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The Tribune
Roanoke, Virginia
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On August 19, President Eisenhower appointed J. Ernest Wilkins, a Negro attorney from Chicago, as vice-chairman of the new 14-member Presidential Fair Employment Practice Commission, headed by Vice-President Nixon, to address discrimination in government contracts. Seven members were sworn in, with two labor leaders absent.
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New York - History was made on August 19 when President Eisenhower designated J. Ernest Wilkins, Negro attorney of Chicago, to serve as vice-chairman on the Presidential Fair Employment Practice Commission.
The commission, created by specific orders of the president, is headed by Vice-President Nixon.
President Eisenhower signed the order creating the 14-member commission while on his vacation in Denver earlier this month. He called for an "action-committee" to check and banish discrimination in employment on Government contracts.
Ike flew from his Denver vacation spot to personally witness the swearing in of seven members of the committee. Two of the nine members representing the public were unable to attend the swearing in exercises because of other pressing business. They were Walter P. Reuther, president of the CIO and George Meany, president of the AFL, the nation's two most powerful trade unions.
Vice-President Nixon said the President expected concrete action on the problems of discrimination. He said the committee not only will study the problem generally but will receive and attempt to deal with specific complaints.
Nixon continued, "We feel that since we control the purse strings we can deal with 25 percent of the problem right here." He explained that between 39 and 40 billion dollars are spent in Government contracts in a year which represents about a quarter of all the money spent on production in the country.
Public members sworn in by Federal Judge Sylvester Ryan were Fred Lazarus, Jr., of Cincinnati, president of the American Retail Federation; John L. McCaffrey, of Chicago, president of the International Harvester Co., Mrs. Helen Rogers Reid, chairman of the board of the New York Herald Tribune; John Roosevelt, youngest son of the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt; John Minor Wisdom, of New Orleans, Republican National Committeeman from Louisiana; Vice President Nixon who will serve as chairman, and J. Ernest Wilkins, Negro attorney of Chicago, whom Ike personally named as vice-chairman.
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Location
New York; Denver
Event Date
August 19
Story Details
President Eisenhower creates and signs order for the Presidential Fair Employment Practice Commission to combat employment discrimination in government contracts. Appoints J. Ernest Wilkins as vice-chairman. VP Nixon chairs. Seven public members sworn in by Judge Ryan; two labor leaders absent. Nixon emphasizes action on complaints and impact via government spending.