Sept. 27, 1962 - Alabama Governor John Patterson (pictured) told President Kennedy today that if Federal troops or marshals were sent to Mississippi, “your action would establish the Federal Government as a dictatorship of the foulest sort.” Mr. Patterson, a Democrat and one of Mr. Kennedy’s strongest Southern backers in the Presidential campaign of 1960, made this point in a telegram. Mr. Patterson also told the President that he stood firmly with Gov. Ross R. Barnett of Mississippi. Without qualification, Mr. Patterson said that Governor Barnett was right, and the Federal Government was wrong.
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