"certainly the damage to military
effectiveness from off-base discrimination is not less than that
caused by off-base vice, as to which the off-limits sanction is quite
customary."[21-65] He failed to add that even though sanctions against
vice were regularly applied by the local commander, sanctions against
discrimination would be reserved to higher authority.

[Footnote 21-65: Idem for President, 24 Jul 63, copy
in CMH.]

The directive, in reality an outline of the Department of Defense's
civil rights responsibilities and the prototype of subsequent
secretarial orders dealing with race, was published on 26 July 1963,
the fifteenth anniversary of Harry Truman's executive order. It read
in part:

_II. Responsibilities._

A. Office of the Secretary of Defense:

1. Pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of Defense
and the provisions of the National Security Act of 1947, as
amended, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower) is hereby
assigned responsibility and authority for promoting equal
opportunity for members of the Armed Forces.

In the performance of this function he shall (a) be the
representative of the Secretary of Defense in civil rights
matters, (b) give direction to programs that promote equal
opportunity for military personnel, (c) provide policy guidance
and review policies, regulations and manuals of the military
departments, and (d) monitor their performance through periodic
reports and visits to field installations.

2. In carrying out the functions enumerated above, the Assistant
Secretary of Defense (Manpower) is authorized to establish the
Office of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civil Rights).

B. The Military Departments:

1. The military departments shall, with the approval of the
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower), issue appropriate
instructions, manuals and regulations in connection with the
leadership responsibility for equal opportunity, on and off base,
and containing guidance for its discharge.

2. The military departments shall institute in each service a
system for regularly reporting, monitoring and measuring progress
in achieving equal opportunity on and off base.

C. Military Commanders:

Every military commander has the responsibility to oppose
discriminatory pra