During the presidencies of Kennedy and Johnson, the Civil Rights Movement was in its peak. International affairs were somewhat overlooked by numerous members of the NAACP and other civil rights groups in order to focus on domestic issues in the United States. However, Wilkins stayed true to his liberal values and carried them to the White House during his time with the NAACP. Wilkins's friendship and constant correspondence with Johnson gave him an even-larger platform to speak out on war efforts and policies affecting civil rights.