RN with Roy Wilkins speaking to the press in the Fish Room of the White House.
On February 7, 1969, RN met with the executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Roy Wilkins. Wilkins, known as the senior statesman of the civil rights movement, advocated equal rights for blacks through legal redress and nonviolent means. He often made appearances at Congressional hearings, and counseled Presidents on matters of African American affairs.
To President Nixon, Wilkins was a leader that exuded some of the idealistic qualities of which he respected–that is, respect for the law and a revulsion to the far-left militant groups who used violence to manipulate change.
Below, view the topics which the President and Wilkins discussed in their first meeting.
After the meeting, the President had this to say:
I have found through the years that with Roy Wilkins it is possible to have a very direct and candid discussion. We don’t always agree, but he gives excellent advice—advice which many times we follow. This is only the first of a series of meetings, and since it was the first I wanted to present him personally to the members of the press, all of whom I am sure know him.