Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr. to Herman Glazier, July 23, 1964

Title

Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr. to Herman Glazier, July 23, 1964

Creator

Erle E. Johnston, Jr. (1917-1995)

Source

Paul B. Johnson Family Papers, M191, Historical Manuscripts, Special Collections, The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries

Date

1964-07-23

Rights

Copyright not evaluated.

Language

En

Files

Letter from Earl Johnston Junior to Honorable Herman Glazier, July 23, 1964, on Mississippi state sovereignty commission letterhead.<br /> <br /> The letterhead reads Mississippi state sovereignty commission, new capital building, Jackson, Mississippi governor Paul B. Johnson, chairman<br /> <br /> July 23, 1964<br /> <br /> <br /> Memorandum<br /> <br /> To: Honorable Herman Glazier, administrative assistant, office of the governor<br /> <br /> From: director, sovereignty commission<br /> <br /> Subject: communism and race agitators<br /> <br /> We worked several days with mayor W. O. Williford of Drew helping him acting like accumulate information to be aired at a police court hearing. Mayor Willifordwas accumulating reports from Los Angeles and senator Eastlands office as well as the sovereignty commission.<br /> <br /> Tuesday afternoon, over the phone, he advised he was ready and the case would be heard at 10 AM, Wednesday, July 22. We told him we would be responsible for getting press coverage. We called the commercial appeal and the Clarion ledger and told them of the impending hearing and asked that they send reporters. The news that came out of Drew, Thursday morning, perfectly timed with Senator Eastland‘s speech in Senate, dealt and effective blow against those racial agitators with communist backgrounds or associations.<br /> <br /> We would like to recommend again, even more particularly at this time, that Governor Johnson consider making the statement that the FBI should grow with the prestige and reputation of that office in exposing the names of all racial agitators know through FBI files to be associated directly or indirectly with communist organizations. Communism charges are now being heard in New York and Washington, as well as Mississippi. In a sense we would be putting the FBI on a serious spot. They cannot deny the existence of such files because of director who verse earlier statement that can communist have infiltrated the racial movement. If the FBI chooses to remain silent, it could be well consider that the Lyndon Johnson administration is muzzling FBI on purpose to avoid any further proof public proof that the racists Are being led by communist.<br /> <br /> We believe such a statement would be far more effective if issued by the governor; however, if the governor thinks otherwise, the sovereignty commission could issue a statement if he grants permission.<br /> <br /> Signed Earl Johnston, Junior.

Citation

Erle E. Johnston, Jr. (1917-1995), “Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr. to Herman Glazier, July 23, 1964,” Online Exhibits at Southern Miss, accessed April 17, 2025, https://usmspecialcollections.omeka.net/items/show/209.

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