Proclamation 3031—Death of Chief Justice Frederick Moore Vinson

Whereas, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, ended the mortal life of Frederick Moore Vinson, Chief Justice of the United States, at 3:15 A. M., Tuesday, September 8, 1953, in the City of Washington; and

Whereas, this eminent Jurist served with outstanding efficiency and great distinction as Legislator, as Cabinet member, and in other positions of high responsibility, and was appointed Chief Justice of the United States in 1946, assuming the office on June 24 of that year; and

Whereas, his extraordinary wisdom, his singular patience, and his kindly humor endeared him to all who knew him, and enabled him to overcome many difficulties and to carry out brilliantly the many arduous tasks assigned to him; and

Whereas, although his voice is silenced, his faith, his courage, his dignity, and his supreme integrity remain as beacons to guide his fellow men in bringing their best ideals to realization;

Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby direct that the National Flag be displayed at half staff upon all the public buildings of the United States for thirty days; that the usual and appropriate civil, military, and naval honors be rendered to the memory of the late Chief Justice; and that on all the Embassies, Legations, and Consulates of the United States in foreign countries, the National Flag be flown at half staff for thirty days from the receipt of this proclamation.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and fifty-three, and of the independence of the United States of America the One Hundred and seventy-eighth.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

By the President:

JOHN FOSTER DULLES,

Secretary of State