Executive Order 9981 – Abolish Racial Discrimination in Armed Forces | Pro President Obama Blog Pro President Obama Blog “There’s is not a liberal America and a conservative America – there’s the United States of America” Barack Obama 7/27/04 Menu Home Executive Order 9981 – Abolish Racial Discrimination in Armed Forces Executive Order 9981 – Abolish Racial Discrimination in Armed Forces CR Civil Rights , Military , PBO Civil Rights , Military , PBO President Harry S. Truman signs Executive Order 9981 issued on July 26, 1948. Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948 by President Harry S. Truman (D). It abolished racial discrimination in the armed forces and eventually led to the end of segregation in the services. In 1947, A. Philip Randolph , along with colleague Grant Reynolds, renewed efforts to end discrimination in the armed services, forming the Committee Against Jim Crow in Military Service and Training, later renamed the League for Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation.

Truman’s Order expanded on Executive Order 8802 by establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services for people of all races, religions, or national origins. The Order’s operative statement is: It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale. The order also established a committee to investigate and make recommendations to the civilian leadership of the military to implement the policy. Vice President Biden meets with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan Ritz Carlton Hotel, Singapore Vice President Biden meets with President Tony Tan The President’s Residence, Singapore 3:00 AM Vice President Biden meets with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore 3:45 AM Vice President Biden and Prime Minister Lee deliver statements to the press of Singapore 4:00 AM Vice President Biden meets with Senior Minister of Singapore Mr.

Lee Kuan Yew 5:00 AM President Obama receives the presidential daily briefing 8:00 AM President Obama departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Camp David. President Obama hosts cabinet meetings Camp David President Obama arrives back at the White House. 8:00 PM The White House 11:55 PM ET Vice President Biden tours and speaks to workers at the Pratt & Whitney aircraft engine overhaul facility Singapore CSPAN DNI Clapper Delivers Commencement Address James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, delivers a commencement address at the National Intelligence University. 9:00 AM ET Experts Discuss Future of Retirement The U.S.

Chamber of Commerce & AARP Public Policy Institute host a discussion on retirement, including panelists from businesses & advocacy organizations, focusing on retirement saving, ways to expand coverage, and employer and consumer perspectives 12:15 PM ET Rural America Poses a Challenge to the Affordable Care Act The Alliance for Health Reform hosts a panel discussion on the Affordable Care Act and its impact on the sixty-two million Americans living in rural areas 07/25/2013 at 3:46 pm Executive Order 9981 Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948 by President Harry S. Truman (D). It abolished racial discrimination in the armed forces and eventually led to the end of segregation in the services. In 1947, A. Philip Randolph , along with colleague Grant Reynolds, renewed efforts to end discrimination in the armed services, forming the Committee Against Jim Crow in Military Service and Training, later renamed the League for Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation.

Truman’s Order expanded on Executive Order 8802 by establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services for people of all races, religions, or national origins. The Order’s operative statement is: It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale. The order also established a committee to investigate and make recommendations to the civilian leadership of the military to implement the policy.

12/06/2015 at 12:41 pm Revealed: How Britons welcomed black soldiers during WWII, and fought alongside them against racist GIs Black American GIs billeted in the UK during WWII found warm welcome from British families, in contrast to vicious racist abuse meted out by their fellow countrymen 06 Dec 2015 By Patrick Sawer – telegraph.co.uk At the height of World War Two, with the country gripped in a life or death fight for freedom against fascism and dictatorship, dozens of local drinkers fought alongside black soldiers against white Military Police officers harassing them outside a Lancashire pub. It was just one extraordinary example of the active support shown by ordinary Britons for the thousands of black American troops stationed amongst them during the war – in stark contrast to the vicious racist abuse they received from their fellow countrymen. The Lancashire riot was just one of hundreds of cases of simple humanity displayed by ordinary Britons towards black soldiers. Details of the riot are revealed in a new book exploring the experience of black GIs stationed in Britain during the war.

While white GIs sought to have them banned from pubs, clubs and cinemas and frequently subjected them to physical and verbal assault, many ordinary Britons welcomed the black troops into their homes – and on several occasions physically stood up to their tormentors. The book, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, at Home and at War, also reveals how in June 1943 there was a public outcry when four black servicemen were refused service in a bar in Bath, for no reason other than the colour of their skin. One resident described the episode as “disgraceful” and wrote to the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette stating: “These men have been sent to this country to help in its defence, and whatever their race or creed they should be entitled to the same treatment as our own soldiers.” AG Holder to fight Texas on voting rights Thu Jul 25, 2013 12:14 PM EDT By Steve Benen – maddowblog In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Voting Rights Act, Republican policymakers acted with remarkable speed — literally, less than 24 hours — to approve new voting restrictions, most notably a controversial voter-ID law.

When the Voting Rights Act was intact, changes to voting laws in the Lone Star State would need to be cleared with the Justice Department in advance of being implemented, but with the law gutted by a narrow Supreme Court majority, GOP officials in Texas assumed the Justice Department is no longer relevant, and they could do as they pleased. The nation’s Attorney General apparently believes otherwise . Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in late June that weakened the Voting Rights Act, Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department will use what’s left of the law to go after what it considers discriminatory practices. And the first target will be Texas, in a dispute over new boundaries drawn by the Republican legislature for congressional and legislative districts. Holder told National Urban League this morning that the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division will urge a federal judge in Texas to subject the State of Texas to a pre-clearance regime similar to the one required by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act — a part of the law that survived the Supreme Court’s ruling. It’s not that Holder is ignoring the Supreme Court’s ruling; it’s that Holder believes the ruling still leaves him some room to maneuver.

“We believe that the State of Texas should be required to go through a pre-clearance process whenever it changes its voting laws and practices,” the A.G. said. What’s the basis for this? We’ll know more as the process unfolds, but it appears that the Justice Department believes that under the remaining provisions of the VRA, when “intentional voting discrimination” is found, these changes to voting rights cannot be permitted to continue. And because Texas’ voter-ID law is very likely predicated on discriminatory grounds, Holder wants a federal court to intervene now — before voter suppression can begin. As the Austin Statesman reported this morning, the Justice Department’s move “marks the first federal action connected to voting rights” since the Supreme Court’s ruling, though as Holder added this morning, “It will not be our last.” So, does the case have a credible shot? Ginsburg says push for voter ID laws predictable 7/26/13 4 hours ago MARK SHERMAN – AP WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she’s not surprised that Southern states have pushed ahead with tough voter identification laws and other measures since the Supreme Court freed them from strict federal oversight of their elections.

Ginsburg said in an interview with The Associated Press that Texas’ decision to implement its voter ID law hours after the court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act last month was powerful evidence of an ongoing need to keep states with a history of voting discrimination from making changes in the way they hold elections without getting advance approval from Washington. The Justice Department said Thursday it would try to bring Texas and other places back under the advance approval requirement through a part of the law that was not challenged. “The notion that because the Voting Rights Act had been so tremendously effective we had to stop it didn’t make any sense to me,” Ginsburg said in a wide-ranging interview late Wednesday in her office at the court. “And one really could have predicted what was going to happen.” The 80-year-old justice dissented from the 5-4 decision on the voting law.

Ginsburg said in her dissent that discarding the law was “like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.” Just a month removed from the decision, she said, “I didn’t want to be right, but sadly I am.” Obama To Play Host To His Cabinet At Camp David JULY 25, 2013 – tpm WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is hosting members of his Cabinet and their families at Camp David on Friday. First lady Michelle Obama is also expected to attend the rare gathering at the presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains. The Obamas only occasionally spend time at Camp David. And unlike some of his predecessors, the president has rarely used the retreat for meetings with his staff, lawmakers or foreign leaders. Friday’s gathering comes as Obama and his team seek to refocus on the economy and re-energize a second term that so far is lacking in big legislative victories. A White House official confirmed the event, speaking only on condition of anonymity in order to do so before it was formally announced. UBS to Pay $885 Million to Settle U.S.

Mortgage Suit Jul 26, 2013 1:20 AM PT By Clea Benson & Elena Logutenkova – bloomberg UBS AG (UBSN), Switzerland’s largest bank, agreed to pay $885 million to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to settle claims that it improperly sold them mortgage-backed securities during the housing bubble, a U.S. regulator said. The Federal Housing Finance Agency claimed Zurich-based UBS misrepresented the quality of loans underlying billions of dollars in residential mortgage-backed securities purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The firms have operated under U.S. conservatorship since 2008, when they were seized amid subprime mortgage losses that pushed them toward insolvency. UBS disclosed earlier this week that it had reached an agreement in principle to settle the suit. The FHFA sued UBS in 2011 over $4.5 billion in residential mortgage-backed securities that UBS sponsored and $1.8 billion of third-party RMBS sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The suits alleged losses of at least $1.2 billion plus interest. Fifteen other banks still need to resolve such lawsuits.

“The satisfactory resolution of this matter provides greater clarity and certainty in the marketplace and is in line with our responsibility for preserving and conserving Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s assets on behalf of taxpayers,” Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco said in an e-mailed statement. FHFA sued UBS and 17 other banks in 2011, seeking to recover losses on a total of $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities sold to the two government-sponsored enterprises. UBS is the third bank to reach an agreement with FHFA. Citigroup Inc. (C) and General Electric Co. both paid undisclosed amounts to settle the regulator’s claims. Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Increases to Six-Year High July Jul 26, 2013 7:29 AM PT By Victoria Stilwell – bloomberg Consumer confidence unexpectedly increased in July to the highest level in six years as Americans’ views of their finances improved. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment advanced to 85.1 in July from 84.1 at the end of June. Economists in a Bloomberg survey called for 84, according to the median projection after a preliminary reading of 83.9.

An increase in personal wealth tied to higher property values and stock portfolios is keeping confidence elevated and consumers spending. Stronger finances, along with job gains that have picked up from the second half of 2012, are also helping blunt the effects of higher payroll taxes. “The labor market’s better, you’re seeing home prices rise, you’re seeing equity prices rise, so there are a lot of things out there to be positive about,” said Brian Jones, senior U.S. economist in New York at Societe Generale, who predicted an increase in confidence from June. “If you think about the things that drive consumer confidence, they should be rising as well through the end of the year.” July 26, 2013 Statement by the Press Secretary on Guantanamo Bay As the President has said, the United States remains determined to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. In support of those efforts, today the Department of Defense certified to Congress its intent to repatriate an additional two detainees to Algeria. We are taking this step in consultation with the Congress, and in a responsible manner that protects our national security.

We continue to call on Congress to join us in supporting these efforts by lifting the current restrictions that significantly limit our ability to transfer detainees out of Guantanamo, even those who have been approved for transfer. Why Guantanamo remains open 5/22/14 04:34PM By Steve Benen – maddowblog President Obama has received a fair amount of criticism from the left about the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. The president vowed to close the prison, but after five years in office, it remains open. That’s not for lack of effort. Obama has tried, repeatedly, to pursue the policy that used to enjoy bipartisan support, but Congress — including members of both parties — have placed inflexible restrictions on the administration, preventing progress. In other words, the president hasn’t closed the prison because lawmakers simply won’t let him. Every time there’s reason to think progress is possible , Congress does what it always does. Adam Serwer reports on today’s developments. Congress isn’t ready to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, either. Shortly before the vote on [Rep. Adam Schiff’s] proposal, the House voted down an amendments put forth by Washington Democratic Rep.

Adam Smith that would have shut down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and lifted the restrictions on transfers of detainees into U.S. prisons. The White House has threatened to veto the defense bill over the transfer restrictions, but it has backed down from doing so in the past. Smith reminded his colleagues that the prison, a symbolic scourge around the world, is wildly expensive and entirely unnecessary since the existing federal prison system already houses terrorists. It didn’t matter — the final vote was 177 to 247 . A grand total of six Republicans actually voted with Democrats on this one, which I suppose is a nice silver lining. (23 Dems voted with the GOP majority.) There’s certainly nothing with being frustrated by the detention facility remaining open, but if you’re blaming the White House, you’re pointing the finger at the wrong end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other senior government officials deliver remarks Korean War Veterans Memorial 07/26/2013 at 3:27 pm June 25, 1950 – July 27.

1953 On June 25, 1950, the North Korean Army began an offensive to invade South Korea that resulted in the capture of the republic’s capital, Seoul, within four days. The United States, the United Kingdom and other members of the United Nations moved to actively defend South Korea – an effort that would last until July 27, 1953, when negotiations concluded and fighting finally ended. Veterans mark 60th anniversary of reservoir battle July 2013 By Walter T. Ham IV, Eighth Army Public Affairs SEOUL — More than 250 veterans gathered here Nov. 10 to mark the 60th anniversary of the pivotal Jangjin “Chosin” Reservoir battle where U.S. Soldiers and Marines defeated a much larger enemy force during a strategic retreat through bitterly cold and fiercely contested mountainous terrain. During a ceremony at the War Memorial of Korea, U.S. Army Gen. Walter L. Sharp, the top American commander in South Korea, praised the veterans who took on communist Chinese troops at the Jangjin “Chosin” Reservoir in late 1950.

Along with Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Tae-young, Sharp was one of the featured speakers at the ceremony. The ceremony also featured performances by the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team, a Korean dance group and the ROK Ministry of National Defense Honor Guard who demonstrated traditional sword and spear techniques dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. “I am truly honored to welcome the Korean War veterans,” said Sharp, commander of the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea. “Whether you fought outnumbered in the bitter cold with X Corps or under the United Nations flag during any other part of the war, you are our honored guest here today.

As your successors in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, we owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.” Presidential Proclamation — National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2013 NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY, 2013 – – – – – – – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Today, America pauses to observe the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War — a conflict that defined a generation and decided the fate of a nation. We remember the troops who hit the beaches when Communist forces were pressing south; who pushed back, and fought their way north through hard mountains and bitter cold. We remember ordinary men and women who showed extraordinary courage through 3 long years of war, fighting far from home to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met. Most of all, we remember those brave Americans who gave until they had nothing left to give. No monument will ever be worthy of their service, and no memorial will fully heal the ache of their sacrifice. But as a grateful Nation, we must honor them — not just with words, but with deeds.

We must uphold our sacred obligation to all who serve — giving our troops the resources they need, keeping faith with our veterans and their families, and never giving up the search for our missing and our prisoners of war. Our fallen laid down their lives so we could live ours. It is our task to live up to the example they set, and make America a country worthy of their sacrifice. This anniversary marks the end of a war. But it also commemorates the beginning of a long and prosperous peace. In six decades, the Republic of Korea has become one of the world’s largest economies and one of America’s closest allies. Together, we have built a partnership that remains a bedrock of stability throughout the Pacific. That legacy belongs to the service members who fought for freedom 60 years ago, and the men and women who preserve it today. Vice President Biden may make stop in Hawaii this weekend Jul 22, 2013 staradvertiser Vice President Joe Biden will reportedly stop in Hawaii this weekend after a six-day trade and diplomatic trip to India and Singapore.

Biden arrived in India on Monday afternoon on a four-day visit designed to strengthen ties and lay the groundwork for a summit between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama this fall in Washington. Biden, making his first visit to India as vice president and the first by any sitting U.S. vice president in decades, began his trip by visiting a memorial to Mohandas Gandhi, the leader whose non-violent movement freed India from British rule. “What a high honor and great privilege to be here in this sacred spot – memorializing one man who changed the world,” he wrote at the visitors’ book at Gandhi Smriti, where Gandhi died in 1948. After meeting senior Indian officials in the capital of New Delhi, the vice president will travel to Mumbai, the nation’s financial hub, to deliver a speech urging both sides to boost economic ties well beyond the current $100 billion in annual U.S.-India trade. The Bidens will stop in Hawaii on their way back to the United States; they return to Washington on Sunday, according to USA Today.

WEEKLY ADDRESS: A Better Bargain for the Middle Class Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House July 27, 2013 Hi everybody. On Wednesday, I spoke about what we need to do as a country to build a better bargain for the middle class – to make sure everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead in the 21st century economy. You see, over the past four and a half years, America has fought its way back from the worst recession of our lifetimes. We saved the auto industry, took on a broken health care system, invested in new American technologies to reverse our addiction to foreign oil, and changed a tax code too skewed in favor of the wealthiest at the expense of working families. As a result, our businesses have created 7.2 million new jobs over the past 40 months. We produce more renewable energy than ever, and more natural gas than anyone. Health care costs are growing at the slowest rate in 50 years. Our deficits are falling at the fastest rate in 60 years.

Thanks to the grit and resilience of the American people, we’ve cleared away the rubble of crisis and begun to lay a new foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth. But as any middle-class family will tell you, we’re not yet where we need to be. Trends that have been eroding middle-class security for decades – technology that makes some jobs obsolete, global competition that makes others moveable, growing inequality and the policies that perpetuate it – all these things still exist, and in some ways, the recession made them worse. Reversing these trends must be Washington’s highest priority. It sure is mine. But over the past couple of years in particular, Washington has taken its eye off the ball. An endless parade of distractions, political posturing and phony scandals shift focus from what needs to be done. And as Washington prepares to enter another budget debate, the stakes could not be higher. The choices we make now will determine whether or not every American has a fighting chance in the 21st century.

If we don’t make the investments necessary to make America a magnet for good jobs – in education, and manufacturing, and research, and our transportation and information networks – we might as well hit the “pause” button while the rest of the world forges ahead in a global economy. And that’s certainly not going to fix what ails the middle class. Here’s what will: a strategy that builds on the cornerstones of what it means to be middle class in America, and what it takes to work your way into the middle class. Good jobs that pay good wages. An education that prepares our children and our workers for the global competition they’ll face. Homeownership that’s based on a solid foundation, where buyers and lenders play by the same set of rules. Affordable health care that’s there for you when you get sick. A secure retirement even if you’re not rich. More chances for folks to earn their way into the middle class as long as they’re willing to work for it. Over the next several weeks, in cities and towns across the country, I’ll continue to lay out my ideas in each of these areas.

Because reversing the forces that have conspired against the middle class for decades will require more than short-term thinking; it will require a long-term American strategy, based on steady, persistent effort. I know there are members of both parties who understand what’s at stake, and I’m open to ideas from across the political spectrum, as long as they meet the test of strengthening the prospects of hard-working families. But repealing Obamacare, gutting critical investments in our future, threatening to default on the bills this country has already racked up, or shutting down the government just because I’m for keeping it open – none of those thing add up to an economic plan. None of that will take this country where it needs to go. We can do this if we work together. It won’t be easy, but if we take a few bold steps – and if Washington is willing to shake off its complacency and set aside some of the slash-and-burn partisanship we’ve seen in recent years – our economy will keep getting stronger.

And as long as I have the privilege of holding this office, I will spend every minute of every day doing everything in my power to make this economy work for working Americans again; to build that better bargain for the middle class; to make sure that the American Dream is something that’s achievable for everybody – not just today, but for decades to come. Thanks, and have a great weekend. 07/27/2013 at 6:45 am 10:00 AM ET President Barack Obama and other senior government officials deliver remarks on the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Korean War Veterans Memorial Remarks by the President at 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice National Korean War Veterans Memorial Washington, D.C. 10:44 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Please be seated. Good morning. Annyong haseyo. Secretaries Hagel, Jewell and Shinseki; Admiral Winnefeld; General Jung; all our friends from the Republic of Korea, including the legendary General Paik Sun Yup; distinguished guests; and most of all, veterans of the Korean War and your families.

(Applause.) To our veterans — many in your 80s, a few in your old uniforms — which still fit — (laughter) — let me just say you look outstanding. And I would ask that all United States, Republic of Korea, and other veterans who fought — I would ask those who can stand to please stand so that we can properly honor you here today. (Applause.) July 27th, 1953 — 60 years ago today. In the village of Panmunjom, in a barren room, the generals picked up their pens and signed their names to the agreement spread before them. That night, as the armistice took hold, the guns of war thundered no more. Along the jagged front, men emerged from their muddy trenches. A Marine raised his bugle and played taps. And a soldier spoke for millions when he said, “Thank God it is over.” In the days that followed, both sides pulled back, leaving a demilitarized zone between them. Soldiers emptied their sandbags and tore down their bunkers. Our POWs emerged from the camps. Our troops boarded ships and steamed back across the ocean.

And describing the moment he passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, one of those soldiers wrote, “We suddenly knew we had survived the war, and we were home.” Yet ask these veterans here today and many will tell you, compared to other wars, theirs was a different kind of homecoming. Unlike the Second World War, Korea did not galvanize our country. These veterans did not return to parades. Unlike Vietnam, Korea did not tear at our country. These veterans did not return to protests. Among many Americans, tired of war, there was, it seemed, a desire to forget, to move on. As one of these veterans recalls, “We just came home and took off our uniforms and went to work. That was about it.” You, our veterans of Korea, deserved better. And down the decades, our nation has worked to right that wrong, including here, with this eternal memorial, where the measure of your sacrifice is enshrined for all time. Because here in America, no war should ever be forgotten, and no veteran should ever be overlooked.

And after the armistice, a reporter wrote, “When men talk in some distant time with faint remembrance of the Korean War, the shining deeds will live.” The shining deeds will live. On this 60th anniversary, perhaps the highest tribute we can offer our veterans of Korea is to do what should have been done the day you come home. In our hurried lives, let us pause. Let us listen. Let these veterans carry us back to the days of their youth, and let us be awed by their shining deeds. Obama Talks Gives Rare Interview to The New York Times 7/27/13 Connor Simpson – theatlanticwire.com President Obama sat down with The New York Times’Jackie Chalmers and Michael Shear for an interview that focused on the economy, while also touching on racial tensions in America and the President’s rocky relationship with Congress. Obama told the Times (in the paper’s first interview with the President since 2010 ) the economy may be “far stronger” than it was four years ago, but he recognizes he must take action to make sure economic recovery doesn’t stall because of the sequester cuts and looming budget battles with Republicans.

“If we don’t do anything, then growth will be slower than it should be. Unemployment will not go down as fast as it should. Income inequality will continue to rise,” the President said . Speaking just days after his emotional speech about race in America, that after George Zimmerman was acquitted for killing Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, Obama also said that the economic slowdown would only contribute to bubbling racial tensions across the country. “Racial tensions won’t get better; they may get worse, because people will feel as if they’ve got to compete with some other group to get scraps from a shrinking pot,” he said. “If the economy is growing, everybody feels invested. Everybody feels as if we’re rolling in the same direction.” While speaking with Chalmers and Shear over the forty minutes they had with the President, he also blasted certain members of Congress for challenging every legislative move he tries to make : But there’s not an action that I take that you don’t have some folks in Congress who say that I’m usurping my authority. Some of those folks think I usurp my authority by having the gall to win the presidency. And I don’t think that’s a secret.

But ultimately, I’m not concerned about their opinions — very few of them, by the way, are lawyers, much less constitutional lawyers. In this particular instance, Obama was answering questions about people who questioned the motives of his decision to delay part of the Obamacare bill that required large business to provide insurance for employees or face government fines. “This is the kind of routine modifications or tweaks to a large program that’s starting off that in normal times in a normal political atmosphere would draw a yawn from everybody,” he told the Times. A normal political atmosphere? Ha. 07/27/2013 at 4:21 pm 6:30 PM ET Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden visit with U.S. service members, military families, and Defense Department employees at an event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Honolulu, Hawaii Vice President Joe Biden makes stop in Hawaii 7/27/13 HawaiiNewsNow HONOLULU – Vice President Joe Biden has touched down in Hawaii for a short stay on Oahu. He and his wife Jill landed at around 12:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The couple stopped over on their way back to our nation’s captal following a six-day trade and diplomatic trip to India and Singapore. The Bidens met with service members and their families, took pictures, and then thanked them all for their sacrifice and service. The Vice President also spoke about former Hawaii Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka in his remarks and how both men had fought for our freedom. The Bidens will return to Washington, D.C. tomorrow. ———– By the Numbers: U.S. MNT’s 10-Game Winning Streak The U.S. Men’s National Team hopes to add a few more accolades to its record-setting 10-game winning streak when it faces Panama on Sunday at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final. The U.S. Men’s National Team has kept the party going since its 4-3 victory against Germany on June 2 – U.S. Soccer’s Centennial Celebration Match, which was held at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

That game marked the start of a record-breaking run that has now led the USA to the final of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Panama on Sunday, July 28, against Panama at Soldier Field in Chicago. Heinz Kerry discharged from Boston hospital 7/28/13 08:27 AM ET By Meghashyam Mali – TheHill Teresa Heinz Kerry, the wife of Secretary of State John Kerry, was released from a Boston hospital on Saturday, three weeks after she experienced a serious seizure. Heinz Kerry is expected to have a full recovery at home, according to Kerry spokesman Glen Johnson. She thanked hospital staff in a statement, according to reports. “It was amazing, a miracle,” Heinz Kerry said. “They are the kindest people, who love what they do and do it superbly well.” Heinz Kerry suffered a seizure on July 7, while vacationing with her husband on Nantucket. She was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition and later flown to Boston to continue her recovery. Secretary of State Kerry said he was thankful for the support his family received.

“I’ve always known Massachusetts is blessed to have some of the greatest health care in the world, but we’ve just lived it, and are grateful to all,” he said in a statement. The widow of former Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.), Heinz Kerry was treated for breast cancer in 2009. US to Tighten Food Import Regulations July 26, 2013 Steve Baragona – VOAnews The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new rules aimed at making imported food safer. The FDA says the rules will hold importers accountable for observing the same safety standards as domestic producers. The United States imports about 15 percent of its food from 150 countries, according to the FDA. The agency currently relies on food safety inspectors at the border, who screen less than two percent of the products coming in. FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor says that’s changing. “The big paradigm shift is the shift toward prevention, and for industry being responsible for documenting what they have done to prevent problems,” he said. The FDA would require importers to examine their entire supply chains, from farm to shelf, and identify where the safety hazards are.

Companies would need to document what they have done to control those hazards. Taylor says the new rules will make food safer and not just in the United States. “We are also directed to work with foreign governments to build their capacity to oversee food safety in ways that can strengthen food safety in their countries as well as in the United States,” he said. Barack Obama: America must fix what ails the middle class 7/26/2013 03:00:00 PM PDT By Barack Obama – mercurynews Last Wednesday, I spoke about what we need to do as a country to build a better bargain for the middle class — to make sure everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead in the 21st century economy. Over the past four and a half years, America has fought its way back from the worst recession of our lifetimes. We saved the auto industry, took on a broken health care system, invested in new American technologies to reverse our addiction to foreign oil, and changed a tax code too skewed in favor of the wealthiest at the expense of working families. As a result, our businesses have created 7.2 million new jobs over the past 40 months.

We produce more renewable energy than ever, and more natural gas than anyone. Health care costs are growing at the slowest rate in 50 years. Our deficits are falling at the fastest rate in 60 years. Thanks to the grit and resilience of the American people, we’ve cleared away the rubble of crisis and begun to lay a new foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth. But as any middle-class family will tell you, we’re not where we need to be yet. Trends that have been eroding middle-class security for decades — technology that makes some jobs obsolete, global competition that makes others moveable, growing inequality and the policies that perpetuate it — still exist, and in some ways, the recession made them worse. Reversing these trends must be Washington’s highest priority. It’s certainly mine. But over the past couple of years in particular, Washington has taken its eye off the ball. An endless parade of distractions, political posturing and phony scandals shift focus from what needs to be done. And as Washington prepares to enter another budget debate, the stakes could not be higher.

If we don’t make the investments necessary to make America a magnet for good jobs — in education, and manufacturing, and research, and our transportation and information networks — we might as well hit the “pause” button while the rest of the world forges ahead in a global economy. And that’s certainly not going to fix what ails the middle class. Here’s what will: a strategy that builds on the cornerstones of what it means to be middle class in America, and what it takes to work your way into the middle class. Good jobs that pay good wages. An education that prepares our children and our workers for the global competition they’ll face. Homeownership that’s based on a solid foundation, where buyers and lenders play by the same set of rules. Affordable health care that’s there for you when you get sick. A secure retirement even if you’re not rich. More chances for folks to earn their way into the middle class as long as they’re willing to work for it. Over the next several weeks, in towns across the country, I’ll lay out my ideas in each of these areas.

Because reversing the forces that have conspired against the middle class for decades will require more than short-term thinking; it will require a long-term American strategy, based on steady, persistent effort. I know there are members of both parties who understand what’s at stake, and I’m open to ideas from across the political spectrum. But I will not allow gridlock or willful indifference to get in the way of where this country needs to go. The choices that we make now will determine whether or not every American has a fighting chance in the 21st century. We can do this if we work together. It won’t be easy, but if we take a few bold steps — and if Washington is willing to shake off its complacency and set aside some of the slash-and-burn partisanship we’ve seen in recent years — our economy will keep getting stronger. And as long as I have the privilege of holding this office, I will spend every minute of every day doing everything in my power to make this economy work for working Americans again; to build that better bargain for the middle class; to make sure that the American dream is something that’s achievable for everybody — not just today, but for decades to come.

Barack Obama is president of the United States. Printable version Segregation in the Armed Forces Cover of the “Survey and Recommendations Concerning the Integration of the Negro Soldier into the Army”, dated September 22, 1941, by Robert P. Patterson, Under Secretary of War to Secretary of War. During the First World War and before that, the US military was segregated by race. Black units were often poorly trained and equipped. This racial policy continued into the Second World War. African American leaders at the time pointed to the contradiction of a country fighting Nazi racism while having a segregated military itself. Also, African-American military stationed in Europe encountered the racially integrated British armed forces. It was not uncommon for African-American military to be turned away from (mostly white) officer’s clubs by American MP’s, while their Black British peers could simply walk in without any problem. Second class citizens The segregation of the United States armed forces reflected widespread racial segregation practices in the US in general, especially towards African-Americans and especially in the South. Many African Americans at this time led a life of second class citizens. They had to attend separate and inferior schools, were banned from many white-only establishments and in many places African-Americans were prevented from voting.

Lynching was commonplace throughout the South, and racist politicians and the Ku Klux Klan terrorized African-Americans who attempted to demand more rights. As such, the military’s segregation policies were simply an extension of a racist reality in US society at that time. Jim Crow segregation President Roosevelt initially did nothing to end the policy of racial segregation in the armed forces. He also did not publicly support civil rights for African-Americans during the first years of his administration. He was careful not to offend conservative Southern Democrats whose support he needed. These Southern Democrats, by and large, supported segregation in their states, a system known as "Jim Crow segregation." President Roosevelt was silent on the issue until the late 1930s, when his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, began to speak in support of African-Americans. Desegregation In March 1943, after much discussion and pressure from Black leaders, the War Department ordered the desegregation of recreational facilities at military facilities. In mid-1944, the War Department ordered all buses to be operated in a non-discriminatory fashion.

The experiences in the Second World War, and the postwar pressures generated by the civil rights movement, forced all the armed services—Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps—to reexamine their traditional practices of segregation. President Harry Truman signed an executive order on July 26, 1948 that led to the integration of the United States armed forces. The order included the following text: “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale." Copyrights Image courtesy of the Truman Library. All subjects for theme World War II: President Harry Truman Wipes Out Military Segregation (Educational Materials: African American Odyssey) President Harry Truman Wipes Out Military Segregation Courtesy of the Chicago Daily Defender, Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Daily Defender , a black owned and operated newspaper, became one of the few ways in which more balanced and pertinent information about African Americans would be read that mainstream newspapers would not print; Harry S.

Truman was the first president to issue an executive order to enforce a civil rights issue; Although an executive order had been issued, the process of desegregating the military happened slowly. On July 31, 1948, the Chicago Defender , one of the most powerful black owned and edited newspapers in the country, published the headline "President Truman Wipes Out Segregation In Armed Forces." Executive Order No. 9981 issued by President Truman provided for "equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." This was the first time that a president used an executive order to implement civil rights principles and was a major victory for civil rights advocates in the quest for full citizenship. Despite these orders, full integration of African Americans in the armed services was carried out slowly. It was not until the end of the Korean conflict that full integration of the armed forces had been achieved. Study the front page of the Desegregation of the Armed Forces Desegregation of the Armed Forces Freedom to Serve , the final report of the Fahy Committee.

Document Search: Documents Sort by: Category | Year 1938 July 26, 1948 View (1 page) Correspondence between Richard Givens and John R. Steelman February 16, 1949 View (1 page) | (PDF) March Draft of Proposed Directive for the Armed Forces for the Period of 1 July 1949 to 1 July 1950 May 22, 1950 View (82 pages) June The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is one of thirteen Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration . 500 W. US Hwy. 24. Independence MO 64050 Truman Library - July 26, 1948: Executive Order 9981 issued A banner created in 1953 to honor the integration of the United States Armed Forces. Source: Papers of Philleo Nash. This Day in Truman History July 26, 1948 President Truman issues Executive Order No.

9981 Desegregating the Military President Truman had been examining the issue of segregation in the armed forces since at least 1947, when he appointed the President's Committee on Civil Rights. By January 1948, internal White House memos indicated that the President was determined to end military segregation by executive order. However, it was not until the delegates at the 1948 Democratic National Convention called for a liberal civil rights plank that included desegregation of the armed forces that Truman felt comfortable enough to issue Executive Order No. 9981 on July 26. The order stated that "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." The order also established the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services (Fahy Committee). Naturally, there was resistance to this order within the military. Staff officers from all branches protested anonymously and sometimes even openly to integration. The Fahy Committee worked with the different branches of the military to ensure that the armed forces instituted integration in their recruitment and unit composition practices.

Full integration did not come until the Korean War however, when heavy casualties forced segregated units to merge for survival. Black ThenJuly 26, 1948: President Truman signs order to desegregate the military. | Black Then 0 Posted by Carletta Denise - July 26, 2016 - Looking Black On Today Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948 by President Harry S. Truman. It abolished racial discrimination in the armed forces and eventually led to the end of segregation in the services. In 1947, A. Philip Randolph, along with colleague Grant Reynolds, renewed efforts to end discrimination in the armed services, forming the Committee Against Jim Crow in Military Service and Training, later renamed the League for Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Against Military Segregation. Truman’s Order expanded on Executive Order 8802 by establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services for people of all races, religions, or national origins.

The Order’s operative statement is: “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.The order also established a committee to investigate and make recommendations to the civilian leadership of the military to implement the policy.” The order eliminated Montford Point as a segregated Marine boot camp. It became a satellite facility of Camp Lejeune. The last of theall-black units in the United States military was abolished in September 1954. Kenneth Claiborne Royall, Secretary of the Army since 1947, was forced into retirement in April 1949 for continuing to refuse to desegregate the Army nearly a year after President Truman’s Order. 15 years after Truman’s order, on July 26, 1963, Robert S.

McNamara issued Directive 5120.36 obligating military commanders to employ their financial resources against facilities used by soldiers or their families that discriminated based upon sex or race. National Constitution Center - Centuries of Citizenship - Truman ends segregation in the military Truman ends segregation in the military New recruits at Montford Point Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division “Discrimination and segregation in the Armed Forces…is a grave threat…to the internal stability of our nation. Segregation becomes all the more important at a time when the United States should be assuming moral leadership in the world.” –A. Philip Randolph, Civil Rights leader The fight for freedom abroad has led to renewed demands by black Americans for justice at home. President Truman wants to guarantee equal access to education, decent housing and jobs. But Congress refuses to act, and the President won’t push to pass civil rights laws. Even so, Truman’s been using his executive authority to move ahead. Today he took the boldest step yet. Executive Order 9981, signed today, will end segregation in the armed forces.

Desegregation of the Military, 1948 | Records of Rights share Desegregation of the Military 1948 In 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt upheld the segregation of “colored and white” soldiers into different regiments, believing integration would threaten military efficiency and increase racial tension. Throughout the war, African Americans pressured the Government to end this discriminatory policy. President Harry Truman eventually organized a Presidential committee on civil rights which declared that, “The injustice of calling men to fight for freedom while subjecting them to humiliating discrimination within the fighting forces is at once apparent.” On July 26, 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 ending racial segregation in the U.S. armed forces. The order marked a significant step towards increased Government intervention in securing civil rights.

Question: Which President abolished racial segregation in the Armed Forces & the Civil Service ?
Answer: Harry Truman