Women’s Issues
165. Minutes of a United Nations Economic Committee Meeting, Washington, August 14, 1973.
The interagency United Nations Economic Committee discussed how to formulate responses to the U.N. International Women’s Year initiative.
Source: Department of State, IO/CMD Files: Lot 75 D 289, UNEC D–726/73. No classification marking. Drafted by Hendsch and McDonald on August 28. The U.S. response to the Secretary-General’s request for views about the International Women’s Year is published as Document 166. The attached UNEC charter, approved by Macomber on January 11, which stated that the purpose of the Committee was to develop Executive Branch policy positions on general economic, social and humanitarian issues, is not published. The list of attendees to the August 14 meeting is not published. For the November 7, 1967 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, see United Nations General Assembly Document 2263 (XXII).
166. Airgram A–7731 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, Washington, September 10, 1973.
The Department communicated the U.S. government’s response to the U.N. Secretary General’s request for recommendations about observance of the International Women’s Year.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–73, SOC 15. Unclassified. Drafted by Hendsch on September 7; cleared by Maymi, Allan, Heater, and Marcy, and in S/PM, HEW, AID, USIA, USDA, and Department of the Interior; and approved by McDonald. The 26th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women met in 1976.
167. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations (Wright) to the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Fulbright), Washington, October 18, 1973.
Wright reassured Fulbright that, given the limitations imposed by the U.S. government and the U.N., women received careful consideration in the selection process for the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–73, UN 22–1. No classification marking. Drafted in IO/OIC on October 12; and cleared in M/WA, IO/OIC, and IO. Published from an unsigned copy. Fulbright’s letter of September 24, in which he encouraged Kissinger to appoint more women to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly to avoid “tokenism,” is ibid.
168. Memorandum From Aurelia Brazeal of the Department of State Secretariat Staff to the National Security Council Secretariat, Washington, November 9, 1973.
The Department responded to a request by Armstrong for a progress report on U.S. government preparations for the 1975 International Women’s Year.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–73, SOC 15. No classification marking. Drafted by Allan on November 5 and cleared in PA, CU, and IO/CMD. Tabs A–D and F–J are attached but not published. Tab E is published as Document 166.
169. Memorandum From the Coordinator for Multilateral Development Programs (McDonald) to Members of the United Nations Economic Committee, Washington, November 9, 1973.
McDonald forwarded the minutes of the October 2 United Nations Economic Committee meeting and requested preparation of action plans to advance U.S. observance of the International Women’s Year.
Source: Department of State, IO/CMD Files: Lot 75 D 289, UNEC D–806/73. No classification marking. Barbara Good represented IO/UCS at the UNEC meeting. K.O. Wallace represented the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor.
170. Telegram 383 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, February 4, 1974, 1954Z.
The telegram recounted the principal occurrences at the 25th session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, which met in New York from January 14 to February 1.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Repeated to HEW and USIA. The Department of State was to pass the telegram to the Department of Labor. Nixon’s Presidential Proclamation 4262, January 30, 1974, is published in Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Vol. 10, No. 5, p. 112.
171. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Springsteen) to the President’s Counselor in the White House Office for Women’s Programs (Armstrong), Washington, May 14, 1974.
Springsteen updated Armstrong on U.S. government efforts to promote the U.N. International Women’s Year.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740087–2370. No classification marking. Drafted by Heater; cleared by McDonald and Allen and in IO, IO/EX, and CU. Armstrong’s April 18 request for a progress report and information about the status of the Executive Order is ibid., P740087–2373.
172. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations (Holton) to Senator Percy, Washington, undated.
Holton responded to Percy’s request for information about the participation of women on U.S. delegations to major international meetings.
Source: Department of State, IO/OIC/A Files: Lot 00 D 469. No classification marking. Printed from an unsigned copy. A handwritten note indicates that the letter was signed on November 5. Percy’s letter is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P740116–1991.
173. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Buffum) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (Laise) to the Deputy Secretary of State (Ingersoll), Washington, December 13, 1974.
Buffum and Laise presented options for coordinating executive branch activities to promote the International Women’s Year and recommended that the President establish a national commission for that purpose.
Source: Ford Library, Lindh and Holm Files, Box 26, Executive Order (1). No classification marking. Drafted by Bray and Menter on December 13, and cleared in A/BF and M. Ingersoll approved the first recommendation as drafted and the second recommendation, Option B, on December 18. Tab A is published as Document 174. Tab B, not attached, is included in telegram 262254 to Beijing, November 27. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D74035–0200) Tab C is U.N. Document A/RES/27/3010. Tab D is Proclamation 4262, January 30, 1974, published in Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Vol. 10, No. 5, p. 112.
174. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of State (Ingersoll) to President Ford, Washington, December 18, 1974.
Ingersoll recommended that Ford sign an Executive Order establishing a National Commission on the Observance of the International Women’s Year.
Source: Ford Library, Lindh and Holm Files, Box 26, Executive Order (1). No classification marking. For Executive Order 11832, signed and issued on January 9, 1975, see Department of State Bulletin, March 10, 1975, pp. 305–306.
175. Airgram A–384 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, Washington, January 20, 1975.
The Department outlined the principal efforts of the U.S. government to promote the International Women’s Year.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P750013–1707. Unclassified. Drafted by Hendsch on January 16; cleared by Menter, Donnelly, and Allan; and approved by Heater. Attachment 2 is published as Executive Order 11832 in Department of State Bulletin, March 10, 1975, pp. 305–306. Attachment 3 is published as Proclamation 4262, January 30, 1974, in Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Vol. 10, No. 5, p. 112.
176. Telegram 883 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, March 19, 1975, 1354Z.
The Mission reported the difficulties encountered when presenting the U.S. position at the U.N.’s preparatory Consultative Committee on the World Conference on the International Women’s Year.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Repeated to Kingston and Mexico City.
177. Telegram 2939 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State, April 4, 1975, 2120Z.
The Embassy indicated Mexican concern about unrest among the potentially large number of U.S. citizens expected to attend the World Conference on the International Women’s Year, including such “radical elements” as Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Repeated to USUN. USUN’s April 25 reply, telegram 1374, is ibid., D750146–0695.
178. Telegram 119806 From the Department of State to All Diplomatic Posts, May 22, 1975, 1823Z.
The Department described the background to the World Conference of the International Women’s Year and requested posts to communicate the U.S. position concerning extraneous politicized issues likely to arise at the Conference.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D750181–0577. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Hendsch and Burgess; cleared in D/IWY, IO/CMD, ARA/MEX, IO/UNP, and L/UNA; and approved by Morey. Repeated to USUN, the Mission to the U.N. in Geneva, and Port Moresby. Presidential Proclamation 4262 of January 30, 1974 is published in Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Vol. 10, No. 5, p. 112. Executive Order 11832, January 9, 1975 is published in Department of State Bulletin, March 10, 1975, pp. 305–306.
179. Telegram 126689 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, May 30, 1975, 2325Z.
The Department informed the Mission of a Mexican proposal to create a small informal working group to deal with issues related to the World Conference of the International Women’s Year and relayed the Department’s position on what topics the group should address.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Poole; cleared by Hendsch, Burgess (in substance), and Morey (in substance), and in D/IWY, ARA/MEX, and L; and approved by Poole. Repeated to Canberra, London, and Mexico City.
180. Telegram 4866 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State, June 4, 1975, 1940Z.
Jova urged the Department to name a woman as head of the U.S. delegation to the World Conference of the International Women’s Year.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Repeated to USUN. On June 9 Kissinger informed Sipila that Hutar and Parker would serve as co-heads of the delegation for June 19–21. Thereafter Hutar was designated head of delegation. (Ibid., P750096–2392)
181. Telegram 5479 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State, June 21, 1975, 2245Z.
Jova reported on an “encounter” between members of the U.S. delegation to the World Conference of the International Women’s Year and participants in the non-official activities surrounding the Conference, held at Mexico City from June 19 to July 2, 1975.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Unclassified. Niact; Immediate.
182. Conclusions to the Report of the United States Delegation to the World Conference of the International Women’s Year, undated.
Hutar summarized the principal achievements of the World Conference of the International Women’s Year.
Source: Ford Library, Lindh and Holm Files, Box 25, U.S. Delegates’ Statements and Reports (1). No classification marking. Prepared by Hendsch. Pages 1–49, which provide a detailed account of the work of the committees, are not published. Hutar’s major statements at the Conference and the World Plan for Action are published in Department of State Bulletin, August 18, 1975, pp. 233–261. Percy also submitted a report on the Conference (United States Congress, Senate, Senate Committee on Government Operations, 94th Congress, 1st Session, September 8, 1975). United Nations reports concerning the World Conference of the International Women’s Year are published as U.N. documents E/5725 and E/Conf.66/34.
183. Telegram 3254 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, July 8, 1975, 0225Z.
White evaluated the success of the World Conference of the International Women’s Year, which had concluded on July 2.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D750234–0991. Limited Official Use. Repeated to Mexico City.
184. Report on the World Conference of the International Women’s Year, July 18, 1975.
The report summarized aspects of the Tribune meetings that accompanied the World Conference of the International Women’s Year.
Source: Ford Library, Lindh and Holm Files, Box 24, Tribune Concurrent Conference. No classification marking. Drafted by Maxine Hitchcock for the National Commission on the Observance of the International Women’s Year.
185. Letter From the Director of the United States Center for the International Women’s Year (Bacon) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, July 24, 1975.
Bacon submitted to Kissinger a report on the Tribune, its impact, and its implications for U.S. foreign policy.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D750189–0425. No classification marking. For an account of the initial encounter between the Tribune and the official U.S. delegation, see Document 184.
186. Telegram 6922 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, December 19, 1975, 2307Z.
The Mission summarized the treatment of women’s issues at the 30th United Nations General Assembly, focusing on efforts to implement the World Plan of Action enacted at the World Conference of the International Women’s Year.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use.
187. Letter From the Alternate Representative to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs (White) to the Director of the White House Office of Women’s Programs (Keesling), New York, January 20, 1976.
White assessed developments with regard to promoting women’s causes at the recently completed United Nations General Assembly.
Source: Ford Library, Lindh and Holm Files, Box 25, U.S. Delegates’ Statements and Reports (1). No classification marking. The enclosures were not found, but Maymi’s statements and the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly are published in Department of State Bulletin, January 26, 1976, pp. 110–118.
188. Airgram A–2761 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations, Washington, June 1, 1976.
The Department noted the principal activities within the United States to observe the International Women’s Year and promote women’s rights.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P760081–1271. Unclassified. Drafted by Marcy on May 26; cleared in IO, PA, D, CU, and by Hendsch, Lindh, and Allan; and approved by Robinson. Executive Order 11832 is published in Department of State Bulletin, March 10, 1975, pp. 305–306. The World Plan for Action is ibid., August 18, 1975, pp. 242–261. Ford’s remarks upon receiving the Report of the National Commission on the Observance of the International Women’s Year are published in Public Papers: Ford, 1976–1977, Volume II, pp. 1946–1949. On December 23, 1975, Congress passed P.L. 94–167, mandating a National Women’s Conference to be preceded by statewide women’s meetings in the fifty states and six territories.
189. Background Paper Prepared in the Department of State, Washington, undated.
The Department outlined the relationship between population matters, women’s status, and socio-economic development in preparation for the 26th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Source: Department of State, L/UNA Files: Lot 99 D 364, Human Rights—Status of Women, 1976–1978. Unclassified. Drafted by Mary M. Haselon (OES/CP) on September 7; cleared by Hendsch and Green and in S/P (in substance), AID/PPC/IA, AID/PHA/PAP, IO/DHP, IO/IWP, HEW, and Department of Justice (in substance). The attachments were not found. Green’s September 10 speech delivered to the Commonwealth Club of California at San Francisco is published in Department of State Bulletin, October 4, 1976, pp. 419–423. Kissinger’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly Seventh Special Session is published in Department of State Bulletin, September 22, 1975, pp. 425–441.
190. Telegram 36715 From the Embassy in France to the Department of State, December 10, 1976, 1902Z.
The Embassy recounted actions taken with regard to women’s issues at the 19th UNESCO General Conference.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Unclassified. Repeated to USUN and the Mission to the U.N. in Geneva. Sections referring to topics other than women’s issues are not published.