LaDonna Harris, Women's Advisory Committee on Poverty, October-May, 1967-1968

The writer of the text poses questions to the ladies of the war on poverty about why they don't do more to help poor people. Specifically, the writer asks why these ladies don't tell poor women to stop breeding like rabbits, and why they don't teach them how to use contraception. The writer also asks why there are so many young, healthy men who prefer to live off of welfare rather than work. The writer concludes by saying that a lot of these poor people deserve the misery they complain about.

The text is a letter from the Acting Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), M. Harding & Huny, to the members of the OEO's advisory council. In the letter, Harding & Huny discusses the recent nomination of Sargent Shriver as Ambassador to France and the implications it has for the OEO. Harding & Huny expresses pride at Shriver's nomination but also regret at the loss of his leadership, noting that Shriver has made a significant contribution to the OEO's work in combating poverty. Harding & Huny goes on to say that the OEO will continue its work under his direction and asks for the advisory council's help in doing so.

The text describes the schedule for a conference on poverty, with a focus on the role of women. The event will include a plenary session, workshops, and a reception at the White House.

The National Council of Women of the United States (NCW) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing over 5,000,000 women of all races, creeds and national origins. The NCW serves as an information and referral center and a forum for current national issues. The NCW is hosting a conference on October 10th entitled Women and the City of Tomorrow which will discuss how women can influence the quality of life in their city and how they can serve as trained volunteers and professionals. The conference will also address overall city problems and prospects.

The Women's Advisory Committee on Poverty is a group of national women's organizations that meet to discuss ways to improve the economic situation for women. The Committee is chaired by Mrs. Fred Harris, and its members include presidents of women's colleges, attorneys, and educators. The Committee's four basic purposes are to coordinate efforts of women's groups, evaluate the program's impact on women, help educate the public on the purposes of the program, and coordinate the planning of the annual Conference on Women in the War on Poverty.

The Women's Advisory Council on Poverty is having its first Executive Committee meeting on December 5, 1967, and LaDonna Harris has been chosen as its Chairman. The meeting will be concerned with administrative and policy matters, but if attendees have special program interests they wish to raise, they are welcome to do so. Charlie Swift will be happy to have suggestions for the agenda.

The text includes a list of area codes, telephone numbers, and addresses. The list appears to be organized by city, with each city having its own section. Within each city section, the entries are sorted alphabetically by last name.

The text provides a report on the status of women in 1966. It discusses the progress that has been made in terms of equality and opportunity, but notes that there is still much work to be done.

The Executive Secretary of the Women's Advisory Council on Poverty writes to the Council's Chairman, Mrs. Fred R. Harris, to congratulate her on her new role and to discuss plans for the Council's next steps. She asks to meet with Mrs. Harris to discuss these plans further, and provides her contact information.

The text contains a letter from Mrs. Fred R. Harris to Mrs. Charlie Swift, in which she encloses copies of letters concerning the Women's Advisory Committee on Poverty. Mrs. Harris requests that any future correspondence be sent to the Committee's office address rather than her home address.

Mrs. Fred R. Harris, wife of U.S. Senator Fred R. Harris, has been appointed chairman of the National Women's Advisory Council on Poverty by Sargent Shriver, director of the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity. The Council represents a cross-section of more than one million American women who are working to help people move out of poverty. Mrs. Harris' appointment is an honor, and she is committed to working hard to help achieve the goals of the Council, which include coordination, evaluation, and enlistment of support among women for the War on Poverty.

The National Council of Women of the United States has appointed LaDonna Harris as the new Chair of the Women's Advisory Council on Poverty. In her new role, Harris will be working to help shape the Council's direction and impact on poverty in America. The next Council meeting promises to be interesting, and Harris is sorry that Robbins will not be able to attend but understands her reasons.

The Women's Advisory Council on Poverty will be meeting in Washington on January 31-February 1, 1968 to discuss the new amendments to the anti-poverty bill and to get to know each other better. An agenda will be sent to members shortly after the first of the year. The Executive Committee has approved a two-day meeting and a Dutch treat lunch in the Embers Restaurant. Cocktails will be served at the residence of Senator and Mrs. Fred R. Harris.

The text discusses Harris' last day, and how they were kind and gracious. The person supporting them was also grateful, and the day ended well.

The letter is from LaDonna Harris, Chairman of the Women's Advisory Council on Poverty, to Mr. Peter MacDonald, Executive Director of the Office of Navajo Economic Opportunity. In it, she expresses her admiration for the work he is doing to help improve the economic situation of the Navajo people. She also indicates her interest in working with him to find ways in which women's organizations can contribute to this effort.

The Women's Advisory Council on Poverty was formed in September 1966 at the invitation of R. Sargent Shriver, the director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. The purpose of the Council is to advise the director on the best ways to fight poverty in America. Mrs. Fred R. Harris, wife of the Democratic Senator from Oklahoma, has been named chairman of the Council. Mrs. Harris is a member of the Comanche Indian tribe and has been active in fighting poverty both in her home state of Oklahoma and nationally. The Council is made up of twenty prominent American women from a variety of backgrounds and organizations. The Council meets periodically to discuss the best ways to fight poverty in America and to make recommendations to the director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.

The author of the text feels that the talking machine (presumably a reference to a phonograph or other similar device) is not a good thing, and suggests that the Women's Advisory Council XXX has no part in the programming of such devices. The author advises that it might be advisable to talk to someone in the Job Corps about this issue. Finally, the author notes that they had called Mrs. Cohen in regards to talking books, but that Mrs. Cohen is actually a secretary to Wayne Sn, and that the author had mistaken her for a consulting firm.

The writer is interested in the OEO and other organizations that help to eliminate poverty. They are wondering if there is any way they can help, and if there are any similar organizations in the United States.

The text discusses the Talking Typewriter, a tool that can help people learn to read. The company that makes the typewriter is hoping to meet with the Women's Committee on Poverty to discuss the potential for using the typewriter to help people in poverty learn to read.

The text contains a letter from Jessie Smallwood, Executive Director of the Stanislaus County Community Action Commission, to LaDonna Harris, a member of the Women's Advisory Council on Poverty. Smallwood offers her services to the Council and inquires about regional or branches of operations. She states that total involvement of all segments of mankind is needed to combat poverty in America.