Compare And Contrast Truman And Eisenhower Contribution To The Civil Rights Movement

Presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Vice president Nixon, each contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. Some Presidents accomplished more than others, or felt more strongly about the topic of racism. None of the Presidents set back the progress of the Movement, however some presidents moved slower than others. During the time that Harry S. Truman was president, he publicly voiced his opinions about racial inequality and Civil Rights. He believed in brotherhood, and felt that free African American men were entitled to better treatment. Early in his term, Truman put an end to segregation in the armed forces in response to the lynching of the black war veterans. He later released a report named “To Secure These Rights” that

Eisenhower, did not display much interest in racial issues throughout his term. Although Eisenhower was not as open with his feelings towards civil rights and racism, he still contributed an immense amount for civil rights. He integrated the White House by being the first president to hire a black American in an executive position. In addition, Ike was the first president to meet with Civil Rights leaders such as: Martin Luther King Jr, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Lester Granger.During the crisis in Little Rock Arkansas, Ike demonstrated federal power by sending in his troops to Central High after Chief Justice Earl Warren ordered integration. However, Eisenhower only did so after remaining reluctant to promote integration for so long. He never endorsed the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education, possibly due to his personal attitudes. He was raised in an all-white town and spent his career in a segregated army. Eisenhower also selected five justices to the Supreme Court who were each none

Kennedy was reluctant to take a public stand concerning civil rights. It was not until a group of freedom riders were attacked by a white mob in May 1961 that the Kennedy administration was forced to join hands with civil rights. At this time, it was obvious that when federal troops got involved, a change was made, therefore Kennedy ordered federal marshals to protect the freedom riders. He also sent in the National Guard to the University of Mississippi, to allow twenty-nine-year-old James Meredith to attend school. Other instances where Kennedy benefitted the civil rights movement are, the forty African Americans who were appointed to a high federal position and in 1963 when he advocated Civil Rights activism. He built the Committee of Equal Employment Opportunity that enforces laws against discrimination in the workplace, gave life to the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, and proposed a law to ensure voting rights and outlaw segregation. Kennedy and King had a positive relationship and Kennedy fought for King when he was in jail, and explained to the judge that Kings’ rights are not to be violated. Kennedy too allowed Martin Luther King to demonstrate a peaceful protest known as the March on Washington, where King delivered his “I have a dream” speech. Kennedy contributed greatly to the Civil Rights