What action regarding segregation had mayor william hartsfield taken to elicit this response from president kennedy? "i strongly urge the officials and citizens of all look closely at what atlanta has courage, tolerance and, above all, with respect for the law." president john f kennedy, quoted in the atlanta journal-constitution, august 31, 1961 question 3 options: he had made sure that the integration of atlanta's schools went smoothly. he had closed atlanta schools to prevent violence caused by forced segregation. he had decided that it would be innappropriate for the city that was to resist integration he had two african-american students from atlanta gain entrance into the university of ga