III 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 71
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
OCTOBER 14, 2003
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the importance of Ralph Bunche as one of the 
great leaders of the United States, the first African-
American Nobel Peace Prize winner, an accomplished 
scholar, a distinguished diplomat, and a tireless cam-
paigner of civil rights for people throughout the world.
Whereas Ralph Bunche’s life of achievement made him truly 
one of the twentieth century’s foremost figures and a role 
model for youth; 
Whereas Ralph Bunche graduated valedictorian, summa cum 
laude, and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Cali-
fornia at Los Angeles in 1927 with a degree in Inter-
national Relations;
HCON 71 RFS 
Whereas Ralph Bunche was the first African-American to re-
ceive a Ph.D. in Government and International Relations 
at Harvard University in 1934; 
Whereas Ralph Bunche served as a professor and established 
and chaired the Political Science Department at Howard 
University from 1928 to 1941; 
Whereas, in 1941, Ralph Bunche served as an analyst for the 
Office of Strategic Services; 
Whereas Ralph Bunche joined the Department of State in 
1944 as an advisor; 
Whereas Ralph Bunche served as an advisor to the United 
States delegation to the 1945 San Francisco conference 
charged with establishing the United Nations and draft-
ing the Charter of the nascent international organization; 
Whereas Ralph Bunche was instrumental in drafting Chap-
ters 11 and 12 of the United Nations Charter, dealing 
with non-self-governing territories and the International 
Trusteeship System, which helped African countries 
achieve their independence and assisted in their transi-
tion to self-governing, sovereign states; 
Whereas, in 1946, Ralph Bunche was appointed Director of 
the Trusteeship Division of the United Nations; 
Whereas, in 1948, Ralph Bunche was named acting Chief 
Mediator in Palestine for the United Nations, and, in 
1949, successfully brokered an armistice agreement be-
tween Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria; 
Whereas Ralph Bunche was deeply committed to ending colo-
nialism and restoring individual state sovereignty through 
peaceful means;
HCON 71 RFS 
Whereas the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People awarded its highest honor, the Spingarn 
Medal, to Ralph Bunche in 1949; 
Whereas for his many significant contributions and efforts to-
wards achieving a peaceful resolution to seemingly intrac-
table national and international disputes, Ralph Bunche 
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950, the first Af-
rican-American and the first person of color to be so hon-
ored; 
Whereas Ralph Bunche was named United Nations Under 
Secretary General in 1955, in charge of directing peace-
keeping missions in several countries; 
Whereas, in 1963, Ralph Bunche was presented by President 
John F. Kennedy with the United States’ highest civilian 
award, the Medal of Freedom; and 
Whereas Ralph Bunche’s critical contributions to the attempt 
to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict and towards the de-
colonization of Africa, and his commitment to and long 
service in the United Nations and numerous other na-
tional and international humanitarian efforts, warrant his 
commemoration: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
(1) recognizes and honors Ralph Bunche as a 
pivotal 20th century figure and fighter in the strug-
gle for the realization and attainment of human 
rights on a global scale; and 
(2) urges the President to take appropriate 
measures to encourage the celebration and remem-
HCON 71 RFS 
brance of Ralph Bunche’s many significant achieve-
ments.
Passed the House of Representatives October 8, 
2003. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.