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January 20, 1970

Dear Mrs. Chesin:

Please forgive me for not answering your letter sooner. I will
not - and cannot - apologize for any slight the students in
Washington may feel they have received.

I arrived there that Monday morning after having suffered a
sprained ankle in an automobile accident the Saturday before,
and had to walk with a cane because of the pain. I was taken
to a reception at the noon hour where I made myself available
to students until I was taken away to eat. I sought medical
attention for my ankle, spoke, answered questions, and then
had to find my own way to the airport because the school didn't
choose to supply any.

I had nothing to do with the reception, and am sorry if your
daughter was inconvenienced, but certainly it was not by me.

What happens on these occasions is that the sponsor, the school,
makes plans without consulting the speaker. When the speaker
reveals that he has other plans, he is the bad guy, and not the
school.

Sincerely,

Julian Bond
Mrs. Sheldon E. Chesin
264 Blanton Road, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia