108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 71
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 Cali-
fornia at Los Angeles in 1927 with a degree in Inter-
national Relations;
•HCON 71 EH
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 EH
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 EH
brance of Ralph Bunche’s many significant achieve-
ments.
Passed the House of Representatives October 8,
2003.
Attest:
Clerk.