Ralph Bunche, the U.S. Open and Anti-Discrimination Laws — NYC Department of Records & Information Services
COIR meeting minutes from this period show that the body largely focused on housing discrimination matters. Typically, the commission would designate its members to serve on sub-committees that convened fact-finding hearings with the parties involved.
On July 15, 1959, COIR convened a special meeting to review the club’s decision, subsequent developments and determine a course of action. Meeting minutes show that Dr. Alfred L. Marrow, Commission Chair, said the meeting was “called to determine the course to be pursued by COIR, since, in spite of newspaper reports of a change in position by the Tennis Club, the club has failed to respond to the telephone calls, a letter and telegrams sent by COIR requesting the appearance of representatives at a hearing to explain the club’s position in this case and its general membership practices or policy.”
The minutes show that COIR established a five member “Hearing Tribunal” that was instructed to “hold two hearings—with Dr. Bunche and with the West Side Tennis Club—and, after due consideration of the facts and record… determine what further action COIR should take.”
Also, on July 15, the week of negative publicity, sponsorship threats and denunciations by prominent people had an effect. Burglund resigned from the club and its Board announced they would review a possible Bunche membership.
The club’s capitulation and Bunche’s response was reported by Time magazine on August 27.
For Ralph Bunche, Negro, Nobel Peace Prizewinner and United Nations Under Secretary, it was a peaceful moral victory. Only a week had passed since Bunche disclosed that his 15-year-old son had been barred from membership in New York City’s fashionable West Side Tennis Club (in Forest Hills, Queens) because of his race (TIME, July 20). Club President Wilfred Burglund, the Manhattan public relations man who had told Bunche that the club excludes Negroes and Jews, resigned last week amidst public clamor for his singed scalp. Then the club’s governors were moved to announce: “It is the policy of the club to consider and accept members without regard to race, creed or color.” But Dr. Bunche had no plans to push Ralph Jr. through the West Side’s newly opened door. He had amply proved his point. “This has not been a pleasant experience, and I’m glad it is over,” said Bunche Sr. “In this community, happily, bigotry cannot long stand the heat of public exposure.”
The club’s announcement would seem to resolve the matter. But it did not deter COIR’s investigation. On July 17, the committee met with Dr. Bunche; on July 21, they met with the tennis club representatives. The tribunal also acted quickly to expand the inquiry by adding another session on August 13 to hear from the leadership of the United States Lawn Tennis Association (now the United States Tennis Association). By convening an additional hearing, COIR moved beyond the initial incident. They began reviewing compliance with anti-discrimination laws at events open to the public throughout the City.
