President John F Kennedy's 56th News Conference - May 22, 1963
24.7 هزار بار بازدید -
15 سال پیش
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''THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Mr.
''THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Mr. Smith?
QUESTION: Mr. President, how do you regard the Alabama Governor's announced intention to block the integration of the University of Alabama? For instance, do you or does the Government plan to use Federal marshals as it did in Oxford, Mississippi, if the Governor does go through with his announced intention to prevent these Negro students from entering?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I hope that would prove unnecessary. I hope this is a matter that can be settled by the local authorities in Alabama. The University since last October, the Board of Trustees, have taken the position that they would accept a court order. They have now indicated they will accept these students. The courts have made a final judgment on the matter, and I would hope that the law-abiding people of Alabama would follow the judgment of the court and admit the students. Every other State in the country has integrated their State university, and I would hope that Alabama would follow that example.
I know there is great opposition in Alabama, and indeed, in any State, to Federal marshals and Federal troops. And I would be very reluctant to see us reach that point. But I am obligated to carry out the court order. That is part of our constitutional system. There is no choice in the matter. It must be carried out, and laws which we do not like must be carried out, and laws which we like. This is not a matter of choice. If it were a matter of choice, it would not be law. So these decisions must be enforced. Everyone understands that.
Now, I cannot believe that the Governor wants us to send Federal troops there. I cannot believe he wants us to send Federal marshals there, and I cannot believe he would not prefer to have the people of Alabama govern this matter, accept the order of the court, and maintain law and order. The Governor has taken action against Federal troops who are now stationed at Federal bases in Alabama, and has taken the action to the Supreme Court. I said I welcome this. This is where these disputes should be settled. So I would hope that the fact that the Governor has chosen to carry out our dispute in the courts indicates that in the final analysis he will accept the judgment of the court, in the cases souring up in June, as I would accept the judgment of the court as to my powers to use and control Federal troops under certain conditions in various States. We are people of laws, and we have to obey them.''
QUESTION: Mr. President, how do you regard the Alabama Governor's announced intention to block the integration of the University of Alabama? For instance, do you or does the Government plan to use Federal marshals as it did in Oxford, Mississippi, if the Governor does go through with his announced intention to prevent these Negro students from entering?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I hope that would prove unnecessary. I hope this is a matter that can be settled by the local authorities in Alabama. The University since last October, the Board of Trustees, have taken the position that they would accept a court order. They have now indicated they will accept these students. The courts have made a final judgment on the matter, and I would hope that the law-abiding people of Alabama would follow the judgment of the court and admit the students. Every other State in the country has integrated their State university, and I would hope that Alabama would follow that example.
I know there is great opposition in Alabama, and indeed, in any State, to Federal marshals and Federal troops. And I would be very reluctant to see us reach that point. But I am obligated to carry out the court order. That is part of our constitutional system. There is no choice in the matter. It must be carried out, and laws which we do not like must be carried out, and laws which we like. This is not a matter of choice. If it were a matter of choice, it would not be law. So these decisions must be enforced. Everyone understands that.
Now, I cannot believe that the Governor wants us to send Federal troops there. I cannot believe he wants us to send Federal marshals there, and I cannot believe he would not prefer to have the people of Alabama govern this matter, accept the order of the court, and maintain law and order. The Governor has taken action against Federal troops who are now stationed at Federal bases in Alabama, and has taken the action to the Supreme Court. I said I welcome this. This is where these disputes should be settled. So I would hope that the fact that the Governor has chosen to carry out our dispute in the courts indicates that in the final analysis he will accept the judgment of the court, in the cases souring up in June, as I would accept the judgment of the court as to my powers to use and control Federal troops under certain conditions in various States. We are people of laws, and we have to obey them.''
15 سال پیش
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