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Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 to Joseph Curran

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06686 Author/Creator: Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Typed letter signed Date: January 14, 1942 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 22.7 cm, Width: 18.8 cm Order a Copy

President Roosevelt discusses "the discrimination against colored seamen, referred to in your telegram of January 2nd" with Curran, President of the National Maritime Union. States that he was previously informed that the discrimination had been eliminated by the action of the United States Maritime Commission. Discusses an Executive Order signed 25 June 1941, which instructed parties making contracts with the United States Government to include a provision obligating the contractor not to discriminate against any worker because of race, creed, color, or national origin. Declares "Questions of race, creed, and color have no place in determining who are to man our ships. The sole qualifications for a worker in the maritime industry, as well as in any other industry, should be his loyalty and his professional or technical ability and training." Typed on White House stationery. Contains "Pres" written in purple across the top right side of the page.

Curran, Joseph Edwin, 1906-1981
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945

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