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Roosevelt Fitzgerald: "Reasonableness" letter addressing Chief Justice Warren Burger

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Date

1983

Description

From the Roosevelt Fitzgerald Professional Papers (MS-01082) -- Personal and professional papers file.

Digital ID

man000965
    Details

    Citation

    man000965. Roosevelt Fitzgerald Professional Papers, 1890-1996. MS-01082. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/d1zg6kn25

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    Digitized materials: physical originals can be viewed in Special Collections and Archives reading room

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    English

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    application/pdf

    Reasonableness

    I feel compelled to write this letter. It is in reference to Chief Justice Warren Burger's derogatory comment about our city. I have paid close attention to the response by other's ranging from community leaders to fourth graders.

    The Chief Justice's remark, probably prompted by certain few unsavory realities and personalities which have occurred or been present in Las Vegas at one time or another over the past forty years or so, has cost a shadow over the entire community. Any reasonable person realizes that an entire populus should not, by proximity, be judged by the action of a few.

    Perhaps, as they say, when they say that "there's some good in everything", some good could come out of this. The comment which the Chief Justice made about Las Vegas was as undeserved, as similar comments made by other about West Las Vegas.

    If we indeed do expect the CJ to exemplify reasonableness and thoughtfulness then, it would seem to me, that we should be equally anxious to terminate the continual manifestation of a similar stance and perception of a portion of our own city. 

    What is it called? Reciprosity?

    -2-

    Perhaps Chief Justice Warren Burger has been reading some local reports. He might not realize, as we do, that there is a difference between Las Vegas and West Las Vegas.

    Over the past thirteen years I have constantly read about what an unsavory place the "Westside" is. As a matter of fact, certain people feel that the Westside is such an unsavory place that they wont even go there or open business there. 

    Now we all know that the westside is indeed a part of Las Vegas. It stands to reason that if the former is unsavory then the latter is also.

    -3-

    1. Stanley Paher Las Vegas: As It Began, As It Grew

    2. Ovid Demaris The Green Felt Jungle

    x 3. Georgia Lewis The Way It Was

    x 4. Sagebrush and Neon

    Hank Greenspun Where I Stand

    5. Las Vegas: Playtown U.S.A.

    x 6. Sammy Davis, Jr Yes I Can

    x 7. Pearl Bailey The Raw Pearl

    8. Perry Kaufman's Mississippi of The West

    x 9. Elmer Rusco Nevada Negroes Speak

    -4-

    1. Hawthorne Nevada -- El Capitain Restaurant

    2. Moolin Rogue

    3. Open Housing

    4. School Integration

    5.

    -5-

    1st 1619

    J.P 1640

    D.I 1776

    C.C. 1787

    LA. 1803

    W of 1815

    CW 1860

    LV 1905

    BD 1930

    BMI 1940