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Controversy over Admissions Policy of Exclusive Cosmos Club

Jan. 15, 1962 - The Cosmos Club, by a voice vote, overwhelmingly put itself on record today as opposed to racial, color, or religious discrimination in the admission of new members. However, today’s action does not alter the rejection last week by the admissions committee of the proposed membership of Carl T. Rowan (pictured right), the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs. Mr. Rowan, a well-known writer and journalist before joining the Kennedy Administration, is a Negro. A number of members resigned in protest against the rejection of Mr. Rowan’s candidacy. Among them was John Kenneth Galbraith, the U.S. Ambassador to India. But the most notable casualty of the Rowan incident apparently was Mr. Galbraith’s proposal of President Kennedy for membership. The White House has taken the position that Mr. Galbraith’s resignation had the effect of withdrawing the President’s name as a candidate.

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