LAW OFFICES
CALDWELL, PACETTI, BARROW & SALISBURY
[address redacted]
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33480-2775
TELEPHONE (305) [phone number redacted]
October 11, 1983

ARTHUR E. BARROW
MANLEY P. CALDWELL, JR.
KENNETH W. EDWARDS
MADISON F. PACETTI
ROBERT C. SALISBURY
JAMES W. VANCE
JAMES R. WOLF
JOHN S. WILBUR, JR.

MANLEY P. CALDWELL
(1901-1971)

PLEASE REPLY TO
[address redacted]
PALM BEACH, FL. 33480-2775





Dr. John D. Wilson
President
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450

Dear Dr. Wilson:

I see from articles in Virginia newspapers that the
Board of Trustees will again consider the question
whether Washington and Lee should become co-educational.
I strongly urge the Board to so decide.

Washington and Lee's continued all male admission policy
is totally out of step with the times.

I appreciate the fact that there are strong economic
reasons to change the policy. We are cutting by half
the pool of available high quality students from which
the W & L student body has been traditionally drawn.
However, my opinion is not based on economics. My
opinion is based on the fact that it is the right thing
to do in the 1980s.

I also appreciate the fact that co-educational admissions
will cause considerable initial cost for dormitories,
gymnasium facilities, athletic teams, etc. For that
reason, I would have no objection to phasing in female
admissions over a period of five or ten years, just so
long as the ultimate commitment is made for eventual
non-discriminatory admission policy.

Respectfully yours,

[Manley P. Caldwell Jr.]

Manley P. Caldwell, Jr.
'58 A '60 L

MPCJr:dm

[pb]

WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
LEXINGTON VIRGINIA
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

October 20, 1983



Mr. Manley P. Caldwell, Jr.
Caldwell, Pacetti, Barrow & Salisbury
[address redacted]
Palm Beach, Florida 33480-2775

Dear Mr. Caldwell:

Thanks very much for your thoughtful note. The newspapers were
a bit premature but they had the matter as I stated it. I think we
must take up the matter in earnest yet again, even though I know how
much it will try the patience of many of our alumni and friends. It
is the sort of agenda item that you wish might have been placed on
someone else's agenda!

But we will move forward, I hope in a responsible way. The
expression of your own feelings and thoughts on the matter is
important for me to have.

Most sincerely,

[John Wilson]

John D. Wilson
President

JDW/bcb