Maillian, Brian

Maillum -mr) THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 24 August 1995 Mr. Brian Maillian Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Whitestone Capital Group, Inc. 1270 Avenue of the Americas Suite 2110 New York, NY 10020 Dear Mr. Maillian: Thank you for your recent letter. I appreciate your per pective on affirmative action programs. In the President's recent speech at the National Archives, he outlined his vision of what we must do to create a more inclusive society that provides a genuine equality of opportunity. Increased opportunity makes citizens more productive and builds stronger communities and a stronger nation. The President believes that we must continue to help people rise as far as their talents and determination can take them so that we can make the most out of our great diversity. Affirmative action programs have made a great deal of difference in the lives of countless Americans, helping them to overcome systematic exclusion based solely on their gender or race. However, improperly designed or implemented programs affect hard- working Americans and weaken our national community. These programs should, instead, remain consistent with our ideas of personal responsibility and merit. The President directed all federal agencies to apply 4 standards to make sure that all affirmative action programs are fair: 1) no quotas, 2) no reverse discrimination, 3) no preferences for unqualified individuals and, 4) no continuation of programs that have met their goals. This administration is committed to strengthening programs that support children and families, expanding the economy, and vigorously enforcing laws that prohibit discrimination. Affirmative action programs have succeeded in expanding opportunities for countless Americans, helping them to overcome systematic exclusion based solely on their gender or race. Again, I appreciate receiving your thoughts. The President is