Seek Investigation of Charleston, S.C. Telephone Service
Press Release
June 1, 1967
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Press Releases, Volume 4. Seek Investigation of Charleston, S.C. Telephone Service, 1967. 1b8af3e3-b792-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/b0b31b17-bdd0-4429-9763-5a8a90e836a3/seek-investigation-of-charleston-sc-telephone-service. Accessed November 23, 2025.
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President
Hon. Francis E. Rivers
PRESS RELEASE Director-Counsel
Jack Greenberg i 1 ome efense und
i Director, Public Relations
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. J DeV.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 * JUdson 6-8397 an 2a ater ees
June l,
SEEK INVESTIGATION
OF CHARLESTON, S.C.
TELEPHONE SERVICE
Negro Candidates Report Delays
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) last week
asked the Federal Communications Commission and the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company to investigate circumstances around the reported
delay of telephone service for Negro political candidates in Charleston,
South Carolina,
Jack Greenberg, LDF director-counsel, said, "It is incredible
Bell System cannot promptly fill reasonable order placed by Negro
candidates for election,
"I request immediate investigation to see whether this order can
be filled and whether refusal is racially motivated."
Complete text of Mr. Greenberg's wire to Nicholas Johnson,
chairman, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, and Benjamin
S, Gilmer, president, AT&T, New York City, follows:
Benjamin C. Cook, Jr., chairman, Legal Redress Committee,
NAACP, Charleston, South Carolina, informs me southern Bell
Telephone Company recalcitrant rendering service to committee
supporting Negro candidates for election to be held June 13,
He states telephone company first requested $100 deposit each
line. After several weeks negotiations district manager
J. K, Livingston accepted $100 deposit for all phones and
stated phones would be installed May 20. On 20th or 21st
a phone company representative left message saying company
had no facilities to fill order, Mr. Cook made further
inquiry. Thursday this week one phone was installed.
Mr, Cook inquired of Mr, Stroman, general manager, about
balance of order, Mr. Stroman said company would make com-
plete installation immediately, Later Mr. Stroman called
denying commitment stating order could not be filled. It
is incredible Bell System cannot promptly fill reasonable
order placed by Negro candidates for election. I request
immediate investigation to see whether this order can be
filled and whether refusal is racially motivated,