White House Press Release, Executive Order Number 9577A

IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 1, 1945 EXECUTIVE ORDER AUTHORIZING THE PETROLEUM ADMINISTRATOR TO TAKE POSSESSION OF AND OPERATE THE PLANTS AND FACILITIES OF THE TEXAS COMPANY LOCATED IN AND AROUND PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS WHEREAS after an investigation I find and proclaim that the plants and facilities of the Texas Company, located in and around Port Arthur, Texas, are equipped for the production of crude oil and its products that are required for the war effort, or that are useful in connection therewi th; that there is a real, substantial, and immediate emergency in the form of a threatened interruption of the operation of the plants and facilities as a result of a labor. disturb- ance; that the immediacy and extent of the emergency will not permit of further delay without irreparable damage to the war effort; that TRUMA the war effort will thereby be unduly impeded or delayed for an in- NARA definite pericd by an interruption however brief; that the productive By efficiency of the plants and facilities is impaired by reason of the labor dispute; and that the exercise hereinafter specified, of the powers vested in me is necessary to insure, in the interest of the war effort, the operation of these plants and facilities; NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, in- cluding Section 9 of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 892), as amended by the War Labor Disputes Act (57 Stat. 163) , as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows: 1. The Petroleum Administrator is hereby authorized and directed, through and with the aid of any persons or instrumentalities that he may designate, to take possession of the plants and facilities of the Texas Company, located in and around Port Arthur, Texas, and, to the extent that he may deem necessary, of any real or personal property and other assets, wherever situated, used in connection with the operations thereof; to operate or to arrange for the operation of the plants and facilities in any manner that he deems necessary for the successful prosecution of the war; to exercise any contractual or other rights of the Texas Company, and to continue the employment of, or to employ, any persons, and to do any other thing that he may deem necessary for, or incidental to, the operation of the said plants and facilities and the production, sale and distribution of the products thereof; and to take any other steps that he deems necessary to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Order. (OVER)