Letter from Leona Levin to President Truman
12/13/1949
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High school student Leona Levin of Philadelphia, PA, sent this letter to President Harry Truman expressing her concern about racial discrimination in the country. She wrote: "I hope that you will never give up on your Civil Rights Program." She also asked for the President's opinion on what she and other students could do to hasten the passage of civil rights legislation. She signed her letter from "A Future Voter."
Transcript
[handwritten] Mr. Nilesfile
[top right] 12-20
2572 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia 25, Pa.
December 13, 1949
Dear Mr. President:
I am a high school student who is very interested in our national and world affairs. My political views, though they do not mean a vote yet, I feel are very important because when I am old enough to vote, I want to know what has been going on in order to cast the proper ballot.
My main interest now, is on a very grave situation, and that is the terrible racial discrimination in our country. Although I know it will be a very difficult job, I hope that you will never give up your Civil Rights Program. I hope that you will go on to defeat it- this disgrace to our United States. I feel that it is horrible that some people are made to feel inferior and degraded. The situation down South is abominable! How our Senators and Representatives can even call themselves lawmakers, or feel that they are able to make laws for this great country is a mockery to the United States if they do not pass every phase of your Civil Rights Program!
I would appreciate it so much very much if you would give me your opinion on what I and other students like me can do to hasten the passage of this much needed bill.
Sincerely,
A Future Voter,
[signature] Leona A. Levin
This primary source comes from the Collection HST-WHPOMF: White House Public Opinion Mail Files (Truman Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 145807631
Full Citation: Letter from Leona Levin to President Truman; 12/13/1949; Civil Rights [3 of 3]; Public Opinion Mail Files, 1945 - 1953; Collection HST-WHPOMF: White House Public Opinion Mail Files (Truman Administration); Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/levin-truman, May 8, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.