President Eisenhower addresses the nation to explain his reasons for ordering the National Guard to take control of the situation in Little Rock, AR. He states that 'under the leadership of demagogic extremists, disorderly mobs have deliberately prevented the carrying out of proper orders from a Federal Court.' He says that the troops will be removed if resistance to the court order ceases.

Booker T. Washington's address entitled The American Negro, was first given at the Atlanta Exposition on September 18, 1895. This recording is from a Columbia Gramophone Company cylinder dated 1906. Booker T. Washington was Principal of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, and delivered this speech at the opening of the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia on September 18, 1895. Washington speaks on the improvement of race relations and conditions in the South.

The press interviews Malcolm X and Martin Luther King amidst Senatorial debate about the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Malcolm, calling the bill 'political chicanery,' wonders whether liberals are truly for Civil Rights legislation or not. Dr. King discusses possible direct action for making sure the bill is not filibustered. He expresses his intent to test the bill if and when it is passed. He also feels that the failure to pass the bill could lead to social disruption. The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964.

Taft stresses the advancement of the Negro since his freedom from slavery and the Republican platform demanding justice to all men and enforcements of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments of the Constitution.

Jimmy Carter speaks at the memorial services for Martin Luther King, Jr. saying that he will not hesitate to call another Middle East summit if it will help the cause of peace. Broadcast on ABC-TV.

Frank Church says that the FBI should not investigate its own irregularities in the Martin Luther King case but should be investigated by an outside agency.

Bush celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of President Johnson's civil rights law, reaffirming support of minority outreach and affirmative action programs.

President's address to the nation responding to the "Rodney King riots" in Los Angeles tells what steps the federal government will take in riot control and the prevention on the causes of racial unrest. He has sent Justice department prosecutors to explore a federal civil rights case against the four officers found not guilty.

Eisenhower's remarks on amending Section 407 of the Civil Rights Bill.

Press conference dealing with Nelson Mandela and South Africa, the unification of Germany, and other topics. Bush begins with an opening statement concerning his defense bill and Secretary Baker's trip to the Eastern bloc.

Barbara Jordan urges that the extension of the Voting Rights Act should include Mexican-Americans and other minorities.

Hope. Recorded by Berliner 1898. Philosophical discussion about a future life.

Robert Green Ingersoll saying that happiness is the only good.

Press conference begins with announcement that the senate will send him a civil rights bill he is willing to sign. Talks also about the Middle East, capital gains tax cut, job intensive legislative proposals, the confirmation process for appointees, the budget, sexual harassment.

Edward Kennedy talks happily about the compromise bill on civil rights that President Bush is willing to sign.

Mississippi crisis, an address to the nation.

Address to the nation regarding racial tensions in Birmingham, Alabama.

John Kennedy insists on the right of James Meredith to attend the University of Mississippi.

John F. Kennedy announces that he has sent the National Guard to the University of Alabama to facilitate the enrollment of two black students. Governor Wallace forbids the action at the door. With the voice of Chet Huntley.

Message of grief by President Johnson about Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination.

Dorothy Day gives a talk that touches on a variety of topics, all loosely related to survival. She begins by discussing the nature of mobs, including Eugene V. Debs feelings on them (‘even the most friendly mob smells of the beast’). Day goes on to discuss her feelings on mass demonstrations—she doesn’t like them very much, but she feels that they are a good opportunity for young people to test their survival skills. She also discusses agriculture and farming; mass evacuations; World War II and the poor; the decline of white people; the rise of Blacks, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans; her experiences with stealing; and her childhood shame of her family’s poverty.

From the executive office of the White House, Dwight D. Eisenhower speaks about the situation in Little Rock, in which disorderly mobs had deliberately prevented the carrying out of lawful orders from a federal court by barring the entrance of nine African American students to Central High School. Eisenhower speaks of how he issued orders for the mobs to be dispersed. He explains federal intervention as necessary in light of the inability of local authorities to enforce the judicial decree.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt speaks on human rights. Part of the discussion focuses on compulsory school attendance, the increase of expenditures on students, and the reduction of infant mortality. She mentions these things to illustrate that it takes a long time to realize improvement in social, economic, and cultural arenas. However, Roosevelt points out, civil and political rights are anticipated to be effectuated promptly. She cites three other differences between the two categories of provisions, including that improvement of civil and political rights is different from that of cultural, social, and economic rights in that the former can be achieved solely through the passing and enforcement of legislation, while the latter requires private as well as public action. Roosevelt says that the differences between the types of provisions call for two covenants of equal importance to be completed in the United Nations simultaneously. Together these covenants would provide for the improvement of the whole of human rights.

King opens by using Henry David Thoreau to discuss nonviolence as part of the American tradition. He touches on jailed freedom riders, Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation, segregation, and John F. Kennedy.

The press interviews Malcolm X and Martin Luther King amidst Senatorial debate about the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Malcolm, calling the bill 'political chicanery,' wonders whether liberals are truly for Civil Rights legislation or not. Dr. King discusses possible direct action for making sure the bill is not filibustered. He expresses his intent to test the bill if and when it is passed. He also feels that the failure to pass the bill could lead to social disruption. The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964.

Martin Luther King Jr. at a press conference at the Capitol, Washington

Martin Luther King, Jr., half-length portrait, facing left, with left arm raised, at freedom rally, Washington Temple Church

Rev. Martin Luther King, head-and-shoulders portrait, seated, facing front, hands extended upward, during a press conference

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Mathew Ahmann, Executive Director of the National Catholic Conference for Interrracial Justice, in a crowd