Black Freedom Struggle in the United States:

Tag Archives: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Document 158: February 11, 1937 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Progress in formulating an antilynching bill that will meet constitutional tests and transmits a Justice Department memorandum assessing the NAACP proposed antilynching bill, reviewing distinctions between the present bill and previous antilynching bills, and examining the constitutional basis for the statute, with a review of relevant case law, 1937

Document 119: March 16, 1936 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Acknowledgment of letter concerning presidential support for the Costigan-Wagner Bill, the president’s desire to focus Congress on other legislation, and the assurance that the president is still in support of antilynching efforts, 1936

Document 28: April 20, 1934 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: The progress of the Costigan-Wagner antilynching bill, impediments to passage of bill from southern politicians, necessity for Congress to remain in session to review and approve the bill, and the possible lynching backlash if the bill does not pass, 1934

Document 78: December 19, 1934 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Request for suitable date for delegation to meet with president in Washington, D.C., to discuss Wagner- Costigan antilynching bill and to present him with a memorial urging federal action against lynching, 1934

Document 219: February 18, 1938 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Comments on and arguments in favor of NAACP proposal to permit Senator Robert Wagner to suspend debate on the antilynching bill and to set a day certain to resume debate on the bill in April, in light of the bill’s filibuster and danger that the bill would be dead if displaced as unfinished business, 1938