[22-33] He wanted
McNamara to issue a policy statement on the subject, admittedly a
difficult task because it would be hard to write and would require
White House clearance that might not be forthcoming. For the short run
Fitt wanted to deal with the problem at a regular staff meeting where
he could discuss the matter and coordinate his strategy without the
delay of publishing new regulations.

[Footnote 22-33: Memo, DASD (CR) for Paul, 10 Feb 64,
sub: Official Attendance at Segregated Meetings,
ASD (M) 291.2.]

As it turned out, anxiety over White House approval proved groundless.
"The President has on numerous occasions made clear his view that
Federal officials should not participate in segregated meetings,"
White House Counsel Lee C. White informed all department and agency
heads, and he suggested that steps be taken in each department to
inform all employees.[22-34] The Deputy Secretary of Defense, Cyrus R.
Vance, complied on 7 July by issuing a memorandum to the services
prohibiting participation in segregated meetings. Adding to the text
prepared in the White House, he ordered that this prohibition be
incorporated in regulations then being prepared, a move that
necessitated additional staffing of the developing equal opportunity
regulations.[22-35]

[Footnote 22-34: Memo, Assoc Spec Counsel to President
for Heads of Departments and Agencies, 12 Jun 64,
sub: Further Participation at Segregated Meetings,
copy in CMH.]

[Footnote 22-35: Memo, Dep SecDef for Secys of
Military Departments et al., 7 Jul 64, sub: Federal
Participation at Segregated Meetings, SD 291.2. The
Army's regulation, published on 2 July, five days
before Secretary Vance's memorandum, was
republished on 18 May 1965 to include the
prohibition against segregated meetings and other
new policies. The Navy prepared a special Secretary
of Navy instruction (5720.38, 30 Jul 1964) on the
subject.]

Objections to the prohibition were forthcoming. Continuing on a tack
he had pursued for several years, the Air Force Deputy Special
Assistant for Manpower, Personnel, and Organization, James P. Goode,
objected to the application of the Va