Jewish Labor Committee Opposes Carswell Nomination and Nixon’s Veto of Aid Bill

Charles S. Zimmerman, president of the Jewish Labor Committee, today expressed opposition to the confirmation of Judge G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. He said his opposition was in line with that of the AFL-CIO and several civil rights groups which have also opposed the confirmation. Mr. Zimmerman also called on Congress to override President Nixon’s veto of the $19.7 billion health, education, welfare and anti-poverty bill.

In his letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is holding hearings on the confirmation, Mr. Zimmerman contended that he was not opposing Judge Carswell for his statements “20 years ago,” but “because his judicial opinions show a weak, grudging record on civil rights. The national effort to give black Americans and other minorities a feeling that they are first-class American citizens will not be advanced by the confirmation of Judge Carswell.” Mr. Zimmerman further charged that “President Nixon’s recent nominations to the Supreme Court appear to be designed to appease Southern segregationists.”

Referring to his condemnation of Nixon’s veto, Mr. Zimmerman said that “the President’s desire to control inflation is commendable but to do so at the expense of cutting back the health, education and welfare of the American people is not responsible. The strength of America,” he continued “lies in its ability to enlarge health and educational facilities and not in their curtailment.” Noting that the President has a “misplaced sense of national priorities,” Mr. Zimmerman asserted that Mr. Nixon “fails to understand the urgent needs of average and poor Americans for increased educational and health facilities.

The Jewish Labor Committee claims to represent over 500,000 Jewish workers in the trade union movement.