Letter from Masaaki Hironaka, President of the San Diego Chapter of Japanese American Citizens League, California, to President Gerald R. Ford Regarding the Termination of Executive Order 9066

1 February 25, 1976 Dear Mr. Hironaka: This will acknowledge your letter to the President concerning Executive Order 9066 and its role in the tragic relocation program in World War II. As you can see from the enclosed copy of the President's Proclamation and Signing Statement of February 19, 1976, GERALD A the President is sympathetic to the FORD concern which you expressed and has taken action to make clear that the authority conferred by Executive Order 9066 is terminated. Sincerely, Roland L. Elliott Director of Correspondence Mr. Masaaki Hironaka President San Diego Chapter Japanese American Citizens League Post Office Box 2548 San Diego, California 92112 Enclosures RLE:DC:mvmvm 14 RLE-166 "FOR BETTER AMERICANS IN A GREATER AMERICA" JACL San Diego Chapter JACL P 0 Box 2548 San Diego, California 92112 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA January 29, 1976 The President The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: As part of America's Bicentennial Celebration, it seem fitting that an announce- ment by you, Mr. President, might be made rescinding Executive Order 9066, an act which unjustly uprooted and imprisioned all Pacific Coast residents of Japanese ancestry during World War II. It would be of special significance for such an announcement to be made on February 19, 1976, the thirty-fourth anniversary of the issuance of this Order. This act would help to correct some of the legacy of injustice perpetrated against non-white ethnic groups in this country. The laws such as Executive Order 9066 promote mistrust of the United States leadership by the third world powers, as well as fair-minded and justice-seeking citizens of this country. The revocation of that Order has long been overdue. GERALD R. masaala Respectfully yours, Himh FORD Masaaki Hironaka President, San Diego Chapter Japanese American Citizens League cc: Mrs. Gwen Anderson, Deputy Asst. to Counselor Hartman Mr. Dudley Chapman, Associate Counsel to the President Mr. Wayne Horiuchi, Washington Representative, JACL Mr. David Ushio, National Director, JACL Mr. Michael Ishikawa, Jr., Governor, PSWDC, JACL