DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2) | 1953-02-03 Des Moines Register Article: "'Ike's' Views on Civil and Social Rights"

Transcribe
Translate

Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2)

1953-02-03 Des Moines Register Article: "'Ike's' Views on Civil and Social Rights"

[[Handwriting]]
?MR
2-3-53
[[Italics]](From Dwight D. Eisenhower's state of the union message to congress.)[[end italics]]
[[Article text]]
Our civil and social rights form a central part of the heritage we are striving to defend on all fronts and with all our strength.
I believe will all my heart that our vigilant guarding of these rights is a sacred obligation binding upon every citizen. To be true to one's own freedom is--in essence--to honor and respect the freedom of all others.
A cardinal ideal in this heritage we cherish is the equality of rights of all citizens of every race and color and creed.
We know that discrimination against minorities persists despite our allegiance to this ideal. Such discrimination--confined to no one section of the nation--is but the outward testimony to the persistence of distrust and fear in the hearts of men.
This fact makes all the more vital the fighting of these wrongs by each individual, in every station of life, in his every deed.
Much of the answer lies in the power of act, fully publicized; of persuasion, honestly pressed; and of conscience, justly aroused. These methods familiar to our way of life, tested and proven wise.
[[Subtitle in bold]]
Would End Segregation In District of Columbia.[[end bold]]
I propose to use whatever authority exists in the office of the president to end segregation in the District of Columbia, including the federal government, and any segregation in the armed forces.
Here in the District of Columbia, serious attention should be given to the proposal to develop and authorize, through legislation, a system to provide an effective voice in local self-government. While consideration of this proceeds, I recommend, in the meantime, an immediate increase of two in the number of district commissioners to broaden representation of all elements of our population. This will be a first step toward insuring that this capital provide an honored example to all communities of our nation.
In this manner, and by the leadership of the office of the president exercised through friendly conferences with those in authority in our states and cities, we expect to make true and rapid progress in civil rights and equality of employment opportunity.

[[Subheading in bold]]
Immigration.
[[end bold]]
There is one sphere in which civil rights are inevitably involved in federal legislation. This is the sphere of immigration.
It is a manifest right of our government to limit the number of immigrants our nation can absorb. It is also a manifest right of our government to set reasonable requirements on the character and the numbers of the people who come to share our land and our freedom.
[[bold]]It is well for us, however, to remind ourselves occasionally of an equally manifest fact: we are--one and all--immigrants or sons and daughters of immigrants.[[end bold]]
EXISTING LEGISLATION CONTAINS INJUSTICES. It does, in fact, discriminate. I am informed by members of the congress that it was realized, at the time of its enactment, that future study of the basics of determining quotas would be necessary.
[[Subheading in bold]]
Request Is Made For New Legislation.[[end bold]]
I am therefore requesting the congress to review this legislation and to enact a statute that will at one and the same time guard our legitimate national interests and be faithful to our basic ideas of freedom and fairness to all
***
In another but related area--that of social rights--we see most clearly the new application of old ideas of freedom.
This administration is profoundly aware of two great needs born of our living in a complex industrial economy. First: The individual citizen must have safeguards against personal disaster inflicted by forces beyond his control. Second: The welfare of the people demands effective and economical performance by the government of certain indispensable social services.
[[Subtitle in bold]]
Extension of Social Security Recommended.
[[end bold]]
In the light of this responsibility, certain general purposes and certain concrete measures are plainly indicated now.
There is urgent need for greater effectiveness in our programs, both public and private, offering safeguards against the privations that too often come with employment, old age, illness, and accident.
[[bold]]The provisions of old age and survivors insurance law should promptly be extended to cover millions of citizens who have been left out of the social security system.[[end bold]]
No less important is the encouragement of privately sponsored pension plans. Most important of all, of course is renewed effort to check the inflation which destroys so much of the value of all social security payments.
[[Subtitle in bold]]
Schools.
[[end bold]]
Our school system demand some prompt, effective help. During each of the last two years, more than 1 1/2 million children have swelled the elementary and secondary school population of the country. Generally, the school population is proportionately higher in states with low per capita income.
[[bold]]This whole situation calls for careful congressional study and action. I am sure that you share my conviction that the firm conditions of federal aid must be proved need and proved lack of local income.[[end bold]]
One phase of the school problem demands special action. The school population of many districts has been greatly increased by the swift growth of defense activities. These activities have added little or nothing to the tax resources of the communities affected. Legislation aiding construction of schools in these districts expires on June 30.
[[bold]]This law should be renewed; and, likewise, the partial payments for current operating expenses for these particular school districts should be made, including the deficiency requirements of the current fiscal year.[[end bold]]
***
Public interest similarly demands one prompt specific action in protection of the general consumer. The food and drug administration should be authorized to continue its established and necessary program of factory inspections. The invalidation of these inspections by the Supreme Court of Dec. 8, 1952, was based solely on the fact that the present law contained inconsistent and unclear provisions. THESE MUST BE PROMPTLY CORRECTED.
[[Subtitle in bold]]
Intelligent Programs For Health and Housing.
[[end bold]]
I am well aware that beyond these few immediate measures there remains much to be done. The health and housing needs of our people call for intelligently planned programs. Involved, too, are the intricate matters of achieving proper federal, state, and local relationships; assuring the solvency of the whole security system; and guarding against its exploitation by the irresponsible.
To bring clear purpose and orderly procedure into this whole field, I anticipate a thorough study by an appropriate commission of the proper relationship among federal, state, and local programs in this whole field.
[[bold]]I shall shortly send you specific recommendations for establishing such a commission, together with a reorganization plan defining new administrative status for all federal activities in health, education, and social security.[[end bold
***
I repeat that there are many im-

Saving...

[[Handwriting]] ?MR 2-3-53 [[Italics]](From Dwight D. Eisenhower's state of the union message to congress.)[[end italics]] [[Article text]] Our civil and social rights form a central part of the heritage we are striving to defend on all fronts and with all our strength. I believe will all my heart that our vigilant guarding of these rights is a sacred obligation binding upon every citizen. To be true to one's own freedom is--in essence--to honor and respect the freedom of all others. A cardinal ideal in this heritage we cherish is the equality of rights of all citizens of every race and color and creed. We know that discrimination against minorities persists despite our allegiance to this ideal. Such discrimination--confined to no one section of the nation--is but the outward testimony to the persistence of distrust and fear in the hearts of men. This fact makes all the more vital the fighting of these wrongs by each individual, in every station of life, in his every deed. Much of the answer lies in the power of act, fully publicized; of persuasion, honestly pressed; and of conscience, justly aroused. These methods familiar to our way of life, tested and proven wise. [[Subtitle in bold]] Would End Segregation In District of Columbia.[[end bold]] I propose to use whatever authority exists in the office of the president to end segregation in the District of Columbia, including the federal government, and any segregation in the armed forces. Here in the District of Columbia, serious attention should be given to the proposal to develop and authorize, through legislation, a system to provide an effective voice in local self-government. While consideration of this proceeds, I recommend, in the meantime, an immediate increase of two in the number of district commissioners to broaden representation of all elements of our population. This will be a first step toward insuring that this capital provide an honored example to all communities of our nation. In this manner, and by the leadership of the office of the president exercised through friendly conferences with those in authority in our states and cities, we expect to make true and rapid progress in civil rights and equality of employment opportunity. [[Subheading in bold]] Immigration. [[end bold]] There is one sphere in which civil rights are inevitably involved in federal legislation. This is the sphere of immigration. It is a manifest right of our government to limit the number of immigrants our nation can absorb. It is also a manifest right of our government to set reasonable requirements on the character and the numbers of the people who come to share our land and our freedom. [[bold]]It is well for us, however, to remind ourselves occasionally of an equally manifest fact: we are--one and all--immigrants or sons and daughters of immigrants.[[end bold]] EXISTING LEGISLATION CONTAINS INJUSTICES. It does, in fact, discriminate. I am informed by members of the congress that it was realized, at the time of its enactment, that future study of the basics of determining quotas would be necessary. [[Subheading in bold]] Request Is Made For New Legislation.[[end bold]] I am therefore requesting the congress to review this legislation and to enact a statute that will at one and the same time guard our legitimate national interests and be faithful to our basic ideas of freedom and fairness to all *** In another but related area--that of social rights--we see most clearly the new application of old ideas of freedom. This administration is profoundly aware of two great needs born of our living in a complex industrial economy. First: The individual citizen must have safeguards against personal disaster inflicted by forces beyond his control. Second: The welfare of the people demands effective and economical performance by the government of certain indispensable social services. [[Subtitle in bold]] Extension of Social Security Recommended. [[end bold]] In the light of this responsibility, certain general purposes and certain concrete measures are plainly indicated now. There is urgent need for greater effectiveness in our programs, both public and private, offering safeguards against the privations that too often come with employment, old age, illness, and accident. [[bold]]The provisions of old age and survivors insurance law should promptly be extended to cover millions of citizens who have been left out of the social security system.[[end bold]] No less important is the encouragement of privately sponsored pension plans. Most important of all, of course is renewed effort to check the inflation which destroys so much of the value of all social security payments. [[Subtitle in bold]] Schools. [[end bold]] Our school system demand some prompt, effective help. During each of the last two years, more than 1 1/2 million children have swelled the elementary and secondary school population of the country. Generally, the school population is proportionately higher in states with low per capita income. [[bold]]This whole situation calls for careful congressional study and action. I am sure that you share my conviction that the firm conditions of federal aid must be proved need and proved lack of local income.[[end bold]] One phase of the school problem demands special action. The school population of many districts has been greatly increased by the swift growth of defense activities. These activities have added little or nothing to the tax resources of the communities affected. Legislation aiding construction of schools in these districts expires on June 30. [[bold]]This law should be renewed; and, likewise, the partial payments for current operating expenses for these particular school districts should be made, including the deficiency requirements of the current fiscal year.[[end bold]] *** Public interest similarly demands one prompt specific action in protection of the general consumer. The food and drug administration should be authorized to continue its established and necessary program of factory inspections. The invalidation of these inspections by the Supreme Court of Dec. 8, 1952, was based solely on the fact that the present law contained inconsistent and unclear provisions. THESE MUST BE PROMPTLY CORRECTED. [[Subtitle in bold]] Intelligent Programs For Health and Housing. [[end bold]] I am well aware that beyond these few immediate measures there remains much to be done. The health and housing needs of our people call for intelligently planned programs. Involved, too, are the intricate matters of achieving proper federal, state, and local relationships; assuring the solvency of the whole security system; and guarding against its exploitation by the irresponsible. To bring clear purpose and orderly procedure into this whole field, I anticipate a thorough study by an appropriate commission of the proper relationship among federal, state, and local programs in this whole field. [[bold]]I shall shortly send you specific recommendations for establishing such a commission, together with a reorganization plan defining new administrative status for all federal activities in health, education, and social security.[[end bold *** I repeat that there are many im-