Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Digital Library Collections This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections. Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files Folder Title: The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights – Meeting with President 05/13/1983 – Father Virgil Blum (2 of 4) Box: 34 To see more digitized collections visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected] Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/ THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 4/28/83 MEMORANDUM - TO: FAITH WHITTLESEY (COORDINATE WITH RICHARD WILLIAMSON) FROM: FREDERICK J. -RYAN, JR. ~ SUBJ: APPROVED PRESIDENTIAL ACTIVITY MEETING: Brief greeting and photo with Father Virgil Blum - on th~ occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Catholic League ' for Religious and Civil Rights DATE: May 13, 1983 TIME: 2:00 pm DURATION: · 10 minutes LOCA'i'ION: Oval. Office RE~.ARKS REQUIRED: Background to be covered in briefing paper MEDIA COVERAGE: If any, coordinate with Press Office FIRST LADY PARTICIPATION: No NOTE: PROJECT OFFICER, SEE ATTACHED CHECKLIST cc: A. Bakshian M. McManus R. Williamson R. Darrnan J. Rosebush R. DeProspero B. Shaddix K. Duberstein W. Sittrnann D. Fischer L. Speakes C. Fuller WHCA Audio/Visual W. Henkel WHCA Operations E. Hickey A. lvroble ski G. Hodges Nell Yates THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 21, 1983 MEMORANDUM TO MICHAEL K. DEAVER FAITH R. WHITTLESEY FROM: RICHARDS. WILLIAMSON RE: CATHOLIC LEAGUE FOR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL RIGHTS I am prompted to forward this both to you as a result of our r -.I recent luncheon meeting on blue collar workers coupled with materials I have received from Bill Gavin. As you know, Bill, who was a former speech writer to President Nixon and currently a Special Assistant to House Republican Leader Bob Michel, gave invaluable help to us on the campaign as a speech writer. He was particularly good at drafting language to address the ethnic Catholic group. Bill is very active in the Catholic community. His book, "A Street Corner Conservative", is probably the best written about the Conservative Catholic crossover vote. He strongly urges us to have Father Virgil Blum meet with the President on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights on May 14, 1983. Apparently Father Blum will be in Washington at that time. Enclosed are materials I have received from Bill of this event. Based on my review of the material and my high regard for Bill, I strongly urge us to place it on the schedule. ✓ cc: James A. Baker APPRO'J£0 FOR Edward Rollins Date. r/J-3/l'J Time. ~1 ot:, , E:n glh. ~J fJJi ~te_ ~~ - - Dea.ie Rich: Say something in Austrian ... weiner schnitzel ..... On to more pressing things: Re;The invitation to Father Virgil Blum to meet with the President on the occasion of the tenth _anniversary of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. (MAY ( '-l 1 (q-?3) Reaso~t it would be good for the President to do so: 1. While the League has m~~y clergymen as members it has no official connection with the "official" Church bureaucray. Thus, tae League represents the kind of volunteer, grass-roots, private initiative the President likes. 2. The League is p~imarily a civil rights group .This is an important fact. Like the Anti:-De.famation League of B'nai Brith, it stands up for the rights of its co-religionist~But equally important it has stood up against bigotry directed ·at non~Catholics as well. Meeting with Father Blum would give the White House a chance to speak out against all bigotry and give the President a chance to set the record straight. 3.The Leage is ~champion of tuition tax credits--and stresses the benefits to minority children(they have do~a a study on this). 4. The league has done ayine job in setting the record straight on news stories about the abortion contfOversy. 5.Finally, the League is made up of "street-co~r Catholics"(like the present writer as we say) ... the kind President Reagan has counted on in 1 the past. Ric!}, there are so rnnay go~d things bbout this, I can't see a drawback. There has to be some imagination shown by the White Bouie in rea c hing th~ Catholics of this country.This · could be a small beginning- .. / THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 21, 1983 MEMORANDUM TO MICHAEL K. DEAVER FAITH R. WHITTLESEY / FROM: RICHARDS. WILLIAMSON RE: CATHOLIC LEAGUE FOR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL RIGHTS I am prompted to forward this both to you as a result of our recent luncheon meeting on blue collar workers coupled with materials I have received from Bill Gavin. As you know, Bill, who was a former speech writer to President Nixon and currently a Special Assistant to House Republican Leader Bob Michel, gave invaluable help to us on the campaign as a speech writer. He was particularly good at drafting language to address the ethnic Catholic group. Bill is very active in the Cat~olic community. His book, "A Street Corner Conservative", is probably the best written about the Conservative Catholic crossover vote. He strongly urges us to have Father Virgil Blum meet with the President on the occasion bf the tinth anniversary of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights on May 14, 1983. Apparently Father Blum will be in Washington at that time. Enclosed are materials I have received from Bill of this event. Based on my review of the material and my· high regard for} Bill, I strongly urge us to place it on the schedule. -. _ •.A·t.e.,, - (, cc: James A. Baker Edward Rollins Dear Rich: Say something in Austrian ... weiner schnitzel ..... On to more pressing things: Re;The invitation to Father Virgil Blum to meet with the President on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. ( MAY l '-l 1 (q <? 3) Reasop4 it would be good for the President to do -so: 1. While the League has m~Py clergymen as members it has no official connection with the "official" Church bureaucray. Thus, tee League represents the kind of volunteer, grass-roots, private initiative the President likes. 2. The League is primarily a civil rights group .This is an important fact. Like the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith, it stands up for the rights of its co-religionist~But equally important it has stood up against bigotry directed at non~Catholics as well. Meeting with Father Blum would give the White House a •chance to speak out against all bigotry and give the President a chance to set the record straight. 3.The Lea~ is ~champion of tuition tax credits--and stresses the benefits to minority children(they have doNa a study on this). 4. Th e l ea gue h as don e ayin e job in se tting th e record straight on news stories about the abortion conttoversy. 5.Finally, the League is made up of "street-co*r Catholics"(like the present writer as we say) ... the kind President Reagan has counted on in 1 the past. Rico, there are so mnay good things bbo ~t this, I can't see a drawback! There has to be some imagination shown by the White House in reaching the Catholics of this country.This could be a small beginning .... IC L Vol.8, No.11 November, 1981 inside ... Chapters focus on tax credits The Catholic League's most valuable of a national religion, not public support Catholic League attorneys have resource - its volunteer chapter leaders for beneficial public services such as appealed a court decision that barred stu­ - put on an impressive performance private education. dents at Bishop Walsh High School in October 3, as officers of several East A workshop on how to deal with the Cumberland, Maryland, from participat­ Coast chapters gathered at St. Michael's media was conducted by the presidents of ing in a public school program known as School in Crandon, N.J. , to present a day. two New York-area chapters, William the "All County Band." See the article on long workshop seminar on tuition tax Lindner of Long Island and Anthony page 2. credits. Mangano of Westchester. * * * League members from six chapters, as Mangano stressed the League's role as Launched just a little more than a year well as members of the general public, a source of information on education ago, the Catholic League's youth educa­ attended the meeting, which was coordi­ freedom. "Our primary function," he tion program is being met with enthu­ nated by Father Peter Stravi nskas, the said, "is to provide the media with League's East Coast regional director of siasm by Catholic school teachers and accurate information in the form of press administrators. See the story on page 3. development. releases and background articles that can be used to help reporters and editors * '1: * understand the issue. Our secondary func­ Source of pride This month's " Docket," on page 4, is tion is to correct misinformation when it written by the Christian Legal Society's occurs - whether in a news article, an Thomas S. Brandon, Jr. He cites the Cath­ Father Stravinskas said he takes great editorial, a cartoon or a broadcast. This olic League's "Students for Voluntary pride in hi s association with the League's can be accomplished most effectively Prayer" case as an example of how the chapter leaders.