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The Seabury Press 815 SECOND AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 TN 7-8282 CABLE ADDRESS: SEABURPRES NEWYORK
30 August 1968
The Hon. Julian Bond Representative, District 136 162 Eurahlee St., S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30314
Dear Mr. Bond:
The Seabury Press would like you to consider writing a book, perhaps with the title taken from your remark on television last night - I'd Like to be Vice-President. However you intended this comment to be interpreted in the special circumstances, it would give you a base from which you could say exactly why you would like to have such an office and exactly what you would do if you held it; in other words, to express for a large number of readers your own views about the recent struggle for political equality and power in the South.
I tried without success to reach you in Chicago by phone today, but this invitation is probably better expressed in a letter anyhow.
The enclosed catalogues and books will give you some idea of our present publishing program. The list of selected titles will give you some idea of our special competence and interest in the kind of book which we now propose.
Seabury was founded in 1951 as the official publishing house of the Episcopal Church. In recent years, its editorial has been vastly broadened.
I believe that I recognized John Morris in hour delegation; he would have some knowledge of Seabury, as would Ralph McGill.
I / . . . . .
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I know that Eric Lincoln would be happy to comment on our work; he has a second manuscript for us in preparation now.
In any case, we would like very much to discuss and explore this possibility with you, either here in New York or in Atlanta, at a time and place of convenience.
We would of course be prepared to offer a reasonable advance.
Sincerely, [signature of John C. Goodbody] John C. Goodbody President
P.S. Please call me collect at any time if you have any question about this proposal.
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Dear ........:
Thank you for your kind letter.
I used to consider myself a writer - I signed a contract with a publisher in 1966, received a small advance, and have never written one page.
I think I'd better refuse your kind offer with thanks.
Sincerely,