rce Policy Statement
Concerning Involvement of Air Force Personnel in
Local Civil Disturbances, SecAF files; Ltr, Under
SecNav to Jesse H. Turner, 6 Oct 61, copy in CMH.
See also Ltr, Adam Yarmolinsky to Adam C. Powell,
30 Oct 63, SD 291.2 (14 Jul 63).]

Such restrictions could not last much longer. Given the civil (p. 516)
rights temper of the times--1963 witnessed the mammoth march on
Washington, the introduction of President Kennedy's civil rights bill,
and the landmark directive of the Secretary of Defense on equal
opportunity in the armed forces--a total prohibition on servicemen's
participation in demonstrations appeared more and more incongruous.
Finally, on 16 July 1963, McNamara relaxed the department's policy.
Still declaring such participation inappropriate and unnecessary for
servicemen in view of their "special obligations of citizenship," he
nevertheless lifted the ban on military participation in
demonstrations, provided that the uniform was not worn; such activity
took place during off-duty hours, off the military reservation, and
did not constitute a breach of law and order; and no violence was
reasonably likely to result.[20-62]

[Footnote 20-62: Memo, SecDef for Secys of Mil Depts
et al., 16 Jul 63, SD files; see also New York
_Times_, July 16, 17, 20, 22, 28, and 30, 1963.]

[Illustration: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MCNAMARA.]

Again an apparent liberalization of departmental racial policy
actually promised very little change. First, the continuing
prohibitions on participation in demonstrations were so broad and so
vague that they could be interpreted to cover almost any civil rights
activity. Then, too, the secretary left the interpretation of his
order to the judgment of local commanders, a dubious blessing in the
eyes of the civil libertarians and concerned servicemen in light of
the narrow constructions commanders had given recent Defense
Department memorandums. Finally, the relaxation of the ban was
applicable only to the continental United States. In response to a
request for guidance from the European commander, the Joint Chiefs of
Staff informed all overseas commanders that as guests of Allied
nations, U.S. servicemen had no right to picket, demonstrate, or
otherwise participate in any act designed to "alter the policies,
practices, or ac