Letter from Joe Fletcher, President of the Gardena Valley Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, California, to President Gerald R. Ford Recommending the Termination of Executive Order 9066

2 GENERAL NDIO rgo/ C075 Japanese American March 2, 1976 Citizens League X Dear Mr. Fletcher: Joe W. The President has asked that I reply to your letter of January 26, 1976, regarding Executive Order 9066. The President and the Nation share your abhorrence and profound regret for the suffering and injustices inflicted upon Japanese Americans under that Order. GERALD R. Executive Order 9066 was issued for the sole purpose of FORD prosecuting the war with the Axis Powers and it ceased to be effective with the end of World War II, Because there LISBARY was no formal statement announcing its termination, how- ever, there has been continuing concern among many Americans that the Executive Order may have retained some effect. Your letter was part of a general outpouring of concern about the Order's status. On February 19, 1976, the 34th anniversary of the issuance of Executive Order 9066, the President acted to remove all doubt on the matter by issuing a Proclamation reaffirming that all authority conferred by the Executive Order had terminated upon the issuance on December 31, 1946 of Presidential Proclamation 2714, which formally declared the cessation of hostilities of World War II. A copy of last month's Proclamation is enclosed. RECEIVED MAR 2 1976 CENTRAL FILES - 2 - In the words of the President in issuing the Proclamation, let us trust "that we have learned from the fragedy of that long-ago experience forever to treasure liberty and justice for each individual American, and resolve that this kind of action shall never again be repeated." With the President's best wishes, Sincerely, Roland L. Elliott Director of Correspondence Mr. Joe W. Fletcher President, Gardena Chapter Japanese American Citizens League Post Office Box 2361 Gardena, California 90247 Enclosure: As stated RLE:Justice:JHH:aby Office of AS PRESIDENTIAL * * HAO ind SEQUITUR JUSTICE DEPART February 27, 1976 Mr. Roland L. Elliott Director of Correspondence The White House Attached is a draft reply in response to a letter to the President from Mr. Joe W. Fletcher re E.O. 9066. Deputy Assistant Attorney General femblman Leon Ulman Office of Legal Counsel GERALD R. FORD MERICAN REVOLUTION DRAFT Final Mr. Joe W. Fletcher President, Gardena Chapter Japanese American Citizens League GERALD P. 0. Box 2361 FORD Gardena, California 90247 LIBRARY Dear Mr. Fletcher: The President has asked that I reply to your letter of January 26, 1976, regarding Executive Order 9066. The President and the Nation share your abhorrence and profound regret for the suffering and injustices inflicted upon Japanes Americans under that Order. Executive Order 9066 was issued for the sole purpose of prosecuting the war with the Axis Powers and it ceased to be effective with the end of World War II. Because there was no formal statement announcing its termination, however, continuing there has been growing concern among many Americans that the Executive Order may have retained some effect. Your letter was part of a general outpouring of concern about the Order's status. On February 19, 1976, the 34th anniversary of the issuance of Executive Order 9066, the President acted to remove all doubt on the matter by issuing a Proclamation reaffirming that all authority conferred by the Executive Order had terminated upon the issuance on December 31, 1946 of Presidential Proclamation 2714, which formally declared the cessation of hostilities of World War II. A copy of 7c lost month's last week Proclamation is enclosed. In the words of the President in issuing the Proclama- tion, let us trust "that we have learned from the tragedy of that long-ago experience forever to treasure liberty and justice for each individual American, and resolve that this kind of action shall never again be repeated.' with the P's best Sincerely, wishes Roland L. Elliott Director of Correspondence Enclosure BERALD R. FORD LIBRARY - 2 - THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE REFERRAL To: Date: The Attorney General January 29, 1976 ACTION REQUESTED X Draft reply for: President's signature. X Undersigned's signature. NOTE Memorandum for use as enclosure to reply. Prompt action is essential. 2 week's If more than XXXXX delay is encountered, Direct reply. Furnish information copy. please telephone ************ immediately, Miss Pat Byrne, 456-6688. Suitable acknowledgment or other appropriate handling. Furnish copy of reply, if any. Basic correspondence should be returned when draft reply, memorandum, or comment is requested. For your information. For comment. REMARKS: GERALD R. FORD Description: X Letter: Telegram: Other: To: The President From: Joe W. Fletcher, Pres., J.A.C.L., P.O. Box 2361, Gardena, Calif. 90247 Date: 1/26/76 Subject: Revocation of Executive Order 9066 providing for interment of Japanese Americans during WW II. By direction of the President: R Roland L. Elliott Director of Correspondence RLE:JHH:PB:blh HP (Copy to remain with correspondence) JHH THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE REFERRAL 2/18 Writtenf-up To: The Attorney General Date: January 29, 1976 ACTION REQUESTED 9066 justsigued. 2/24 Exec. Order X Draft reply for: Aill beaut soon. President's signature. X Undersigned's signature. 2/26 In Noalman's NOTE ofs. Memorandum for use as enclosure to reply. 2/27 To be madedloday. Prompt action is essential. 2 week's Direct reply. If more than xxxhoxx delay is encountered, Furnish information copy. please telephone immediately, ******* Miss Pat Byrne, 456-6688. Suitable acknowledgment or other appropriate handling. Furnish copy of reply, if any. Basic correspondence should be returned when draft reply, memorandum, or comment is requested. For your information. For comment. REMARKS: Description: X Letter: Telegram: Other: To: The President From: Joe W. Fletcher, Pres., J.A.C.L., P.O. Box 2361, Gardena, Calif. 90247 Date: 1/26/76 Subject: Revocation of Executive Order 9066 providing for interment of Japanese Americans during WW II. By direction of the President: Roland L. Elliott Director of Correspondence RLE:JHH:PB:blh (White House Suspense Copy) JAPANESE J.A.C.L. AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE GARDENA CHAPTER JH P.O. BOX 2361 GARDENA, CALIF. 90247 GERALD R. January 26, 1976 FORD LIBRARY The President The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: The totally unjustified uprooting and imprisonment during World War II of all Pacific Coast residents of Japanese ancestry is generally recognized by historians as one of the darkest chapters in American history. It is disturbing to note that, despite the passage of over 30 years, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt's infamous Executive Order 9066 which authorized the perpetration of that outrage against innocent Japanese Americans still remains in effect as one of the laws of our nation. By any standard of common sense or reason, revocation of that Order has long been overdue. As a part of the Bicentennial Celebration of the founding of our nation, an announcement by you rescinding that Order would help to remove some of the tarnish on the record of America's treatment of its Japanese Americans. The significance of such an announcement would probably be enhanced if it could be made on February 19, 1976, on the 34th anniversary of the issuance of the Order. Our Gardena Chapter of over 1500 members is hoping you will give this your most sincere consideration. Respectfully yours, GARDENA VALLEY JACL Joe W Fletcher President cc: Mrs. Gwen Anderson CC: Mr. Dudley Chapman Deputy Assistant to Counselor Hartmann Associate Counsel to The West Wing - Basement President The White House The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Washington, D. C. 20500