EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS DEALING WITH THE DISTURBANCES, CALLING OUT THE TROOPS, ETC. EXECUTIVE ORDER PROVIDING FOR THE RESTORATION OF LAW AND ORDER IN THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA Whereas I have today issued Proclamation No. 3840, calling upon persons engaged in acts of violence and disorder in the Washington metropolitan area to cease and desist therefrom and to disperse and retire peaceably forthwith; and Whereas the conditions of domestic violence and disorder described therein continue, and the persons engaging in such acts of violence have not dispersed: Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces under the Constitution and laws of the United States, including Chapter 15 of Title 10 of the United States Code and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and by virtue of the authority vested in me as commander-in-chief of the militia of the District of Columbia by the Act of March 1, 1889, as amended (D.C. Code, Title 39), it is hereby ordered as follows: SECTION 1. The Secretary of Defense is authorized and directed to take all appropriate steps to disperse all persons engaged in the acts of violence described in the proclamation, to restore law and order, and to see that the property, personnel and functions of the Federal Government, of embassies of foreign governments, and of international organizations in the Washington metropolitan area are protected against violence or other interference. SECTION 2. In carrying out the provisions of Section 1, the Secretary of Defense is authorized to use such of the Armed Forces of the United States as he may deem necessary. SECTION 3. (a) The Secretary of Defense is hereby authorized and directed to call into the active military service of the United States, as he may deem appropriate to carry out the purposes of this order, units or members of the Army National Guard and of the Air National Guard to serve in the active military service of the United States for an indefinite period and until relieved by appropriate orders. Units or members may be relieved subject to recall at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. In carrying out the provisions of Section 1, the Secretary of Defense is authorized to use units and members called or recalled into active military service of the United States pursuant to this section. (b) In addition, in carrying out the provisions of Section 1, the Secretary of Defense is authorized to exercise any of the powers vested in me by law as commander-in-chief of the militia of the District of Columbia, during such time as any units or members of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard of the District shall not have been called into the active military service of the United States. SECTION 4. The Secretary of Defense is authorized to delegate to one or more of the Secretaries of the military Departments any of the authority conferred upon him by this order. THE WHITE HOUSE, April 5, 1968. LYNDON B. JOHNSON. LAW AND ORDER IN THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Whereas I have been informed that conditions of domestic violence and disorder exist in the District of Columbia and threaten the Washington metropolitan area, endangering life and property and obstructing execution of the laws, and that local police forces are unable to bring about the prompt cessation of such acts of violence and restoration of law and order; and Whereas I have been requested to use such units of the National Guard and of the Armed Forces of the United States as may be necessary for those purposes; and Whereas in such circumstances it is also my duty as Chief Executive to take care that the property, personnel and functions of the Federal Government, of embassies of foreign governments, and of international organizations in the Washington metropolitan area are protected against violence or other interference: Now, therefore, I, Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States of Amer ica, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do command all persons engaged in such acts of violence to cease and desist therefrom and to disperse and retire peaceably forthwith. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and ninety-second. THE WHITE HOUSE. LYNDON B. JOHNSON. DATE TIME 2. (C) This letter of instruction is effective at once. MONTH Apr YEAR NO. JOHN J. HENNESSEY, Brigadier General, CS REGRADING INSTRUCTIONS 97-945 - 68 - 10 ר 1/6th ACR, 91st Engr, USMC Bn (SDT) (PROV), 544th Sup and Sv Bn 8. In carrying out your duties, you will be directly responsible to the Chief of Staff, US Army. You will establish your command post initially at Washington, D. C. Metropolitan Police Station and report subsequent locations. You are authorized direct communication with Army, Air Force and Navy installations commanders in the vicinity of your operation. b. Minimum force, consistent with mission accomplishment, will be used by both military and civilian personnel. Moreover, commanders c. The following options are provided as guidance for determining how your troops may be armed to accomplish your mission using the minimum force principle enumerated in the preceding paragraph. PHONE d. Military personnel will not load or fire their weapons except when authorized by an officer in person; when authorized in advance by an officer 1 under certain specific conditions; or when required to save their lives. e. Authority to order use of the riot control agents is delegated to you. You are authorized to delegate this authority to commissioned officers INITIALS |