The South: Crisis in Civil Rights

(6 of 7)

Vagabond Toad. One morning last week, Governor Patterson strode briskly down the cherry-red carpeted staircase in the Governor's mansion and out onto the marble terrace for breakfast. Already at the table were his wife Mary Jo (called "Tuti"), their twelve-year-old son Albert L., and their eight-year-old daughter Barbara Louise. Cardinals flitted through the gigantic water oaks and pecan trees on the mansion lawn, and a squad of six Negro trusty prisoners in white uniforms trimmed the grass while the Governor attacked a plate of muffins and bacon. Suddenly a furor arose in the yard. "They've found the horned toad," cried Tuti. "I hope they don't kill it."

The chief executive of the state of Alabama whirled into action. "Hey," he yelled. "Hey, don't you all kill that toad!" Patterson jumped up from the table and sprinted across the lawn to save a horned toad, a family pet that is consigned by Tuti to a vagabond's life in the garden.

Worst Insult. Back at the table, Patterson told a visitor that he had no apologies to make for any of his actions during the weeks of crisis. The Kennedy Administration was to blame, particularly Bobby Kennedy. "He has no idea of conditions here," said Patterson. "God Almighty, what he's trying to do is provoke a civil war. They try and get you to admit you can't or won't guarantee law enforcement, and then they twist your words because the marshals are on the way anyway. That Bobby Kennedy is just treacherous, that's what he is. I don't trust him and he don't trust me." A hurt tone crept into Patterson's voice. "To say that I couldn't enforce the law is the worst insult they could have thrown at me. The Kennedys couldn't get enough votes in Alabama this morning to wad buckshot.

"I'm a segregationist, and I tell you 98% of the people down here feel the way I do. There shouldn't be any battles over rights. There shouldn't even be court fights. We have to give the colored people pride in themselves and pride in their communities. A fellow who's making money, he doesn't worry about things like riding buses."

Blunt Warning. On a tour of the mansion, Patterson later pointed out a deer head on the wall, paused at a picture of the 1868 Alabama legislature, which had ratified the 14th Amendment guaranteeing citizens "due process" of law. Nearly one-third of the men in the picture were Negroes. "I keep it as a historical curiosity," said Patterson. He gestured toward a picture of Confederate General Joseph ("Fighting Joe") Wheeler.*"I'm related to Wheeler. My mother's mother's mother was a Wheeler."

Before leaving for his office, Governor Patterson fired a parting shot: "If they attempt to integrate the schools, it will be just like last Sunday night was."