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297910163
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National Maritime Day [1984]
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297910163
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National Maritime Day [1984]
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Records of the White House Correspondence Office
Proclamations Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Correspondence, White House Office of:
Records, 1981-1989
Folder Title: National Maritime Day
Box: 76 (1984)
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digitized-textual-material
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Inventories, visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/white-house-inventories
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/research-
support/citation-guide
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
Last Updated: 05/2023
PRESIDENT a THE 5 SEAL STATES THE UNITED
National Maritime Day, 1984
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On March 20, 1984, I signed into law the Shipping Act of 1984. This important
legislation removed several burdensome and unnecessary Government regula-
tions restricting both United States-flag and foreign-flag ocean common carri-
ers operating in the foreign commerce of the United States. This is the most
significant ocean regulatory legislation since the enactment of the Shipping
Act in 1916.
The United States is the greatest trading nation in the world, and this
landmark legislation will provide for more flexible and responsive ocean
transportation services, including intermodal service, that will benefit both our
exporters and importers. United States flag-ocean carriers will benefit by
being assured evenhanded regulatory treatment with foreign competitors. The
Shipping Act of 1984 represents but one part of my Administration's commit-
ment to foster and maintain the United States-flag merchant marine required
by this great Nation for our national security and economic benefit.
In recognition of the importance of the American merchant marine, the
Congress, by joint resolution of May 20, 1933, designated May 22 as National
Maritime Day and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation
calling for its appropriate observance. This date was chosen to commemorate
the day in 1819 when the SS SAVANNAH departed Savannah, Georgia, on the
first transatlantic steamship voyage.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 1984, as National Maritime Day, and I
urge the people of the United States to observe this day by displaying the flag
of the United States at their homes and other suitable places, and I request
that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of April,
in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independ-
ence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
Ronald Reagon