A Nation of Immigrants

New York: Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'rith, 1961. First printing thus. Stapled wraps (pamphlet). Very faint rubbing extremities, mild abrasions to rear wrap, light toning to edges of "Teacher's Supplement, overall a very near fine copy with fine map in rear pocket.. Full color fold-out map in rear pocket, illustrated by Daniela Passal.. 9" x 6". 40pp. Map measures 21.5" x 16.5" PRESIDENTIAL IMMIGRATION PAMPHLET

The 1950's were in many ways the best and worst of times. A post-war middle class enjoyed a sense of America as the land of endless potential and opportunity. Flip-side was a reactionary view of society threatened by difference, seeking out scapegoats and enemies of democracy. Former Anti-Defamation League National Director Benjamin Epstein reached out to Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy to address this spike in xenophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Originally written as a 40 page pamphlet and published in 1958 as a part of the ADL's "One Nation Library", this scarce ephemeral piece of presidential writing was reissued here, circa 1961 and updated with new photographic stapled wraps, an illustrated folded map of major immigrant settlements in the United States, and an updated "About the Author" section. Laid in is a 4-page "Teacher's Supplement" with instructions on incorporating this information into secondary classrooms. Kennedy continued to expand the text into a book-length work of the same title but would not live to see it in print or go into multiple printings.

Neither the first nor subsequent issues of this pamphlet were issued with the supplement and map, both included here--a truly rare find!