H. Con. Res. 71
Agreed to November 22, 2003
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the seventh day of January, two thousand and three
Concurrent Resolution
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 California at Los
Angeles in 1927 with a degree in International Relations;
Whereas Ralph Bunche was the first African-American to receive
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 drafting the Charter of the
nascent international organization;
Whereas Ralph Bunche was instrumental in drafting Chapters 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 transition 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 between Israel, Egypt, Jordan,
Lebanon, and Syria;
Whereas Ralph Bunche was deeply committed to ending colonialism
and restoring individual state sovereignty through peaceful
means;
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 towards
achieving a peaceful resolution to seemingly intractable national
and international disputes, Ralph Bunche was awarded the Nobel
H. Con. Res. 71—2
Peace Prize in 1950, the first African-American and the first
person of color to be so honored;
Whereas Ralph Bunche was named United Nations Under Secretary
General in 1955, in charge of directing peacekeeping 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 national and international humani-
tarian efforts, warrant his commemoration: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That Congress—
(1) recognizes and honors Ralph Bunche as a pivotal 20th
century figure and fighter in the struggle 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 remembrance of Ralph Bunche’s
many significant achievements.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.