STANLEY LEVISON
(Stanley David Levison)
Levison had in his early years been involved with the American Communist Party. Then he broke with the party and denounced it. The FBI using Levison’s early history as a justification, tapped his phones and those of Dr. King’s. J. Edgar Hoover, a virulent opponent of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Moovement reported to President Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy that Levision was a communist and reported his early history. However, despite the fact that the FBI knew that Levison had broken with the communists, Hoover withheld this fact from the Kennedys who were alarmed that Levison represented a key communist influence in the Civil Rights Movement. King would not break with Levison. See {603873}, {603891}, {603872}, and {603889} showing Hoover’s view of King and Blacks.
King had just publicly advocated the UN seating of Red China. The negative reaction from politicians who were friends of the Civil Rights Movement was just what Levison was worried about – see {637661}.
Levison became the closest white advisor to Dr. King.
Stanley David Levison was an American businessman and lawyer who became a lifelong activist in progressive causes. He is best known as an advisor to, and close friend of Martin Luther King Jr., for whom he helped write speeches, raise funds, and organize events.
