IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 71
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 
campaigner of civil rights for people throughout the world. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2003
Mr. RANGEL submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Government Reform 
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 IH 
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 IH 
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 IH 
brance of Ralph Bunche’s many significant achieve-
ments.
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