A Letter From The Publisher: Jan. 3, 1964

TIME's Man of the Year has usually been as singular as the first one—1927's Charles A. Lindbergh. But there have been groups as well (the 15 top U.S. scientists in 1960), and anonymous symbols (the Hungarian Freedom Fighter and Korea's G.I. Joe). There have been Presidents (every President since F.D.R., who himself set a record as Man of the Year three times), allies (Churchill, Adenauer, De Gaulle), enemies (Hitler), villains (Stalin). There have been women too (Wallis Simpson, Queen Elizabeth). But there has never, until this year, been a Negro.

Martin Luther King Jr. has made it as a man—but also as...