Response letter from Congressman Bruce Alger

This letter is an example similar to many other response letters Congressman Alger wrote in the months following the assassination.  Most of the letters share common language about approaching passage of legislation in a calm and measured fashion, without emotionalism inspired by President Kennedy's tragic death.  Civil Rights legislation was a major topic of debate in the year following Kennedy's death.  The Civil Rights Act was passed in June 1964. - Lindsey Richardson, Curator of Collections

Bruce Alger (1918-2015) was one of the larger-than-life ultraconservative personalities that dominated the political image of Dallas in the years before the Kennedy assassination.  In 1954, the Dallas native became the first Republican congressman from Texas since Reconstruction.  During his decade in Congress, he was considered one of the most conservative members of the U.S. House.  For example, in addition to sponsoring a bill for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations, he was the only congressman to oppose a federally-funded school lunch program.  Alger was particularly critical of the Kennedy administration and was present when Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson were accosted in Dallas during the last days of the 1960 campaign. - Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator