Sept. 29, 1962 - Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy expressed disappointment today that the American Bar Association and “the many distinguished lawyers” of Mississippi had not supported the Federal effort to enroll a Negro in the University of Mississippi. Mr. Kennedy said that “courage is the most important attribute of a lawyer.” “One of my great disappointments with the situation in Mississippi,” he said, “has been the absence of any expression of support from the many distinguished lawyers of that state. I realize in that difficult social situation that to defend the fundamental principles of respect for the law and compliance with Federal court orders would be unpopular and require great courage. I also understand that many of them may not agree with the the Supreme Court decision in 1954 outlawing school segregation. But whether they agree or not, they still have their obligations as lawyers, and they have remained silent. I might also note that there have been no pronouncements in this matter by the American Bar Association.”
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