AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED BY THE FUTURE VICE-PRESIDENT: SPIRO AGNEW'S BITTER RESPONSE TO A PLEA FROM A BLACK LEADER ON BEHALF OF PROTESTING BOWIE STUDENTS.

Annapolis, MD: April 9, 1968., 1968.. Very good. - A 5-3/8 inch high by 8-1/4 inch wide original Western Union Telegram. The telegram from the Rev. Robert T. Newbold, Jr. was sent from Atlanta Georgia to Governor Spiro T. Agnew in Annapolis, MD on April 9, 1968 - the day of the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr. Newbold suggests that the charges against the Bowie students be dropped and that Agnew seek better advice as to race relations. He mentions that he is attending King's funeral. In his response, Agnew writes a note, penned in his hand, on the bottom right of the telegram addressing his chief-of-staff Art Sohmer: "Suggest Bob Newbold straighten out or we forget him." Signed as usual with his initials "Sta".

"In the 1960s, Bowie State University, like all HBCUs, was woefully underfunded compared to predominantly White state funded schools. From 1957-1967, Bowie State received less in funds for construction than any state college in Maryland, and was consistently at the bottom for academic funding. In 1968, student protests erupted at HBCUs from Baltimore to Tuskegee. In March, over 200 Bowie undergraduates demonstrated with 90 Howard University students in solidarity. Students submitted grievances to Bowie president Samuel Myers including the poor conditions of school facilities and lack of academic resources. On April 4, students organized a "study-in" at the State House in Annapolis to get the attention of Governor Spiro Agnew. Agnew responded by arresting the protestors, 227 students, or around one-third of the student body. He also closed the school. At a press conference, Agnew blamed the protests on "outside influences" and insisted the issue wasn't a racial dispute, but about respect for the law. The same day, the world would learn about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." - The Baltimore Sun.

Rev. Robert T. Newbold, Jr. (1920-2007) was active in Baltimore's civil rights movement and other civic organizations such as the Citizens Planning and Housing Association and the Governor's Commission on Juvenile Delinquency. Known as a gifted preacher, he published "Black Preaching: Select Sermons in the Presbyterian Tradition" in 1977 and contributed many articles to Presbyterian magazines.

Spiro T. Agnew was Governor of Maryland from 1967-1969.