sure. About historical facts, particularly if they have anything to do with South Carolina. So to be with these two gentlemen as they talk about a book and in a really encourage everyone to read the judges book because it is encapsulate so many things. So id like to start with one question for. The congressman. I understand that in your office you have a photograph of the plaintiff in the briggs case that, the judge talked about why. Well, thank you very much for having me. Thank you, judge gergel, for an excellent presentation. Thanks to the institute for your work. I have to the pictures on the walls of my office. One set is the eight africanamericans who served in congress before me. Im writing my third book and im calling it before i was first, there were eight and on the opposite wall are black and white photos of of the plaintiffs in brown v board of education Briggs Valley that became brown the board of along with four other cases and of to the side alone is a picture of elijah griggs. Briggs v elliot harry briggs was a. 22 a week attendant at a filling. His wife eliza was 18 a week. Char lady at a local motel. They took up the case of briggs vega. That started out as the levi pearson, a gentleman farmer, wanting a better education for his children. They were walking 9. 4 miles every morning, nine miles back home, every afternoon. All they wanted was a school bus. And they were told by the superintendent of education that they were not paying enough to warrant a school bus. So thats what the case was all about. But i got to know harry and eliza briggs very well. And when i was running for congress in 1992, mrs. Briggs. Told me one day, i dont want you going hungry in this race. I want you to plan schedule so that you can come through. Somerton especially on saturday mornings for breakfast and eat a lot of her biscuits. Im thinking im the only one to ever run for congress and gain weight. But i fell in love with mrs. Briggs and mrs. Nelson and all the others and when rather was elected governor, he had photographer that went down to summerton. She was from clarendon county. She took pictures. These folks and i think she thought shed give them to me, but i she loaned them to me. But i have those pictures on the wall and i say to everybody who asked me them, i want those pictures to be a constant reminder to me of how i got here. And i want everybody who come into my office to see the faces of those people, just ordinary people who would not even be considered middle class by any means. But they changed the world, much like Isaac Woodard, as good as importance to this whole effort. You had a about harry truman, but it was his experience that changed j. Wade is wearing because after that court case, as you said, the jury stayed out 28 minutes. The federal prosecutor put up the worst case he could possibly put up and. Even the u. S. Attorney even heard a racial epithet at as it would it. And truman was incensed by that so was J Waties Waring. He could not get over that. You mentioned one case. He changed his rulings. Now, i dont know what all happened to him, but i know this in 1938. Cotton its was elected to the United States senate who proclaimed himself the South Carolina. Cotton is. King. White is supreme, who managed that campaign . J wade is where he managed that campaign. So so from 1938 its that kind of a campaign. Running the campaign for. Cotton that. Smith he ten years later because of this experience which is of Isaac Woodard he and he equalize teacher pay by order he opened up the democratic primary because the democrat primary had been turned into a private club and no blacks could participate. It. He the grand great grandson of a confed great general, will be called in charleston by this decided that he had seen, heard and experienced enough. So not only the Isaac Woodard transformed harry truman, as woodard trains from J Waties Waring. And it was J Waties Waring. You send an opinion in briggs view, that became the majority unanimous opinion in brown v votomatic kitchen. So those pictures, as long as im in office, it will be on my office, on my wall. And you mentioned pictures and we know and just yesterday, the 82nd universally emmett till the power of image photography. Well, emmett till would have been 82 years old on yesterday. That experience. I am one year, three months old, three weeks, days old. My birthday is july 21st. So last we spoke yesterday afternoon and i said that last week i celebrated the six second anniversary of my 21st birthday and i celebrate the two events where emmett till and his mother on yesterday i remember emmett till experience i think opened the eyes of a lot of people in this country simply because his mother had the temerity to order that the casket be opened for that funeral. And there was a chicago defender. Jet magazine did, and ebony magazine that took pictures of open coffin, sent pictures around the country that is what opened eyes of a lot of people. So emmett till, this kind of interesting for emmett tills birthday to be yesterday and today being the anniversary that it is. This is a great week for me. And the power that photograph in jet magazine. It is echoed in the photograph of Sergeant Woodard. You said that it became it was some years earlier, but it spread across the country as and there was a lot of angst returning among returning that this had not appreciated their service. And that picture of the blinded Isaac Woodard resonated for years and was a very important feature in moving both president and judge waring. So the president did see them. He saw it was it was widely publicized and it was that powerful. That image was there. Now, you mentioned the crown. What about Thurgood Marshalls role in the briggs case and. Well, im a, you know, this great judge here i let him talk about from the legal. But for all of my studies, i have read a lot about some of the back stories involving the judges decisions. I think its important for us to understand chronologically if the court cases had been named by chronology that he would not have been brown, it wouldve been briggs. Now, there are a lot of stories floating around as to why the case became brown. The one that i subscribe to and judge, you can correct me if you think im wrong. If you think im wrong. No, no. Youre right. I dont mean to judge john. Trust me. Dont be that. Dont, dont, dont. Hes one of my best friends and. Yeah, no, no, man. Because his dear wife, belinda and i knew her long before i knew and see me to get to where i am before i help him, to get to where is. Is to. So hes one of my best friends. I love him. But what i think is i think thats ascribed to is that many people may remember, at least from your studies, the john davis, who was the. 1924 nominee for the Democratic Party for president , was the biggest segregationist in the country. And he was the attorney for or defending jim crow and his big argument was the wars. The law is very clear. The law to him was plessy business. The law is very clear. So theyre not arguing against the law. Theyre arguing against the way of life. And of course, the only case among the five, remember, one was briggs davis was coming out of virginia. Bolton out of washington, d. C. Gebhart, the delta and out of delaware. And the brown case was coming out of kansas. The only non southern state. So ill believe the story that it is decision that been made you know to nullify john w daviss arguments. The the brown case. Now some people have other views about that im holding on to mine and because somebody proved me wrong, let me say Thurgood Marshall. Yes. Now history treats him as greatest lawyer of, the 20th century. Its welldeserved. He is remarkable. He tried many of his most important cases in front of judge waring. He won every case. The only one he didnt win initially was briggs versus elliott. But waring dissented from a three judge panel. And he that case before the u. S. Supreme, many people have forgotten that thurgood did not argue brown versus board. He argued briggs versus of the Supreme Court. But absolutely now, theres also a story that he advised wearing advise the lawyers. Carter and marshall was higginbotham the bob carter and marshall were embraced they were the. They advised him to open the frontal attack against segregation rather than to argue for equal rights to get a bus like the white kids that opened up frontal attack and so segregation percy is right but what had he had had a very successful strategy they use Plessy Plessy as a they said were not challenging separate but we are demanding equality because the practice was separate and unequal. Right they were winning cases, lots of cases. But the problem was every time you use plessy to win a case, you were securing the inferiority of. Africanamericans, right. Judge waring inspired, frankly, by the Isaac Woodard the case in front him brought Thurgood Marshall into his office and, said, i dont want to try any more plastic cases, bring a frontal attack on segregation. Marshall deferred to his judgment, brought the case, and the rest is history, wrote the other. I have here is what the children told us the untold story of, the famous doll tests and the black psychologist who the world dr. Kenneth clarke. And the clock was papers are at the library. Well, you have that photo. I do that photo. And how did that figure in with. Well because of the. I also had the photo of the of all the plaintiffs in one photo with reverend tate lyon, who organized them. But i that that the courtroom experiment experiment revealed a lot to a lot of people and ive experienced myself now i didnt have in the sisters eyes and so they were into doll dolls in my house with i, i remember stories about black kids selecting white doll over a black. There were black kids who would not want a black doll for christmas. Id heard those stories all my life and so Kenneth Clarke the great the psychologist that it was was allowed to conduct the experiment with a black doll and the white doll in the courtroom and the picture taken of that. And ive that picture in my office alongside these plaintiffs i think and the use of the doll study was, very controversial among marshals trial team. So no at that point it ever used such evidence in a federal courtroom. But marshall was persuaded carver, his assistant, pushed, you know. Yes. Kenneth clarke later became of the most renowned psychologists in the world, head of the American Psychological association. But at this time, he was a something year old, young, emerging scholar. And he and his wife, dr. Mamie clarke, both from columbia came up with this idea of improving the africanamerican children were traumatized by segregation and that that would produce by desire for white dolls rather than black dolls. And they and marshall said, im an old trial lawyer. If someone i want to prove a broken arm, i need an xray. And if i want to prove a broken child, i want those dolls. And his he put one condition on Kenneth Clarke. He says, youve got to come to summerton and youve got to test the children in summer time because they all claim it doesnt count and because it was done elsewhere and they secretly went into summerton interviewed these children and the day he was to drive over, they were preparing for trial. Ark had come down on the train with Thurgood Marshall. He said, mr. Marshall, when we go into summerton, he said, im not going to summerton, they kill me there. He caught was joking but but the next morning a young guy was there to drive him to summerton and marshall him over and says, heres 50. If you get any trouble use this. He says, thats the only money he ever paid me. Well before. And and i that there are people that want to talk with you more about all of this but before we go South Carolina. First of state to leave the union all types historic things but recently opened up a wonderful absolutely you know South Carolina is the first chapter this new book im writing i call it the birthplace of in South Carolina, was, in fact, the birth of reconstruction. The first public reading of the emancipation proclamation was on the was in buford, South Carolina. And the i think its there probably because thats where the first shots of the civil war were fired there at fort sumter. Fort sumter is in the Charleston Harbor sumpter, South Carolina, where i was and raised. Thats not where the it was down there. The charleston. But its rather cross the river, the cooper river from gadsden the wall, gadsden is where some historians say its to 50 of all of the africans that came into this country and were enslaved came through gas and walls. So we started 23 years ago to build this museum. And while we were doing some of the research, we that we were building the museum, we planned to a museum across the street from the real gaston wall. And we call in archeology artists and we verified the fact that that was gaston wharf. So in a national africanamerican museum that opened in charleston three weeks ago is built on the site of gaston wharf. Now, most of you know a lot about wealth. You just dont know. Youve seen this yellow flag, the gaston with that snake curled on it thats the guest flay and thats the guy that owned gaston the wall that was his flag. And so that flag has now become something that it was never to be by this family. So today this museum getting great reviews simply because it has a part of. It you can go into this museum and you can sit in this room and if you are among. The 90 of africanamericans who can trace your print, at least one of your parents back to charleston, you will be able to find out which boat they came over on. And when and so this is a great museum that im very, very proud of. It tough to get built because. Not everybody was enamored with the fact that this should be a museum dealing with issues it would not have happened. But for jim klapper, i and judge, thank you. And judge, as we leave, theres person who would have been here tonight who a letter to you that i think would be fitting that you talk about another. Yes. Shortly after my book came out congressman cummings wrote me a letter. Oh, yeah. And he said told me that his mother and dad were from summerton and had left summerton because of jim crow. And it brought heat and had the children were born in baltimore and raised there to. Get away from the stifling of jim crow and that he had picked up my book and read it. And was he is so excited because found out that many of the plaintiffs his own people and so and jim and i were at a program with dr. Hayden and we said, lets do a program with three of us plus elijah coming and we all, you said, im in, but tragedy has to be it from born. Yes and the but tragically congressman cummings we lost him in october of that year and so this it was you know he had agreed and we were going to do it. So i think we ought to all remember this event tonight in honor of congressman cummings. Let me say this about the former. Elijah cummings funeral was on the day at the same hour of the groundbreaking for this museum, the same day, sam, our if you remember, the day before he had his body was in state in instead of so i couldnt go the funeral and i called his wife to tell her that i could not get to the funeral because we were having the groundbreaking and i had to be there for that. Well, i did not tell her that that same family, Elijah Cummings, his great grandfather, was a man named scipio ram who was freed and registered to vote in 1868. And i use cummings funeral and scipio ram as a Foundation Upon which to carry all of my arguments that this museum had to be built because it needed to tell the story of the scipio rams of the world and how it gave birth to the Elijah Cummings of the world. Thank you both. Thank you. Thank all of you and thank you. President truman. I absolutely absolutely