Richard Nixon photo

Proclamation 3972—Work Stoppages in the Postal Service

March 23, 1970


By the President of the United States Of America

A Proclamation

Whereas certain employees of the Postal Service are engaged in an unlawful work stoppage which has prevented the delivery of the mails and the discharge of other postal functions in various parts of the United States; and

Whereas, as a result of such unlawful work stoppage the performance of critical governmental and private functions, such as the processing of men into the Armed Forces of the United States, the transmission of tax refunds and the receipt of tax collections, the transmission of Social Security and welfare payments, and the conduct of numerous and important commercial transactions, has wholly ceased or is seriously impeded; and

Whereas the continuance of such work stoppage with its attendant consequences will impair the ability of this nation to carry out its obligations abroad, and will cripple or halt the official and commercial intercourse which is essential to the conduct of its domestic business:

Now, Therefore, I, Richard Nixon, President of the United States of America, pursuant to the powers vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States and more particularly by the provisions of Section 673 of Title 10 of the United States Code, do hereby declare a state of national emergency, and direct the Secretary of Defense to take such action as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of the said Section 673 in order that the laws of the United States pertaining to the Post Office Department may be executed in accordance with their terms.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of March in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and ninety-fourth.

Signature of Richard Nixon

RICHARD NIXON

NOTE: For the President's remarks in a television and radio address on the postal work stoppage, see the preceding item. For the text of Executive Order 11519, calling into service members and units of the National Guard, see the following item.

Richard Nixon, Proclamation 3972—Work Stoppages in the Postal Service Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/306219

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