Races: The Long March

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Vanished Signs. On other civil rights fronts, the Kennedy Administration just inched along. In 1961 the Administration's only legislative proposal was a routine bill to extend the life of the Civil Rights Commission for two years. In 1962, and again in 1963, the President's legislative recommendations almost exclusively concerned voting rights. Not until last November did Kennedy get around to fulfilling his campaign promise to abolish discrimination in housing with a "stroke of the pen." That act came after Negroes had taken to mailing him pens as sarcastic reminders, and even then it was a grievous disappointment to Negroes because of its limited scope.

Only under the occasional stress of crisis did the Kennedy Administration move vigorously. Last year, when the outbreak of freedom rides threatened violent clashes in the South, Bobby got the Interstate Commerce Commission to issue an order banning segregation in terminals serving interstate transportation. Under that order, the WHITE and COLORED signs have vanished from the lavatory doors and waiting room entrances of more than 300 Southern rail, bus and air terminals. When the enrollment of Negro James Meredith at the University of Mississippi last fall led to an explosion of mob violence, President Kennedy sent 16,000 federal troops to Oxford to put down the Ole Miss disorders.

A Multiplicity of Meetings. As Election Year 1964 drew closer, the Kennedys strove even harder to solve the nation's civil rights dilemma without really offending anyone. In recent weeks both Jack and Bobby have used all their great powers of persuasion in numerous closed-door meetings with various groups—Negro and white, Southern and Northern, business and labor leaders. Last week Jack and Bobby, along with Vice President Lyndon Johnson (a key presidential adviser in the civil rights area) assembled 280 U.S. labor leaders in a futile meeting at the White House, called upon them to work against racial discrimination in their unions. It was in keeping with the Kennedy tactics that the unpleasant subject of possible legislation against such discrimination was never mentioned.

The failure of these behind-the-scenes negotiations was demonstrated in a tragicomic fashion on May 24. At Bobby's request, Negro Author James Baldwin (TIME cover, May 17) arranged for a New York City meeting. Among those present besides Bobby and Baldwin were Negro Singers Lena Horne and Harry Belafonte, Playwright Lorraine (A Raisin in the Sun) Hansberry, Psychologist Kenneth Clark. Bobby went into the meeting under the illusion that Negroes feel gratitude toward the Administration. What he encountered was a shouting, finger-shaking barrage of anger, disappointment and impatience. Afterwards, one participant said the meeting was a "flop," another called it "tragic." Said Baldwin: "Bobby Kennedy was a little surprised at the depth of Negro feeling. We were a little shocked at the extent of his naiveté."