DAVID N. HENDERSON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/01/1973 - HFSID 79139

DAVID N. HENDERSON
Typed letter from the North Carolina congressman to the Honorable Herman R. Goldberg seeking his comment on what Henderson feels is an unreasonable equal opportunity policy
Typed Letter signed: "DH" in black felt tip, 2p, 8x10½. No place, 1973 May 1. On official congressional letterhead. To "Dear Dr. Goldberg" In full: "I recall with pleasure meeting with you last year with the Wayne County School Board on the suspension of their ESAP funds. While you did not agree with the position we attempted to establish at that time, the hearing examiner ruled in favor the Wayne Board and the matter was finally resolved in our favor./ Now, another county in my district has run into problems in connection with an application under ESAA. Enclosed is a copy of a letter written by County Superintendent E.S. Simpson, a longtime personal friend of mine, to the Civil Rights Director in Atlanta./ It is hard for me to believe that your office lawfully can, or would if it could, require that to obtain ESAA funds, a county must promise, in advance, in writing, to hire one black principal for every white one./ There is no evidence that such an arrangement would promote racial harmony, advance the cause of equal opportunity, or proved a better education for the youngsters involved This is particularly galling in a situation where the schools are being operated in compliance with a court order, and where not a single specific complaint has even been received by the County School Board./ As long as employment of school personnel is done fairly and impartially without regard to race or creed, it seems to me that all provisions of the law are being met and that to go further and promise to hire by quotas based on race is not compliance with the law, but is rather, a declaration that further employment will be based on race instead of being non-discriminatory./ I would appreciate your comment on this proposal./ Sincerely". David Newton Henderson (1921-2004) was a Democratic U.S. congressman from North Carolina from 1961-1977. A veteran of WWII and an attorney, Henderson served as Assistant General Counsel to the Committee on Education and Labor for the U.S. House of Representatives (1951-1952), as Solicitor of the General Court (1954-1958) and as Judge (1958-1960) of the Court of Duplin County, North Carolina. Corners and edges gently worn. Staple holes at upper left-hand edge of both pages. Two horizontal mailing folds. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.