ALS, one page both sides, 8.5 x 7.25, personal letterhead, September 17, 1968. Important political letter to Ken Browne, in part: "No, Ken, I am not wrong re: Nixon. I am sure if you were Black you would better understand why we feel as we do. How can you expect to support a man who appeals to the old south and to backlash. America is already in terrible shape in terms of race relations. Nixon's deals with Strom Thurmond points to future dangers. I wish you had a copy of Drew Pearson's column headlined Thurmond and the High Court. He stated Nixon and Thurmond met on June 1 at the Riviera Hotel in Atlanta, Ga. made a deal giving Thurmond an agreement that if elected he would appoint future Supreme Court justices agreeable to the south. Pearson said 'in effect giving Thurmond the right to pass on all court appointments just as he passed on vice presidential candidate in Miami.' He said most surprising is the public has not yet been reminded of Thurmond's remarkable record which dates back to 1948 when he led a southern walkout after Humphrey forced adoption of a civil rights plank for the first time in history. How can you in light of what appears to be a sincere letter believe a man so qualified would make deals with one of the countries worst people—Strom Thurmond." In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Robinson's hand. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA.
Robinson had famously endorsed Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election, believing John F. Kennedy’s commitment to Civil Rights to be ‘insincere.’ However, he began to reconsider his political stance after mistreatment by far-right Goldwater supporters at the 1964 Republican National Convention, which he attended as a supporter of Nelson Rockefeller. With Goldwater’s nomination in 1964, Robinson joined 94% of the African-American electorate in voting for incumbent Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. Nevertheless, he remained a Republican and continued to support Nelson Rockefeller’s candidacy in 1968. When Nixon was nominated instead, Robinson was furious—he felt that Nixon’s alliance with segregationist Strom Thurmond would set the Civil Rights Movement back for years. Nixon struck a deal with Thurmond to choose the South-friendly Spiro T. Agnew as his vice president, and had allegedly given him veto rights over any future Supreme Court nominations. This remarkable letter reveals Robinson’s continued efforts as an influential activist during his retirement from baseball, and boasts absolutely outstanding political content.
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