DOCT]MEI\TS01\ REORGA]\IZATIOI\

OT CIVIL DTFENSE

The President's Message of May 25, I,96I., the Director'sMemorandum of Jaly 7, 1961, thb President's Executive

Order of July 2O,,196L, and the \ffhite House Press Release,

the Director's Statement and the Secretary of Defense's

Statement Thereon

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Executive Office

OFFICE OF CIVIL AND

of the Presideni

DEFENSE MOBIL]ZATION

THE PRESIDBDIT'S CIYIL DEFENSE MESSAGE

The following is the lext of President Kennedy's Gvil Defense Mesdage to Congress on May25, L961, as actually delivered

be readily justifiable - as insurance for the

civilian population in case of an enemy miscal-

culation. It is insurance we trust will never be

needed - but insurance which we could never

forgive ourselves for foregoing in the event ofcatastrophe.

Once the validity of this concept is recog-

nized, there is no point in delaying the initia-tion of a nationwide long-range program o'f

identifying present fallout shelter capacity and

providing shelter in new and existing struc-

tures. Such a program would protect millionsof people against the hazards of radioactivefallout in the event of a large-scale nuclearattack. Effective performance of the entireprogram not only requires new legislative au-

thority and more funds, but also, sound organ-izational arrangements.

Therefore, under the authority vested in me

by Reorganizatton Plan No' 1 of 1958, I am

assigning responsibility for this program to the

top civilian authority already responsible forcontinental defense, the Secretary of Defense.

It is important that this function remain civil-ian, in nature and leadership; and this feature

will not be changed.

The Office of Civil and Defense Mobiliza-tion will be reconstituted as a small staff

agency to assist in the coordination of these

functions. To more accurately describe itsrole, its title should be ehanged to the Office

of Emergency Planning

As soon as those newly charged with iheseresponsibilties have prepared new authoriza-tion and appropriation requests, such requests

will be transmitted to the Congress for a muchstrengthened Federal-State civil defense pro-gram. Such a program will provide Federal

One major elearent of the national securityprogram which this Nation has never squarelyfaced up to is civil defense. This problemarises not from present trends but from na-

tional inaction in which most of us have parti-cipated. In the past decade we have intermit-tentJy considered a variety of programs, but we

have never adopted a consistent policy. Publicconsideration have been largely characteraedby apathy, indifierence, and skepticism; while,at the same time, many of the civil defenseplans have been so far-reaching and unrealis-tic that they have not gained essential support.

This Administration has been looking hardat exactly what civil defense can and cannotdo. It cannot be obtained cheaply. It cannotgive an assurance of blast protection that willbe proof against surprise attack or guaranteedagainst obsolescence or desEuction. And itcannot deter a nuclear attack.

We will deter an enemy from making anuclear attack only if our retaliatory power isso strong and so invulnerable that he knowshe would be destroyed by our response. Ifwe have that strength, civil defense is notneeded to deter an attack. If we should everlack it, civil defense would not be an adequatesubstitute.

But this deterrent concept assumes rationalcalculations by rational men. And the historyof this planet, and particularly the history ofthe 20th centur/, is sufficient to remind us ofthe possibilities of an irrational attack, a mis-calculation, an accidental war, or a war ofescalation in which the stakes by each sidegradually increase to the point of maximumdanger which cannot be either foreseen or de-terred. It is on this basis that civil defense can

funds for identifying fallout shelter capacity inexisting structures, and it will include, where

appropriate, incorporation of shelter in Federalbuildings, rlew requirements for shelter inbuildings constructed with Federal assistance,

and matching grants and other incentives forconstructing shelter in State and local, andprivate, buildings.

Federal appropriations for civil defense infiscal 1962 under this program will in all likeli-

hood be more than triple the pending budgetrequests; and they will increase sharply in sub-sequent years. Financial participation will alsobe required from State and local governments,

and. from private citizens. But no insurance is

cost-free; and every American citizen and his

community must decide for themselves wheth-

er this form of survival insurance justifies the

expenditure of effort, time, and money. Formyself, I am convinced that it does.

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MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESIDENT FROM THE DIRECTOR

The following is the text of a memorandum of J:uly 7, Lg6},, to President Kennedy fromDirector Frank B. Ellis of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization

As you pointed out in your Message to theCongresq of May 25, civrl defense is a vital butlong-neglected element of our total nationalsecurity progr.lm. In these troubled times, it isessential that our national dedication to thecause of liberty and freedom for all mankindbe buttressed by a realistic meisure of protec-tion for our people against the possibility ofnuclear attack. A vigorous and well supportedcivil defense program offers a level of protec-tion that could make the difierence betweenour national survival and defeat if a nuclearwar were forced upon us by irrational men.

We have discussed on several occasions theinadequacy of our past efforts. I have made anintensive study of the Office of Civil and De-fense Mobilization - its weaknesses and itsstrengths. Now, in accordance with our dis-cussion on July 6, I offer the following com-ments and recommendations with respect toour civil defense and defense mobilizationprograms:

I. Presidential Leadership and Responsibility

The basic premise of Reorganization PlanNo. I of 1958 is sound. Federal leadership in,and responsibility for, nonmilitary defense isinescapably yours. Specffic assignments of re-sponsibility for the several elements of the totalprogram should be made to those departmentsand agencies of the Federal Government bestable to give them strong and vigorous support,as suggested below. All elemenrc of the Fed-eral Government should so order,their pro-grams and activities as to support the unifiedpolicy to be laid down by you.

As you suggested in your message of May

25, you require for this purpose the assistance

of a small staff element in your ExecutiveOffice-the Office of Civil and Defense Mobil-ization, largely freed of operating responsibili-ties and reconstituted as the Office of Emer-gency Planning.

If; The Role of the Office of Emergencyplanning

The Office of Emergency Planning (OEP)would furnish staff assistance to you in connec-tion with your responsibilities to plan, deter-mine policy for, direct, coordinate, and exer-cise continuing surveillance over the total non-military defense program.

Specifically, it would:

A. Represent you in your dealings withState Governors to stimulate vigorousState and local participation in civil de-fense and resource management plan-ning and to make adequate preparationsfor the continuity of State and localcivilian political authority in the eventof nuclear attack.

B. Assist you in achieving a coordinatedand harmonious impact on the Statesand localities on the part of the severalFederal departments and agencies towhich specific nonmilitary defense pro'gram responsibilities have been assigned.

C. Assist you in determining the appropri-ate nonmilitary defense roles of Federaldepartments and agencies, enlisting

, State, local, and private participation,mobilizing national support, evaluatingprogress of the progtarn, and preparingreports to the Congress.

D. Assist you in planning for the manage-ment of national resources in an emer-gency, including but not limited to thepostattack period.

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Assist you in making plans to deal withthe overall effects of enemy strikes onhuman and material resources.Assist you in the development of policiesconcerning the strategic use of nationalresources during the cold war or in theevent of limited war, and appropriateeconomic warfare. matters such as re-strictions of imports threatening the na-tional security.Advise you on the need for Presidentialdeclaration of majorrnatural disastersand coordinating on your behalf Federaloperation in connection therewith.Develop plans for the continuity of Fed-eral operations in ttre event of nuclearattack, and for the performance, as

necessary, of such emergency activi-ties as the evaluation of remaining re-sources after an attack, their allocation,the control of transportation, the main-tenance of economic stabilization, andcensorship.Serve as telecommunications coordina-tor for the Executive Branch.Assist you in determining policy for andsupervising the maintenauce of the stra-tegic stockpile.

In carrying out these functions, the Ofrce ofEmergency Planning would make fullest use ofthe departments and agencies of the FederalGovernment, in order to maintain a minimumstaff both centrally and in the field.

III. Assignment to the Department ofDefense of Responsibilities for CivilDefense

In order that we may as a Nation enlist thevigorous support of the many talents and re-sources of the Department of Defense, I recom-mend that your first specific assignment underthe Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1958 be thatof responsibility for the total civil defense pro'grrm to the Secretary of Defense.

Specifically, this would involve:

A. The development and execution of afallout shelter program.

B. The development and execution of achemical, biological, and radiological(CBR) warfare defense program.

C. The assumption of responsibility fortransmitting warning of impending at-

tack to civilian authorities and to thepublic, in accordance with policies de-termined by you.

The maintenance of a national com-munications network for use by civilianauthorities of government postattack.

The development of planning guidancefor, and emergercy assistance to, Stateand local governments in such postat-tack community services as health andsanitatiori services, maintenance of lawand order, firefighting and control, de-bris clearance, traffic control, and theprovision of adequate water supplies.

F. The collection of data on location andstrength of enemy strikes and such as-sessment of their damage as is requiredtb minimize such damage.

G. The administration of Federal match-ing funds programmed for the strength-ening of State and local civil defensecapabilities.

H. Assistance to the States and localities inthe provision of protected facilities toserve the requirements of damage con-trol operations and to facittate the OEPplans for the continuity of State andlocal government.

I. The development and execution of plansfor making available to State and localgovernments such surplus Federal prop-erty as will enhance their civil defensecapabilities.

J. The development and maintenance of acapability to direct, both nationally andin the regions, the movement from unat-tacked areas to attacked areas of suchaid and resources as can be made avail-able for civil defense operations.

In the fulfillment of these responsibilities, itis contemplatpd that the Secretary of Defensewould avail himself wherever feasible of thecapabilities of other Federal agencies, as deter-mined by you, by contractual or other agree-

ment.

IV. Assignm.ent to the Department ofHe"lth, Education, and Welfare ofResponsibility for National Emer-gency Mefical Stockpile

The national stocks of medical supplies andequipment would be woefully inadequate to

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meet the emergency civil defense requirementsand the continuing health needs to the Nationfollowing a nuclear attack. I therefore recom-

mend that you assign to the Department ofHealth, Education, and Welfare the respon-

sibility for developing and maintaining a Na-tional Emerge4cy Medical Stockpile. Require-

ments for such a stockpile should be developed

in cooperation with the Department of Defense

for civil defense operations and with the Office

of Emergenc] Planning for the condnuinghealth needs of the Nation until such time as

production to meet such requirements could be

reasonably anticipated.

V. Assigrrment to the D'epartment ofAgriculture of Responsibility for a

National Food Stockpile

While total supplips of food might be ade-

quate for a considerable period following an

attack, bottlenecks in processing capabilities

and poorly planned storage locations may ob-

tain without proper advance planning. I there-

fore recommend that you assign to the Depart-ment of Agriculture responsibility for estimat-

ing the food requirements of the Nation fol-lowing an attack and making plans to assure

the required availability of food for the surviv-ing population until suchtime as adequate foodproduction could be resumed. In making such

plans, the Department of Agriculture should

work closely with the Departrnent of Defense

and the Office of Emergency P1anning.

!I. General

In connection with each responsibility out-

lined above, there would be involved, ofcourse, responsibility for such research, train-ing, and public iirformation as is required by

the individual programs. In order that such

supporting activities may fit into a consistent

national approach, I recommend that the OEP

oa your behalf maintain general coordination'

In fulfilLnent of these recommendations, Ipropose to work out with the several depart-

ments mutually agreeable transfers of person-

nel and funds from the'present OCDM. Since

the bulk of the transfers will be to the Depart-ment of Defense in connection with the assign-

ment of responsibility for the total civil de-

fense program, f propose further the transfer

of the staff college and training schools to the

Department of Defense.

It is my belief that such assignments zts are

herein proposed offer promise of an invigor-ated, meaningful, nonmilitary defense pro'gram, if supported by a larger comrnitment of

Federal resources than has been made in thepast, and buttressed by a continuation of thePresidential concern, leadership, and support

which you have demonstrated.

To this end I pledge my full support and

that of the staff of the new Office of Emer-gency Planning.

ResPectivelY submitted,

(s) Frank B. EllisFneNr B. Er,r,rs.

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THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUITVE ORDER

The following is the t6xt of Preaident Kennedy's Executivo Order I}g52 of July 20, Lg6}.,assiguing Civil Defense resfoonsibifiii'es to the Secretarj. of Defense and others

WI{EREAS the pmsibility of enemy attackupon the United States must be taken into ac-count in developing our continental defenseprogram; and

WHEREAS following a thorough reviewand consideration of our military and nonmili-tary defense activities, I have concluded thatadequato protection of the civilian populationrequires a substantial strengthening of the Na-tion's civil defense capabili:ty; and

WHEREAS the rapid acceleration of civildefense activities can be accomplished mosteftectively and efficiently through performanceby the regular departments and agencies ofgwernment of those civil defense function re-lated tortheir established roles and capabilities;and

WIIEREAS f have concluded that the un-dertaking of grea-t$ accelerated civil defenseactivities, including the initiation of a substan-tial shelter program, requires new organi24-tional arrangemeirts:

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the au-thority vested in me as President of the UnitedStates and Commander-in-Chief of the armedforces of the United States, including the au-thority contained in the Federal Civil DefenseAct of 1950, as amended, and other authoritiesof law vested in me pursuant to Reorganiza-tion Plan No. 1 of 1958, it is hereby orderedas follows:

Seetion l.-Delegation ol Authority to theSecretary of Defense.

(a) Except as hereinafter otherwise providedand as is reserved to the Office-of Civiland Defense Mobilization.in section 2 ofthis order, the Secretary of Defense isdelegated all functions (including as usedin this order, powers, duties, anil author-

ity) contained in the Federal Civil De-fense Act of L950, as amended (herein-after referred to as the Act), vested inme pursuant to Reorganization Plan No.1 of 1958 (72 Stat. L799), subject tothe direction and control of the President.Such functions to be performed by theSecretary of Defense, working as neces-sary or appropriate through other agen-cies by contractual or other agreements,as well as with State and local leaders,shall include but nqt be limited to thedeveloprnent and execution of:

(i) afallout shelter program;(ii) a chemical, biological, and ra-

diological warfare defense program;(iii) all steps necessary to warn or

alert Federal military and civilian au-thorities, State officials, and the civilianpopulation;

(iv) all functions pertaining to com-munications, including a 1y41ning net-work, reporting on monitoring, instruc-tions to shelters, and communicationsbetween authorities;

(v) emergency assistance to Stateand local governments in a postattackperid, including water, debris, fire,heallh, traffc, police, and evacuationcapabilities;

(vi) protection and emergency op-erational capability of State and localgovernment agencies in keeping withplans for the continuity of governmenqand

(vii) programs for paking fnancialcontributions to the States (includingpersonnel and administrative expenses)for civil defense purposes.

(b) Il addition to the foregoing, the Secretaryshall:

(i) develop plans and operate sys-tems to undertake a nationwide postat-tack assessment of the nature and ex-tent of the damage resirlting fromenemy attack and the surviving re-

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sources, including systems to monitorand report specifir hazards resultingfrom the detonation or tre of soeciaiweapons; and

(ii) make necessary arrangementsfor the donation of irederat -surplus

propergy in accordance with seciion2O3(j)(4) of the Federal Properryand Administrative Services Act of1949, as amended (40 U.S.C.484(D G)), subject to applicableIimitations.

Section 2.-Civil Delense Responsibilitiesol the Office of Civil and Delense Mobiliza-tion. The Director of the Office of Civil andDefense Mobilization shall(a) Advise and assist the President in:

(i) determining policy for, plan-- ning, directing and coordinating, in-

cluding the obtaining of informationfrom all departments and agencies, thetotal civil defense program;

(ii) reviewing and coordinating thecivil defense activities of the Federaldepartments and agencies with eachother and with the activities of theStates and neighboring countries inaccordance with section 201(b) ofthe Act;

(iii) determining the appropriatecivil defense roles of Federal depart-pents and agencies, and enlisting Slate,local, and private participation, mobil-izing national suppbrt, ev-aluating prog-ress of programs, and preparing re-ports to the Congress relating to civildefense matters;

_ (iv) helping and encouraging theStates to negotiate and enter intointer-state civil defense compacts and enactreciprocal civil defense legislation inaccordance with section 201(g) of theAct, and

(v) providing all practical assist-ance to States in arranging, throughtheDepartment of State, -mritirat civll de-fense aid between the States and neigh-boring countries in accordance uitnsection 203 of. the Act;

(b) Develop plans, conduct programs, andcoordinate preparations foi the continuityof Federal governmental operations iirthe event of attack; and

(c) Develop plans, conduct programs, 31dcoordinate preparations foi th6 continuity

of State and local governments in theevent of attack, which plans, programs,and preparations shall be designed to as-sure the continued effective functioningof civilian political authority under anyemergency condition.

Seetion 3.-Excluded Functions. The fol-lowing functions of the President under theprovisions of the Act are excluded from dele-gations to the Secretary of Defense made bythis order and are reserved to the President:(a) Those under subsections (h) and (i) of

section 201 of. the Act (50 U.S.C. App.2281(h), (i)) to the extent that tleypertain to medical stockpiles and foodstockpiles.

(b) Those under the following provision ofthe Act: Sections loz(a), 201(b), and402 and Title III.

Seetion 4.-T ransf er ol P roperty, F acili ttie s,Personnel and Funds. Subject to applicablelaw, there shall be hereby transferred to theSecretary of Defense such portion of the prop-erty, facilities, and personnel of the Office ofCivil and Defense Mobilization engaged in theperformance of the civil defense responsibili-ties herein assigned to the Secretary of Defenseas shall be agreed upon by the Secretary andthe Director of the Office of Civil and DefenseMobilization together with such portions of thefunds currently available for those pu{poses asshall be approved by the Director of the Bur-eau of the Budget.

Section S.-Reports. The Secretary of De-fense shall annually submit to the President awritten report covering expenditures, contribu-tions, activities, and accomplishments of theSecretary of Defense pursuant to this order.

Section 6.-Redelegation. The Secretary ofDefense is hereby authorized to redelegatewithin the Department of Defense the func-tions hereinabove delegated to him.

Section f .-lTnsnirnsnt. The Director ofthe Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization ishereby relieved of responsibilities under theAct except as otherwise provided herein, andthe provisions of Executive Order No. 10773,as amended, are amended accordingly.

Section B.-Prior actions.(a) Except to the extent that they may be

inconsistent with the provisions of thisorder; and except as particular Executiveorders or other orders are amended, mod-ified, or superseded by the provisions ofthis order, all determinations, authoriza-tions, regulations, rulings, certificates, or-ders (including emergency preparednessorders ), directives, contracts, agreements,and other actions made, issued, or en-tered into with respect to any functionaffected by this order, and not revoked,superseded, or otherwise made inapplic-able before the date of this order, shallcontinue in full force and effect untilamended, modified, or terminated by thePresident or other appropriate authority;but, to the extent necessary to conform tothe provisions of this order, any of theforegoing shatl be deemed to refer to theSecretary of Defense or other appropriateofficer or agency instead of, or in addition

to, the Office of Civil and Defense Mobil-ization or the Director thereof.

(b) This order shall not terminate any delega-tion or assignment of any substantive(program) function to any delegate agen-cy made by any emergency preparednessorder heretofore issued by the Director ofthe Office of Civil and Defense Mobiliza-tion (26 F.R. 651-662; 835-840).(whichemergency preparedness order shall re-main in effect until amended or revokedby or at the specific direction of the Presi-dbnt). No such emergency preparednessorder shall limit the delegation or assign-ment of any substantive (program) func-tion to the Secretary of Defense made bythe foregoing sections of this order.

Section 9.-Effective Date. This order shall

become effective on the first day of August,1961.

John F. Kennedy.

TnB Wmrr HousE, July 20, 1961

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+ THE \trHTTE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

Ihe following is the text of the White House press release of July 20, 7rg6J1 accompanying thePresident's Execirtive Order

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The President today issued an ExecutiveOrder assigning major civil defense responsi-bilities to the Secretary of Defense and redefin-ing the role of the Director of the Office ofCiyil and Defense Mobilization. The Presidentstressed that civil defense will remain civilianin nature and leadership.

The Order puts into effect recommendationsmade by Frank B. Ellis, Director of the Officeof Civil and Defense Mobilization, followingan intensive study of the civil defense program.Mr. Ellis' report is being released today.

In his Message to the Congress of May 25.the President indicated his intention to dele-gate certain civilian protection functions to theSecretary of Defense. In issuing today's order,the President said:

"More than ever, a strong civil defenseprogram is vital to the Nation s security.Today, civil defense is of direct concern toevery citizen and at.every level of govern-ment."

The Secretary of Defense will be in chargeof Federal programs for the protection of theNation's civilian population against the dan-gers of nuclear attack. The responsibilitiesactually assigned to the Secretary will includethe development and execution of a falloutshelter program, of a warning and communica-tions system, and of a program to assist theState and local governments in such postattackcommunity services as health and sanitation,maintenance of law and order, firefighting andcontrol, debris clearance, traffic control, andthe provision of adequate water supplies.

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The Director of the Office of Civil and De-fense Mobilization will advise and assist thePresident in coordinating the civil defenseoperations of all executive departments. Mr.Ellis will also continue his highly importantresponsibilities for planning for the continuity

of State and local governments, the natural dis-

aster relief program, the defense mobilizationprogram, and the strategic and critical mate-rials stockpiling programs. Legislation will be

proposed in the near future to change the name

of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilizationto the Office of EmergencY Planning.

The President has directed the Secretary ofDefense in carrying out his responsibilities toprepare and direct national plans and pro-grams for the civil defense of the United States

designed to afford adequate protection of lifeand property and to provide for civil defense

warning and communication systems to fur-nish Federal, State, and local officials, as wellas the public at large, with emergency informa-tion and instructions. The Secretary of De-

fense will work closely with the States in plan-ning and preparing these programs.

The President instructed the Secretary ofDefense to grve urgent attention to plans fora survey of shelter facilities in existing struc-tures. At the President's direction, Secretary

McNamara has already begun work.

In keeping with the injunctionof theFederalCivil Defense Act of 1950, the Secretary ofDefense will make maximum use of the facili-ties of existing Federal departments and agen-

cies. Responsibilities previously assigned tothem will remain in effect.

The President said:

"In calling upon the resources of the De-partment of Defense to stimulate and invig-orate our civil defense preparations, I amacting under the basic Federal premise thatresponsibility for the accomplishment ofcivil defense preparations at the Federallevel is vested in me. In the States and Io'calities, similar responsibilities are vested inthe Governors and local executives. It is myhope that they, too, will redouble their ef-foiis to strengthen our civil defense and will

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:1olk.clo.:ety with.the Department of De-rense rn rts Dew assignment.

"Civil defense, like other elements of thelolal lonT$tary defens. prog.u.,'"reachesmto vrtually every phase of our governmentand oI our national life. I sha[ Iccordinglybe actively concerned with t}re p.Llj"r"

"rcoordinating our civil defense pieparationswtth other nonmilitary defense preiarationsflguired to achieve a strong positioir iu ou.Nation.

- In thiq, I shall di"p;;;1.a *O

assist:d by the- Director of the bm". of Ciriiand Lretense Mobilization.,'

The President also pointed out that the Di_rector of OCDM will have extensive and im-portant responsibilities in assisting him in plan_

f"g tgr the management of national resourcesrn vanous types of emergency, in making plansto deal with the effects of enemy strifes onhuman and material resources, in appropriateeconomic warfare matters, such as restrictionof imports threatening national security, in de_veloping plans and policies covering the main_tenance of the strategic and critical stockpileand in other aspects of the defense mobilizationprogram. The Director of OCDM will alsoadvise and assist the president in dealings with

State Governors and will generally assist himin his role as leader and coordinator of theNation's civil defense effort. He will retain hispresent responsibilities to plan for the continu_ity of Federal, State, and iocal government, tocoordinate Federal natural d.isasler operations,and to act as telecommunications cirdinatorfor the Executive branch.

The President took occasion to complimsllMr. Ellis and the OCDM organization on theirvigorous and successful efforts since shortlyafter Inauguration Day to focus national atten-tion on the critical gaps in our civil defensepreparations. He particularly congratulatedMr, Ellis on his constructive

-attitude in con_

sultations leading to agreement on the newprogram direction.

The President anticipates the early submis_sion to the Congress of a request forincreaseOFederal support for an invigorated civil de_fense program. He is convin-ced that ttre Bx-ecutive order issued today constitutes a steptoward achieving, in the form of a realistic,strengthened civil defense program, the sur-vival insurance and the increised deiensivestrength so vital to the Nation,s security.

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THE DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

- The following is the text of the statement by Director Frank B. Eltis of the Office of Civil and

Defense Mobilization'on JuIy 20, 196I,.- concerning reorganization of Civil Defense functions

Following.the White House release of theExecutive order assigning certain civil defense

responsibilities to the Secretary of Defense,

Frank B. E1lis, Director of Office of Civil andDefense Mobilization, issued the followingstatement:

"The President has today ordered theSecretary of Defense to develop an acceler-ated program of civil defense for the Nation.

o'Earlier in his message of May 25 to theCongress, the President indicated his inten-tion to support such a program by a largercommitment of Federal participation thanhas been made in the past.

"These are'indeed encouraging develop-ments to those State and local governmentleaders, civil defense officials, and selfless

dedicated supporters of civil defense whohave labored these many years against such

discouraging odds to bring about a state ofcivil defense preparedness in this country.

"President Kennedy has recognizel clear-ly the importance of civil defense prepared-ness to our national security. He has as-

signed major responsibility to that depart-ment of Government which can commit thegreatest resources to its execution.

"I am sure that all of our citizens, andparticularly those six and one-half millionpersons who have been devoting their un-selfish efforts to the cause of civil defense,

will redouble their efforts now that the pros-pects are so favofable for an invigoratedprogram under the President's leadership.

"In the next few days I expect to sendthis message to all Governors, regional andState directors, and many county and cityleaders throughout the country."

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TTIE SECRETARY OF DBFENSE'S STATEMENT

The following is the text of the stalement by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara on July2o., L961, concerning reorganization of civil defense functions

"In understanding the serious responsibili-ties transferred to us today by the President,the Department of Defense will be guided bythese major considerations:

"( 1) The Civil Defense effort must remainunder civilian direction and control,involving, ds it does, the survival ofevery citizen. It requires the closestand most sympathetic cooperation be-tween the federal civilian authoritiesand state and local governments.

*(2) In the age of thermonuclear war,civil defense must be integrated withall aspects of military defense againstthermonuclear attack.

"(3) The Civil Defense functions of theDepartment must not be permitted todowngrade the military capabilities ofour armed forces.

*(4) Whatever expenditures are under-taken for Civil Defense projects mustbe directed toward obtaining maxi-mum protection for lowest possiblecost.

"The Civil Defense function will be organ-ized within the Department of Defense as acivilian function, drawing where necessary onthe military departments for available support.For example, ,the district offices of the ArmyCorps of Engineers 'or the Navy Bureau ofYards and Docks could be utiiized in planningand directing the survey'maiking and improve-ment of available fallout shelter space in exist-ing construction, as directed by the President.In the meantime, employees of the OCDMworking on civil defense matters, for which Inow have responsibility, will be transferred tomy office.

"A special group is at work preparing abudget for the new and accelerated Civil De.fense program outlined by the President.Thereafter, the group will address itself to theorganizational problems presented by the trans-fer of Civil Defense functions, including opera-tions in Washington, in Battle Creek, Michi-gan, and in the field.'l

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