COPY THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON January 28, 1961 Dear Mr. Voorhees: I want to express the grateful appreciation of this Government and myself for the energetic service you have given to help meet the very serious Cuban refugees needs confronting this country in recent months. Urgent individual wants have been met and the cause of humanity sustained are strengthened by your prompt mobilizing of public and private resources to assist those driven from their homes in Cuba. I believe that the work which you undertook in the initial stages of this problem can now best be augmented by bringing to bear the vast welfare, health and other skills available, in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare under Secretary Ribicoff’s direction, and by his coordinating as a member of my cabinet the activities of other Federal agencies in this field. I know you will give your full personal cooperation to Secretary Ribicoff to help him undertake these new responsibilities. With grateful thanks, I accept the resignation which you have submitted to be effective February 1. Sincerely, John F. Kennedy The Honorable Tracy S. Voorhees The White House Washington, D.C.