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Nixon Leads Mourners at Young Funeral

13y THOMAS A. JOHNSON that officials of the adjacent, LEXINGTON, Ky., 17 racially mixed Lexington Ceme- — President Nixon said today tery had offered a more expan- that "A great nation will pay sive burial plot but, that the its respects to Whitney Young family had chosen to have Mr. by continuing the work to which Young buried in the black-ceme- he dedicated his entire fife." tery in lots that had been Standing in a small Negro owned for many years by his cemetery beside the flower- parents. It was said that Mr. decked coffin of Mr. Young, Young's deceased mother had who was the executive direc- requested that he be buried tor of the National Urban near her grave. League, the President eulo- The area in which Mr. Young gized the civil rights 'leader "as was buried had fallen into dis- a very complex man" who will repair in recent years, and Gov. be remembered as a doer, not Louis Nunn ordered it cleaned 'a talker." up last week. It was overgrown Wearing a gray suit without with weeds and abandoned a topcoat, despite the chilly cars, and refuse had been overcast day, Mr. Nixon stood spread over the plots. erect and spoke without the State crews also cut back the benefit of notes. In solemn, sagging limbs of several ceme- measured tones, he said that tery oak trees that today Mr. Young's genius was that showed the fresh, white scars "he knew how to accomplish against the rough, black bark what other people were merely of the tree trunks. for." The Mourners Mr. Nixon also confirmed The mourners included Mr. during the ceremonies that he Young's father; Governor Nunn: had 'offered Mr. Young Justice of a Cabinet post during a meet- the Supreme ing that followed the 1968 elec- Court; , former A tion but preceded the inaugura- Attorney General of the United tion. There was much specula- States; , executive tion at the time had such director of the National Associ- A an offer had been made but Associated Press ation for the Advancement of it could not be verified. Mrs. Young embracing the President after the service Colored People, and 's Ile Was Honored' two United States Senators, "We discussed the possibility a red, white and blue ribbon. by "helping others through rec- John Sherman Cooper and Mar- W. Cook. of his becoming a member of Mr. Nixon set the wreath down ognizing their equality, their low the Cabinet," Mr. Nixon said. at the graveside, and, standing dignity, to realize the American A funeral service was held in New York City yesterday for "He was -honored by the Sug- at stiff attention, he elosed his dream." gestion and after consideration eyes for several minutes. Then Mr. Young, who died last Stating that the many thou. Thursday in Lagos, . The he told me that he could do he sat next to Mrs. Young and A more of the things he believed they passed a few words of sands of black people Mr. service drew more than 6,000 in outside of Government than greeting. Young had helped to give edu- mourners to the Riverside he could inside of Govern- The President told the gather- cational and occupational skills Church and attracted thousands ment." ing there was a message in Mr. were "living monuments" to the more to Harlem's 125th Street, About 4,000 persons—blacks Young's Ere for all Americans. Urban League director, Mr. through which the procession and whites, common people He said: Nixon said also that there were moved. and celebrities — crowded the "At a time when it is so often "thousands more, not of his The body was flown yester- small Greenwood Cemetery for the custom whenever we have race, who have an understand- day afternoon to Louisville, .!F the ceremony. Many arrived a problem to throw up our ing in their hearts which they where it lay in state at the ' early in the morning. hands and say, 'What is the would not have had except for A. T. Porter Funeral Home until A few minutes after noon, Government going to do?' this what he taught." this morning. A motorcade clo the Young family, led by the man said, 'What can I do?' " Mr. Nixon ended the eulogy, more than 50 cars, following a composed widow and her two Mr. Nixon said: "Whitney standing in bright sunlight as detachment of motorcycle p0: daughters, Marcia and Lauren Young's message is this: What the clouds moved from in front licemen, sheriffs and state walked through a Toped-off can X do to make this a better of the sun, by saying: troopers, brought the body 75 area from their limousine to country? What can I 'do, through "His dream, if I may para- miles to its burial place. • the grave site. They wore black[ helping others, through recog- phrase, was one nation, under The graVeside services were cloth coats for the 30-degree' nizing their equality, their dig- God, indivisible, with liberty brief—a little less than 20 min- weather, and each sat still nity, their individuality, to real- and justice and opportunity for utes. They were begun by Dr. during the brief ceremony. ize the American dream?" all. To fulfill his dream is the Peter Samson, pastor of the Mr. Nixon arrived some 10 The President and Mrs. Nix- responsibility of each of us. It Unitarian Community Church minutes later, just ahead -of a on, who led a Washington dele- is the commitment each of us of White Plains, N.Y., who, in black military aide. Lieut. Col. gation of 24 other officials and makes in his heart on this day." bidding "farewell 'to this friend Vernon -Coffey of the Army, dignitaries for the hour-long jet Frank L. Stanley Sr., publish- of man," expressed "gratitude who carried a wreath of red plane ride, said Mr. Young had er of The Louisville Journal, an that we have been able to walk and white carnations laced with chosen to make America better important black weekly, said a little way with him." MAR 1 8 1971 40m ,

President Nixon eulogizing Whitney M. Young Jr. at the graveside service. In front row are, from left: Mrs. Nixon, Mr. Young's daughter, Lauren, and Mrs. Young. The President praised Mr. Young as "a doer, not a talker."