Speech
In 1972, Governor Askew successfully campaigned against a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit busing.

Governor's Askew's Speech on Busing
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"Governor Askew has decided to speak to the people of Florida 'as frequently as time permits and as forcefully as I know how' on why he hopes they will vote against a constitutional amendment to prohibit busing, but for the goal of equal opportunity for quality education in nonsegregated schools."
News Release | Cover Page
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Letter from Student Supporting Busing, with Reply
7th Grade
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• Letter from Student
  "You also learn a lot of things about life that you probably wouldn't learn in a segregated school."
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• Reply from Governor Askew
  "It is particularly reassuring to me to know that young people such as you are growing up with a much better understanding of each other than members of my generation enjoyed."
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• Letter from Student
  "Well, if they would quit spending all that money on busses and junk and put it into the schools that need it, then we would have equal education."
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• Reply from Governor Askew
  "I am firmly convinced that it (equality of education) cannot be realized through a return to the dual school system."
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Letter to a member of the Dade County Citizens in Favor of Neighborhood Schools
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"I was particularly pleased with your statement that 'the average citizen is not against integration, he wants to march ahead, but he wants a different tool than taking children out of... the neighborhood schools."

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Letter from Askew to the Florida Senate
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"Dear Members of the Senate:
With some disappointment I have watched the progress of Senate Bill 421, which would place on the March 14 ballot a straw vote on the questions of busing and school prayer."

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Correspondence related to the "anti-busing" bill filed by Terrell Sessums

Warning against the danger of unlimited cross-busing, in February of 1972 Representative Terrell Sessums filed a bill requesting the Congress of the United States to develop national limits on the use of busing to eliminate the dual school system.

Correspondence related to the "anti-busing" bill filed by Terrell Sessums
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• Cover Letter
  "No reply necessary- Gov. has talked with Sessums."
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• Memo to Askew Critiquing the Bill
  "Fails to spell out alternatives which would assure a continuation of the desegregation process..."
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• Memo to Askew from Sessums Regarding the Bill
  "This memorial is both a practical and constructive alternative to the danger of unlimited cross-busing."
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• Bill requesting the Congress of the United States to limit busing
  "...is so great as to risk either the health of the children or significantly impinge on the educational process"
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Anti-busing statement from Senator Lew Brantley
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"It is our hope that for the good and welfare of the children of our state of Florida and for the safety and well being of the people of Duval County, that the Governor and his staff refrain from these unnecessary efforts which only further tend to increase emotional aggitation (sic)."

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Letter from John D. Rockefeller, with Reply
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• Letter from John D. Rockefeller
  "I am a staunch Democrat running for the governorship here in West Virginia. My father is a staunch Republican who vary rarely has anything positive to say about any political people.
  
  A few days ago I received a letter from him in which he did nothing but praise you and your appearance on Face the Nation several weeks ago." Page 1 | Page 2 
  
  
• Reply from Governor Askew
  "The encouraging words from both you and your father are particularly meaningful to me and very much appreciated."
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Letter from Barry Goldwater, with Reply
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• Letter from Barry Goldwater
  "I do not agree with your feelings about busing, but I must tell you I have great admiration for you, not only for for the courage it takes to maintain your position, but for the forthright, understandable way in which you discussed it. As a Republican I see a long, successful career ahead of you."
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• Reply from Governor Askew
  "Thank you very much for your kind letter. It was particularly meaningful to receive such encouragement from a public official whose honesty, candor, and courage I have long admired."
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Letter from Patrick J. Lucey (Governor of Wisconsin), with Reply
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• Letter from Patrick J. Lucey
  "I am delighted to have a colleague of foresight and initiative serving as the chief executive of the State of Florida and I look forward to occasions in the future when we can work together to achieve a better life for all citizens."
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• Reply from Governor Askew
  "Even at the risk of having my motives questioned by some, I felt compelled to share my strong feelings on the busing issue with the people of Florida."
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Letter from Citizen in Tuscon, Arizona, with Reply
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• Letter from Citizen in Tuscon
  "I followed closely your recent campaign against a constitutional amendment to prohibit busing. At a time when most politicians were falling over one another in the race to see who could denounce busing the most vehemently, you showed amazing calmness, rationality, and courage."
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• Reply from Governor Askew
  "There are times when a Governor must make a decisions which he thinks are in the best interests of the people, even though they are unpopular."
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