tivities of the local inhabitants who are operating
within the framework of their own laws."[20-63]

[Footnote 20-63: Msg, USCINCEUR to JCS, 201256Z Aug
63; Msg, JCS 2190 to CINSCO et al. (info copies to
Service Chiefs of Staff, CINCAL, ASD [M], and ASD
[PA]), 221630Z Aug 63.]

The fourth major memorandum on racial matters outlined the
department's application of Executive Order 11063 on housing. Racial
discrimination in off-base housing had become perhaps the chief
complaint of black servicemen who were further incensed by many (p. 517)
local commanders who maintained lists of segregated houses in their
base housing offices. In some cases commanders referred their black
servicemen to the Urban League or similar organizations for help in
finding suitable housing.[20-64] Demands that the services do
something about the situation were rebuffed. As the Assistant
Secretary of Defense explained to a White House official, the
Department of Defense had "virtually no direct involvement" in
off-base housing, the segregation of which was "not readily
susceptible to change by actions that are within the control of the
military departments."[20-65]

[Footnote 20-64: Omaha _World Herald_, August 17,
1962; see also Memo, Adam [Yarmolinsky] for L.
White, 7 Sep 62, Lee White Collection, J. F.
Kennedy Library.]

[Footnote 20-65: Memo, ASD (M) for Asst Legal Counsel
to President, 7 Nov 61, sub: Racial Discrimination
in the Armed Services, ASD (M) 291.2.]

Several of McNamara's assistants disagreed. They drafted a housing
order for the secretary but not without opposition at first from some
of their colleagues. An Army representative, for example, suggested a
counterproposal that commanders be ordered to work through the federal
agencies established in various geographical areas of the country by
Executive Order 11063. An Air Force spokesman recommended the creation
of special regional and local community committees, chaired by
representatives of the Housing and Home Finance Agency and including
members from all major federal agencies. For his part, Stephen S.
Jackson, a special assistant in the manpower office, thought these
service proposals had merit, and he wanted to postpone action until
they had been discussed with oth