    RECORD TYPE: PRESIDENTIAL  (TRP NOTES MAIL)

    CREATOR: Thurgood Marshall Jr. ( CN=Thurgood Marshall Jr./O=OVP [ OVP ] )

    CREATION DATE/TIME: 3-FEB-1997 14:10:23.00

    SUBJECT:  JACKIE ROBINSON COMMEMORATION

    TO: Ron Klain ( CN=Ron Klain/O=OVP [ OVP ] )
    READ:UNKNOWN

    TEXT:
    RAK -- THE V P THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA AND ASKED TO INCLUDE IT

    IN THE POTUS LUNCH MEMO.  I WILL FORWARD TO YOU HIS RESPONSE, AS WELL.

    ---------------------- Forwarded by Thurgood Marshall Jr./OVP on 02/03/97

    02:15 PM ---------------------------

    Thurgood Marshall Jr.

    01/31/97 05:38 PM

    To:	Albert Gore/OVP

    cc:

    Subject:	JACKIE ROBINSON COMMEMORATION

    The fiftieth anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color

    barrier in major league baseball will fall on April 15, a good distraction

    from tax day.  As fate would have it, the Dodgers are slated to play the

    Mets in New York that evening.

    My friend who runs the Baseball Players Assn, Don Fehr, says that he, the

    owners and the Robinson Foundation (headed by Jackie's widow) are looking

    at proposals to commemorate the event.  Their hope is that you or the

    President would attend the game.  They believe that Fox/ESPN would provide

    10-15 minutes once the game is official (after five innings) for a

    presidential address.  There is also, without being too presumptuous, a

    hope that a Medal of Freedom could be awarded posthumously.

    Given the inability to control sports crowds, especially in New York, I

    would think that there is some risk in actually doing something at Shea

    Stadium.  HOWEVER, it would seem to be a no-brainer to put together an

    appropriate White House ceremony with Rachel Robinson and family and

    others prior to the game.  In addition, footage of that event could

    probably be then replayed at or around the game.

    Is this something that you would like to propose or do, or should we just

    route it through the POTUS scheduling office?