Stolen Dream

By Hugo D. Menendez

This short story attempts to provide the reader with knowledge as to how the agents who enforced the Voting Rights Act of 1965 performed their duties and the problems they encountered. Certain federal agents were designated by the attorney general as voter registrars to enforce the Voter Rights Program. Chapter 1 through chapter 11 describes how we performed our functions and the reactions that were exhibited by some of the hotheads of the community. I have only documented the incidents in this one community because it represented a perfect example of the reactions we experienced in the hundreds of communities where we went to register voters. To write about each community would be redundant and boring. These chapters should give the reader a picture and the flavor of what we went through. The incidences portrayed in this book were actual; however, they were not all connected with Demopolis, Alabama. These incidents and situations occurred many times in different communities. I just used this city because it was the first city I was assigned to.

The chapters that follow are written in a storytelling manner and are intended to impart to the reader additional information about situations or incidents that occurred during the registration process and during the enforcement of the actual election process. The reader should get the flavor of what we experienced. It is my intent in writing this short story that the reader can vicariously experience what the federal agents went through during the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was not an easy task, and at times, there was the possibility of personal danger.

In the final chapter, I express personal opinions based on my experiences and observations through the year. The dream of Dr. Martin Luther King could only be fully realized if the African American citizens were not denied the right to vote and participate in all areas of the election process.

I am very proud of my role in the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was a historical time. This was and is the most important civil rights legislation ever enacted. Because of this law, many African Americans and other minorities have attained and are living the American Dream. Regrettably, too many have not been able to do so.

In the final chapter, I express my personal opinion as to why so many African American citizens have not been able to attain the promised dream that Dr. King spoke about and that the Voting Act was supposed to ensure. The opinion is personal, based on current events and my interpretations of those events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543480054

Hugo D. Menendez

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Copyright © 2018 by Hugo D. Menendez.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2018901166

ISBN:                   Hardcover                             978-1-5434-8003-0

                            Softcover                               978-1-5434-8004-7

                            eBook                                     978-1-5434-8005-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Edited by Elizabeth Mayhew Weeks

Cover design by Hugo D. Menendez.

Rev. date: 01/29/2018

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

About the Author

Stolen Dream

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

On January 22, 1987, during the first session of the 100th congress, SENATOR LAWTON CHILES read into the congressional record the professional career of Mr. Menendez. His statement reads in part … Hugo organized a highly trained team of accountants and investigators who uncovered extortion, union management payoffs, theft from union funds and pension and benefit plan funds and pension and benefit plan rip-offs. His leadership and guidance led to convictions in numerous racketeering cases involving the highest ranking labor racketeers in the country … . In 1984 through 1986 he received the ultimate accolade from his Nation by virtue of a Presidential appointment to the President’s Commission on Organized Crime.

DEDICATION

This book, was written as a result of my wife Cleo’s encouragement that I write a book about my many varied experiences while working for the Federal Government as well as my experiences as Secretary of Labor for the State of Florida and as a licensed private investigator.

When we were but mere children, she saw in me a potential that I was not aware of. If it had not been for her encouragement to be all I could be and her support, often times sacrificing her own potential, my career would have probably been that of a stock clerk at a local super market. She is my hero and was always the wind beneath my wings.

I thank Cleo for her encouragement and faith in me. My deepest regret is that she is not here to read the books that I have written as a result of her love, encouragement and faith in me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mr. Menendez began his government career conducting national security investigations. He also conducted some of the first background investigations of astronauts, most of whom, ultimately travelled to the moon. He enforced the Voting Rights laws in the 1960’s and 70’s all over the southern United States He was later employed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Labor Management Services Administration as supervisory special agent. He enforced the provisions of the Taft Hartley Act. Mr. Menendez later transferred to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Miami Organized Crime Strike Force. He became the special agent in charge of the Office for Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering Section. Special Agent Menendez was appointed to President Reagan’s Commission On Organized Crime, as staff investigator from 1984 to 1987. He served as secretary of labor for the State of Florida from 1987 to1992. Mr. Menendez participated in a joint venture with the law firm of Holland and Knight, a national law firm, after his retirement as Secretary of Labor. The company Corporate Integrity Services provided investigative services to the law fi rm. Mr. Menendez was Vice President and Senior Investigative Consultant of the company. Upon his retirement, from federal service, his government service history was read into the Congressional record by Senator Lawton Chiles during the first session