WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain is pressing President Barack Obama to give a posthumous pardon to Jack Johnson, the black heavyweight boxing champion who was imprisoned nearly a century ago because of his romantic ties with white women.

In a letter Friday, McCain of Arizona and Rep. Peter King of New York say it is regrettable that neither Obama nor anyone from his administration responded to their first letter, sent in August. They say they hope Obama would be eager to erase what they call an "act of racism" that sent the first black heavyweight champ to prison.

The two Republican lawmakers pushed a resolution urging a pardon for Johnson, who was convicted in 1913 of transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes. Their resolution passed both houses of Congress earlier this year.

The White House had no immediate comment.