I have your kind letter of April 19 and it is a pleasure for me to outline my indebtedness to a background in Missouri.
Regardless of the fact that I was born in Chicago, I feel that my roots are in the great state of Missouri and that I am a Missourian in every sense of the word, even to the "show me" tradition.
The days I spent on the farm in Marceline inculcated in me the true spirit of Missouri, which means a mixture of "muleishness," tolerance, independence and a sense of regard for the rights of every man of good will.
I have one unfullfilled ambition, which is to buy the farm my father once owned in Marceline and when the right time presents itself, I hope to do this.
In Kansas City, which is the cross-roads of the United States, I learned what it meant to shift for myself, to take advantage of opportunity and the thing which every American kid must learn to take the hard knocks with the good breaks.
Missouri typifies good, common-sense Americanism, whether your roots are in the farm or in the streets of its bustling cities.
I guess you can gather from this that I still have a fine warm spot for the old home state.
With kindest regards to Dr. Brashear and the best to yourself.
