Draft of Executive Order 9981

EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON DISCRIMINATION IN THE ARMED SERVICES WHEREAS, it is inconsistent with the ideals of the democracy for which these United States were established that there should be any discrimination, including segregation, within the Armed Forces of the United States because of race, creed or color; and WHEREAS, it is desirable that any such discrimination as may exist in the Armed Forces of the United States be eliminated as rapidly as possible, having due regard to time necessary to eliminate such discrimination in an orderly way which will not impair efficien- ay or morale: NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, by the Constitution and the Statutes of the United States, and as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Services, it is hereby ordered as follows: 1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Armed Services of the United States that there shall be no discrimination in treatment or opportuni ty of the personnel within the Armed Services because of differences in race, creed or color and that to the extent any such discrimination exists, it shall be abolished as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time necessary to eliminate such discrimi- nation in an orderly way which will not impair efficiency or morale.