Resigns as director of the Federal Writers' Project in New York City
Poet involved
What happened
Johns resigned as director of the Federal Writers' Project in New York City, a position he had held since 1935, in protest of WPA personnel cuts. His leftist politics had drawn negative media attention and occasional death threats.
Literary impact
The resignation marked the end of Johns's most significant period of public service and reflected his commitment to political principle over bureaucratic expediency. His work with the WPA had allowed him to support fellow writers during the Depression and to shape the literary culture of New York, and his departure signaled a turn away from institutional life toward more independent writing.
Source: Wikipedia
