15 Apr
1959
As you stated in your letter of April 3rd, the present status of the treasury is
such, that a drastic cut in the budget, is necessary, and that the staff must be reduced. In the light of the budgetary situation, and the necessity for me to give
more time to my church, I present my resignation as Executive Director, to become effective as of April 15th.
; ‘If it is your desire, at any time, that I serve S.C.L.C. in any way, such as field
work in conducting a voter-registration program, or assist in clinics or workshops,
ormake any contacts in your behalf, feel free to call upon me.
.The experience of.working with you has been a pleasant and profitable one.
Respectfully yours,
[signed]
John L. Tilley
!JLT/eb
TLS. MLKF-MBU: BOX7 2 .
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
To Branch Rickey
15 April 1959
[Montgomery,Ala.]
King thanks baseball executive Branch Rickey, who in an earlier letter had praised
,
Stride Toward F r e e d o m as a “Christ-likedocumentfiom beginning to end.”’
Rickey replied to King on 18June: “Iam down-right proud to have a corresponding
acquaintanceship with you.”
.Mr. [Brunch?]Rickey
Silver Springs Farm
!Old Mill Road
Pittsburgh 38, Pennsylvania
Dear Mr. Rickey:
’ On returning to the country, I found your very kind letter of January 28, on
my desk. Words are inadequate for me to express my appreciation to you for your
encouraging words concerning my book, Stride Toward Freedom. This book is
simply my humble attempt to bring Christian principles to bear on the difficult
184
I . Rickey to King, 28 January 1959. Wesley Branch Rickey (1881-1965), born in Stockdale, Ohio,
‘graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University (1904) and the University of Michigan Law School (191I ).
Beginning in 1905, Rickey worked for several professional baseball teams in a variety of capacities,
among them player, scout, and general manager. As general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Rickey
signedJackie Robinson to one of the organization’sminor-leagueteams in 1945. Two years later Robinson was promoted to the Dodgers, thus integrating major league baseball.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
problem of racial injustice which confronts our nation. I am happy to know that
you found it helpful.
May I say in passing that I have long had a tremendous admiration for you. Your
dedicated spirit, your humanitarian concern, and your unswerving devotion to
the principles of freedom andjustice for all men will remain an inspiration to generations yet unborn. I do hope that in the not-too-distant future we will get a chance
to meet personally and talk over some of the issues that are close to our hearts2
With best wishes and warm personal regards, I am
17 Apr
‘959
Sincerely yours,
Martin L. King, Jr.
MLK:mlb
TLc. MLKP-MBU: BOX68.
2. King and Rickey probably met at a i g June 1960 “FreedomJubilee” in Pittsburgh, where both
men received plaques for their contributions “to the cause of world-wide freedom” (Central Baptist
Church, Program, “TriState’sFreedom Jubilee,” i g June 1960).
To Kwame Nkrumah
17 April 1959
[Montgomery,Ala.]
King thanks Ghana 5prime ministerfw the courtesies he extended during the
Ghanaian independence cekbralions in March 1g57.l
Dr.Kwame Nkrumah, Prime Minister
Ghana
ACCRA, GHANA
Dear Dr. Nkrumah:
I have been intending to write you ever since I left Ghana in 1957 after having
a most rewarding experience at your independence celebration. Words are inadequate for me to express my appreciation to you for the hospitality that you extended to me and my wife. It was most gracious of you to take time out of your extremely busy schedule and receive us for lunch at your residence. These things
will remain in my thoughts so long as the cords of memory shall lengthen.
I . King sent a similar letter to Ghana’s finance minister (see King to K. A. Gbedemah, 4 May 1959,
pp. 194-195 in this volume). For more information about King’s trip to Ghana, see Introduction in
Papm 47-9.
‘85