221. Editorial Note
On June 19, 1963, President Kennedy sent a Special Message to the Congress on Civil Rights and Job Opportunities. For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, pages 483-496. On the same day, the Department of State sent a series of instructions and information messages to all U.S. diplomatic missions abroad, which included messages from President Kennedy and Secretary Rusk as well as a background summary of U.S. civil rights accomplishments. The President’s and the Secretary’s messages asked U.S. Ambassadors and principal officers to discuss civil rights with foreign governments with candor, but also to affirm U.S. accomplishments and to highlight the positive commitment set by the President toward the goal of equal opportunity for all. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Africa)
On July 8, Deputy Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen transmitted a copy of the Department of State’s “Status Report of African Reactions to Civil Rights in the United States” to Kennedy, noting that the report was a roundup of African reactions to the President’s civil rights messages and the related material sent out to the Embassies. The [Page 338] evaluation section of the report stated: “Responses from African posts indicate that ensuing direct diplomatic approaches at the highest levels produced a greater understanding of United States efforts and that the approaches were appreciated. The nuances of US federal impediments to progress were more greatly appreciated than before, but still not comprehensively so. By contrast, the President’s words and the President’s actions were clearly understood and appreciated. Several posts report that this sympathetic understanding of the President’s actions by African leaders overlays a latent, unexpressed concern by both officials and the public which could become articulate if the situation worsens.” (Ibid.)