|
NEWS CNFERENCE
GGVERNOR FARRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE
MARCH 26, 19614
NEHSMEN PARTICIPTING: Bill Bowen, WCTV; vernon Bradford, TAMPA
TRIBUNE; Robert W. Delaney, nRLANDO SENTINEL-STAR; Red Davis, NBC NEWS;
James Gillespy, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL; John Hayes, WFOA, WTVJ;
Budd Mellichamp, ABC RADIO; hon North, ASSOCIATED PRESS; Ray Starr,
ABC RADIG; Cloyd Taylor, NBC NEWS; George Thurston, wFLA, WJXT;
Everett Hilliard, FLORIDA TIMES UNION.
GOVERNOR: Good morning.
THURSTnN: Good morning. There isn't even a thin gray line here
this morning, except for the electronic line.
GOVEENOR: I am glad to announce to you this morning that last
evening about eight or eight-thirty there was an arrest in Fort
Pierce of John w. Davis in connection with the threat of use of
force -- a felony under the statutes -- an arrest which the state
officials believe will be one of the most significant in the FEC
case and which we hope will do a great deal to reduce any threats
of violence on the FEC.
R. STARR: Governor, why does the state feel that this is so
significant -- this one particular one?
GOVERNOR: There are many indications of activity on the part of
this particular man, but it is or course very difficult to accumulate
evidence on any particular case. In this instance his handwriting on
walls, done with spray guns, and things of this kind led to his
identification and arrest.
R.5TARR: Governor, isn't it true that since you all entered into
this thing there has been a lessening of all this activity on the FEC?
GOVERNOR: I don't know whether the activity has lessened. There
haven't been as many overt acts of violence since we entered into the
case, and I hope that there will not be a resumption. But of course
that is on a day-to-day basis. We are not trying to police the
railroad from one end to the other except by airplane. We don't have
the men or the capacity to do so at this time.
BRADFORD: Has the tempo of your investigation decreased any or is it
still ~-
OOVERNnR: No, it has not. We are using exactly the same force and
the same methods.
GILLESPY: This Was eight-thirty this morning cr last night?
GOVERNOR: Last night.
-2-
THURSTON: Governor, you invoked extraordinary powers in order to
enter the FEC strike sometime ago. Is the situation in Jacksonville
less an emergency or is there a reason for your not having gone into
the Jacksonville violence at this time?
GOVERNOR: I used the unusual powers in the FEC case when all other
needs for resolving that particular problem had been exhausted. That
has not been true in Jacksonville. I have been in very close touch
with the situation, particularly through Sheriff Carson, and am
assured that local law enforcement officials are adequate to handle
the situation. That's quite different from the FEC case. I remind
you, too, that in the FEC case I did not use those extraordinary
powers until the violence had gone on for a long period of time.
And I will tell you now that I will be extremely reluctant in the
future to use those powers in any kind of situation and will do so
only where all other means of achieving the desired ends have been
exhausted.
BRADFORD: Have you heard what the situation is today over there?
GOVERNOR: About one o'clock -- that's today -- yes I did get a report
than that all was relatively quiet and things well in hand as of
one o'clock last night.
DELANEY: Governor, I notice you said, particularly, you have been in
close touch with Sheriff Carson. Does this indicate any lack of
confidence in the police over there?
GOVERNOR: Sheriff Carson is the law enforcement official with whom
I have official lines of Communication. I have no authority over
municipal police. I do have a sort or indirect authority over
sheriffs inasmuch as I have the power of removal and they do get their
commissions from me, whereas this is not true of the local officials.
DELANEY: Do you have lack of communication with the city officials
over there?
GOVERNOR: Well, I have only to the extent that I have lack of
communication with the chief of West Palm Beach or of Tampa. I dont
confer with them every day and if that's lack of communications --
DELANEY: Well, they don't have riots every day in these towns either,
do they?
GOVERNOR: No, that's true. I have not established any lines of
communication nor have any been sought of which I know, but there
-3-
has been no failure, there has been no denial in any instance.
NORTH: Have you been in touch with the Justice Department or
President Johnson on the Jacksonville situation?
GOVERROR: In direct response to your question, no.
GILLESPY: Has your office or any or your investigators?
GOVERNOR: Well, I am sure they have. Mr. Enrich and members of my
staff keep in very close touch with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
GILLESPY: what you are saying is that you personally havent talked
to anybody?
GOVERNOR: Well, what I am saying in answer to his question was no.
GILLESPY: Yes, sir, well I am trying to clear --
GOVERNOR: 0. K.
BRADFORD: no you have someone from your staff over there?
GOVERNOR: Mr. Enrich of our staff is in Jacksonville, yes, sir.
THURSTON: Governor, is there any significance to the fact that John
Evans, who still maintains close ties with your office and the
investigating committee, is handling the state's arrangements for the
march on Friday?
GOVERNOR: Well, it's not true ~- otherwise, yes. I would say if it
were true it would be significant, but it is not true.
THURSTON: It is not true that he is handling the arrangements?
GOVERNGR: It is not true that he is handling the arrangements.
BOREN: Governor, along this same line -- at this time do you or any
of the Cabinet officials plan to attend any of the talks Friday?
GOVERNOR: Any of the?
BOWEN: Talks by the Negro leaders?
GOVERNOR: No, I have no such plans. I don't know what the plans of
the other Cabinet members are.
BowEN: You have not been invited?
GOVERNOR: I don't know anybody that's been invited. I haven't and
I don't know of others.
THURSTON: Governor, when I inquired of City Manager Arvah Hopkins
earlier in the week about arrangements for managing the large number
of peeple expected in town, he referred me to Mr. Evans as the man
who is handling the arrangements for the state. was he in error?
GOVERNOR: He was in error if he made that statement.
TRURSTON: Can you tell us who is handling the arrangements?
.u-
GOVERFOR: Well, yes, Mr. Terry Lee of the Board of Commissioners of
State Institutions. The hoard of Commissioners owns the Centennial
Field and they have surveillance over R. A. Gray Park and I believe
he has handled the arrangements for their use or Centennial Field and
R. A. Gray Park.
NORTH: GnVernor, are you lending moral support of any kind to
Senator Holland and Senator Soothers in the fillibuater against the
Civil Rights Bill?
GOVERNOR: Only to the extent that I have made known to them that I
do support their position and have told anybody that inquired that I
do support their position. To that extent, yes.
DELANEY: Would you care to comment, Governor, on the Fresident's
statement yesterday relative to the Civil Rights Bill?
GOVERNOR: I am not familiar with it.
DELANEY: Urging the clergy tn -- particularly Southern Baptists to
use their influence to gain passage or the Civil Rights Bill?
GOVERNOR: I am not familiar with it. I didn't get home until about
one o'clock last night and I haven't read the papers I am sorry to say.
DELANEY: You are not really sorry, are you? (laughter)
R.STARR: Governor, can you give us anything that went on between
you and former President Truman at Key West -- any of your conversation?
GOVERNOR: I found him as always extremely interesting. Be is a very
charming person -- Just as full of vitality as I had remembered him.
I had the good fortune to be with him about four hours. so many books
have come out in recent months concerning personalities and issues
of those exciting times when he was President and Senator, and it
was a great deal of pleasure for me to listen to his recounting of
some of those and his comments on some of those personalities.
R.STARR: no you feel, GOVernor, that he still holds a major role in
the Democratic Party?
GOVERNOR: I am sure that he, as would any past president, does sit
very high in the council for the Party. Certainly I think that
everyone in the Party would look to him for advice on critical issues
that might arise.
R.STARR: Did you ask his advice on anything when you talked with
him, GOVernor?
-5
GOVERNOR: No, sir, I don't believe that I did. Actually in talking
with President Truman I tried to follow leads in the area that he
indicated he wanted to talk about. He has such a vast store of
anecdotes and wisdom about so many things that wherever he wanted to
lead I was delighted to go there with him.
BOWEN: Governor, as yet have you had a chance to read the Legislative
Investigation Committee's book?
GOVERNOR: I have had a chance, but I haven't done it, I am sorry to
say. This has not been as you probably suspect deliberate effort at
evasion, but I have been kind of busy and I Just haven't done that.
I do have a capy of it and expect to do it.
R.STARR: Governor, do you have any comments on the situation that
occurred at Key West last Friday when a chopper from Cuba got in under
our radar and landed at Key West and the military knew nothing about
it. We understand from Senator Smathere that there is going to be a
re-evaluation of South Florida defense. Are you concerned over this
situation?
GOVERNOR: I certainly am if -- I know nothing of the military facts
-- I have no personal knowledge of whether the aircraft came in
undetected or it so what the reasons for it were. But I certainly
would be dieturbed if it be true that it came in undetected and would
hope that steps would be taken to see that similar eVenta could not
occur again -- not Just similar events but other events that could
be more damaging of that nature.
DELANEY: Governor, what are your plane for tomorrow. Do you have a
schedule to be in town or out of town?
GOVERNOR: I am going to he in town part of the day and I had hoped
to get away to go home for Easter, if possible. The children are out
of school, as you know, tomorrow -- so that problem is solved and it
I can get away a little early I will go home for Easter.
BEIAREY: Could you tell us when you p1an to leave?
GOVERNOR: Well, when I get caught up is about the size of it. Nrs.
Bryant is wanting to know the same information and I simply can't
(laughter) give a very clear anchor.
DEIANEY: Have you given her any tentative idea?
GOVERNOR: No, I really haven't. That's a sore point. (laughter)
THURSTON: Governor, during your conference with Negro leaders earlier
.6-
this week we are told that the subjects discussed included the civil
rights problems in Ocala, St. Augustine and Jacksonville. Could you
tell us anything about the details of the discussion?
GOVERNOR: Hell, the discussion of those places was largely on their
part. My discussion related to my own participation, as it were, the
fact that the Governor, by and large, as a law enforcement officer is
more or less a court of last resort, that law enforcement is a local
function under the constitution until it breaks down. And that when
it breaks down, then it is the duty of the Governor to use what
powers he has to move in and rebuild it. I can remember no comment
that I made about Ocala and st. Augustine ~~ about Jacksonville I
indicated that I had a great deal of confidence in Sheriff Dale
Carson, that I have been in frequent communication with him and that
he had indicated that law enforcement authorities were adequate to
handle the incidents that uee occurring in Jacksonville at that time
and that there was no occasion, in his opinion, for intervention by
the Governor.
THURSTON: Was there any discussion at any time of renewal of the idea
of a statewide bi-racial committee mentioned at that time?
GOVERNOR: No, this was not mentioned by anybody.
THURSTOR: In your opinion, would such a committee be of any assistance
in establishing lines of communications in situations like Jacksonville?
GOVERNOR: It might under certain circumstances, yes. In Jacksonville,
as you know, they have formed such a committee and it might, under
appropriate circumstances, be beneficial. I think each case has to
be Judged on its own, each one, particularly where they are so
emotional, is different from the other.
THURSTON: Do you contemplate setting up such a committee or at least
discussing such a committee with anybody?
GOVERNOR: No, I have given it a good deal of thought from time to
time, but so far I have not reached any determination to do so.
Are there other questions?
NORTH: Are any law enforcement officers, such as the highway patrol
under your Jurisdiction -- are they -- have you taken any steps to
see that there are a goodly number of them around tomorrow in case
of outbreaks of violence at the march?
GOVERNOR: Well, of course, around Tallahassee there is always a
-7-
goodly number -- you have the headquarters group and you have the
trainees and so I think it is always true around Tallahassee that you
have a goodly number.
NORTH: So you are taking no special steps?
GOVERNOR: No. I don't contemplate this, and I told the group that
was in yesterday morning, that it wouldn't be any different than the
gathering of a group of birdwatchers or peace lovers or anything else
-- Just a group of people that want to meet together to express their
views and we have given them authority to do so or permission to do
so in a public facility. Then they want to parade, some of them, in
an orderly fashion and this, of course, to the extent that the state
is involved we are perfectly willing for them to do. I anticipate
that it will be that kind of occasion.
HAYES: Well, the Highway Patrol said that they would act to have
all their troopers here in town tomorrow, plus the troopers in out
lying counties on standby alert, along with other sheriff department
officials and the entire daytime force of the local cities and police
forces at the line of the march. Do you feel that this is an uncalled
for amount of law enforcement officials?
GOVERNOR: Well, no, what you suggested doesn't indicate calling in
anybody particularly. It sounds as though the Highway Patrol is
taking the normal type of organizational steps, but I don't believe
you suggested that they were calling in anybody particularly or that
anybody was being added to the state forces, did you?
HAYES: No.
GOVERNOR: No. Well, I don't see anything unusual about that then
if you don't make any change.
NORTH: Well, there has been as you say an organizational step then?
GOVERNOR: So he tells me.
NORTH: Oh, this is ~- you were not aWare of it?
GOVERNOR: I am conscious of the fact that I have an understanding
with the Highway Patrol throughout this administration that they
would be alert to every situation that might in any sense get beyond
the capacity of local officials and I would assume that they would
do this everywhere, including here.
BOWEN: Governor, what you are trying to say then is that the state
is not placing any great significance or importance upon this thing.
Correct?
-8-
GOVERNOR: I take the position that these people and other people
have a right to meet and eXprese their views and that we expect them
to do so in an orderly fashion and that this is another such case.
And if they do it in that fashion, there will be no particular
problem -- there will be no problem other than cleaning up and we
have got a $200 deposit to take care of that, or will have.
LEE: Will have today.
GOVERNOR: Will have. And that is about the size of it.
Are there other questions?
SEVERAL: Thank you, Governor.
GOVERNOR: Thank you, gentlemen.
PAGE 1
..[ ......E...
PAGE 2
-YI. .. T -1 T 1N 1,erer yY u i 1e~e exror y pstsinrrirt erster th FEC strie sometime ago. Isth I tutn nJcsnil lean ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l Ifn Imf lgn: ri hr arao o orno ai eei th f, J ksn Ill. vin y 1,y a hs ie GOVEENGR; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1, 1,sdteuuulgwr n h E aewe l te
PAGE 3
1OEFO: tdire t, r1p1 et or usin
PAGE 4
..L.. C''-V-EPOT;: Well, yr-r,. ijrsj.fr, ar;rl 117:aa rt great 1ertL of _ril scure for 11:e to listi-n tri hl:3 recour:'.Irg e.i a enie ni d--;n! :tr:d hu cerr:r.-c.tti er. ;nr.s es:Tr:n y er--r-na i i !-i en E.5'IAEF : :''r' yr-ti ferl Dev-rr.or, that -rm si:ill hearls 't rr.ajrr to I.e ir, the ~1rfrir.cra'.ie l'al-spo GN-ST~-m -are ce r.hat he, as 'anuld 2::y past yn.str-est, r1r'os 3-.t very high ir. the: cc11ne.l.1 fr.c t-.e Party. E'ortvir,19 1 1.11]rik th--.t JW ryi-r11-' iTi il Nitty 1-Jr>-.ilel |r--,ly |:.r i-.ir: Cry r!.fit iCr. c.ti ei'i'ical ir 3yg isit itgin raj.g. A E'Ai~!!: DM yra aak his advice mi arty1-i-tirtrg tracri you talker1 ??ith h 1-r., Severr..-r?
PAGE 5
GOVERIP'lt 30, sir, I dorrt nr:lisive that I did. Actually in talkirg -dith Pre:aiam Tnullan I tried E.-I'dles lorsda in the area that he vindicated lie vrar:ted to talk abr-''1;. :-:hsa auch a vast storr. er er.-edni:es Ariel Wledoci abr.ut sa inar:y thir.gl that 1Jhe-rever he 1eara-d to al I wa:4 delighted to grthere krith him. Ge'Verrior, r.-i yet han! yriu had a chance tri reiwl tigr. [pgi9~.p.tiys -ler: '~ K:lltittsje s %'.10:k? G DJs: I hue had a chartee, but I haveri't de-na it, 1 a c;rrry te Tb:ls has n-'t boil as you probably suspmot de11.beral.-y effort at Ira but i hvo br-er: kind r.f 1-.usy 9,ncl i just; havera dr:ne that. d avel a :Wpy ,2 it rari axp=le t r.r. Elm -t RR: Govern-,r, do you hose aby cements r-rthe situari:-r. that occu rrr"i at Key Wes t 1;!.:st Friday vihr:r a chrrpe r fre-ci Cuba gr t in unrler adar and lancie:ri at Key Het anrj the ni:1.1-ir;ary kris nothir.gr about it .':;r2 1..dmtar:d froni Seste Srer.hara that there, is geir.g -.0 he -. r BYaluatie. 01' druI:.a F1m'ida rl ::(1-;-, ,Tryrm acecr-rried nyar t|-id 31tiill.tlen? GOVEEW'-f: I e=.rtal n:iy an! if -i knro.' r--thing .,f the rulitary Diets -I hava: n::: ge racTia~. krinw~.gf.o c.f v'hether the aircraft. -::mri-7 111 Undetecte i er i l' 5., what tia ys:siar:ri;for _t 1;!as-a, jat:r, 1 -..tronirtly wr-u~f he :Es E.u r);ei if it la true that i-, emi:a in urirjet.ecter] nr:d wetilr] acj-e that :ateps ii'ould t'a -Mik=-rt to sne the.t s'-ri:ilar ear.M eruld nrc -ccur 37:10: -r:--t ;~ust s-rrilar events Et rth..ar m:em;:: that cruid b --rr-: ce flaT4g ~ r:g e|' l. h,.t.at ar?: :l" GOVern'~'1-.. Flhet --sre yrsur plaiy I'cr tr-Eliorrow .[-:rs yt:u N=.ve a G -.''M[nm -sci g:--ing to be irt ten par!. c::" the day ori i um hrp=r] Fet away to g:-horr:e for Rater, i t' j:rssit-la .'!!% i:hiirl re. are riut of acacol, as you kreig tr.irrrrrw -er that probler: is selve-r1 eeri ir can get Amly a litt.ie +mrly 1 uill go !v:iral f.,r Ersa ter. E-hW]Y: a'uld ynu tell usi whin you plan t, led G.--Vi-:,-m Wrel-__, erher, I gr catisbr. up la nucat Lri-, ei.za c.E it. [.'rs. 13ryarit i ri NAr1|i.!rsr br. krar 1.1% sarne i.fr raial.j.r-r1 and ~i rsin.rly em-, rt (1-ag|11.er i give -ary c'.m En'er. DF;1.A[-IEY: I[ave yu # eer! tr-r any ':eri".ative idn? Gr'VERNon: re, -rea-iy r,:s.--ma't. Tr.r:'s a se.reprir.L (1%hter) '|"rlijF:STON: Gove.r-.rr, during y-ur cr.r:fererice wlLM Mgre Leaders; enritai
PAGE 6
GNVERNGR: Wella the discussion of part, My discussion related to my fact that the Gnvernmr, by and larg more nr less a enurt nf last resort functi-n under the constitutlan unt ices was largely an their icipation, as it were, the law enforcement officer is aw enfereement is a local .he has t^ move in and rebuild it. I can remember no comment made about Deala and St. Augustine -about Jacksonville I ted that I had a great deal of confidence in Sheriff Dale that I have been in frequent communication with htm and that ir.dierted that law enforcement aut]iorities were adequate to .the ineidents that we e mccurring in Jacksonville at that time iat there was no necesinn, in his mpinion, for intervention by vernor. enN: Was there any discussion at any time af renewal of the idea statewide bi-racial committee mentioned at that time" 3102: fin, this was re t mentirned by anybody. PON: In veur opinion, would such a cammitten be er aray ass tstanec
PAGE 7
-...7.. goodly~~~~~~~~~~~~~ nu.r-.. ...n..e h eduerer ropanuhv h try e .n ......... .k ... .t .... ....liy .ru .eur Talby n y r. ...
PAGE 8
GOVRNR:I ak te ostin h-~ hs epeadohrpol
|
