June, 1963
I. General Attitude - Creation of White House Sub Cabinet Group and formal designation by agencies of top staff people to keep in touch with interracial problems. Speeches, statements, responses to press conference inquiries by President and top Administration officials. Two messages on Civil Rights sent to the Congress. Meetings held by President with Governors, Mayors, business, labor and other leaders on Civil Rights issues.
II. Government Employment -
a. High level Negro appointments including Housing Administrator Robert Weaver (the highest Federal post ever held by a Negro), Assistant Secretary of Labor George Weaver, Ambassador Carl Rowan, Associate Press Secretary Hatcher, Deputy Assistant PMG Scott, Federal Judges. Important firsts include D.C. Commissioner Duncan, FTC Commissioner Higginbotham (first on any regulatory agency), Postmaster of a major city (Los Angeles), U.S. Attorneys (2), and Commander of a Navy combat ship.
b. Special effort to secure greater Negro participation in middle and upper management levels. The number of Negroes in jobs paying $4,500 to $10,000 annually increased 20 percent in the year from June 30, 1961 to June 30, 1962. This was over three times the rate of increase for all employees in those grades. In jobs paying $9,500 to $20,000 there was a growth of some 50 Negroes in the same period – increasing the Negroes in these classifications to almost 1,400.
c. Intensive recruiting in high schools and universities with Negro enrollments. Positive effort made to promote qualified Negro employees.
d. In formulating a Federal policy to recognize employee unions, adopted policy that only those unions that do not discriminate may be recognized.
III. Education–
a. A steady series of actions and interventions by Justice Department in Prince Edward County, Virginia; Louisiana; Alabama to end segregation.
b. Beginning September 1963 segregated schools would not be “suitable” for Federal installation children under impacted area program.
c. Summer and Academic Year institutions under NDEA and National Science Foundation and no longer held in colleges which refuse to accept students without regard to race.
d. Desegregation in numerous school districts achieved through persuasion and informal assistance from Federal officials.
IV. Interstate Travel –
a. Action to protect Freedom Riders including U.S. Marshals and court intervention.
b. Actions brought by the Administration in courts and before the ICC have resulted in elimination of segregation in bus, land and air terminals throughout the country.
V. Hospital Desegregation – Intervened in North Carolina Law suit challenging constitutionality of “separate but equal” Hill-Burton Act.
VI. Desegregation in Armed Forces –
a. Civil defense training for military and civilian personnel required on non-segregated bases – similar policy on off base training.
b. There are now Negroes in the Faculty and Cadet Corps at the Coast Guard Academy.
c. Formal statement of policy barring segregation in Armed Forces Reserves requiring review, quarterly reports and action to integrate by all commanders.
d. A Committee on Equal Opportunity in the Armed Forces appointed by the President will shortly submit its recommendations regarding the treatment of minority groups with special emphasis on off-base problems.
VII. Equal Employment Opportunity–
a. Established a new effective committee to end discrimination in Federal service and contracts with sanctions.
b. Because of the new emphasis, 1700 complaints of discrimination by government contractors were received in the first two years of this Administration (favorable action on about 72%), compared to the 1,000 complaints received in the preceding 7.5 years (with a favorable resolution of 20%).
c. Over 100 major industrial employers and 117 labor unions have signed voluntary agreements calling for an affirmative attack on discrimination in employment.
d. Vigorous efforts on part of Labor Department to eliminate discrimination in apprenticeship and other training programs, in referrals for employment, and in operations by labor organizations.