been called the greatest single feat of statesmanship in the history of The American Legion. The methods by which it was guided through Congress and to the President's desk demonstrated the strong links which bind The American Legion to all segments of American life. Not only was the public made thoroughly aware of the complex content of this Legion-sponsored bill, but the nation's legislators were kept fully informed for several months as to the sentiments of their constituents on the measure.

With the commitment of American troops to meet communist aggression in Korea in 1950 and in South Vietnam in 1964, similar programs supported by The American Legion were enacted for the benefit of the veterans of the periods of these armed struggles.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs The American Legion-authored GI Bill of Rights for World War II veterans, June 22, 1944. Witnessing the historic event are American Legion leaders and key members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

VIII. Economic

THE

HE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS under the jurisdiction of the National Economic Commission are as old as The American Legion itself. However, these activities and programs were not grouped into one commission

The opening of the decade of the 1970's found The American Legion once again marshaling its resources to assist a new generation of war veterans in finding jobs or the necessary training for skills in demand.

until action was taken by the National Executive Committee in November 1947. The program started when the young World War I veteran, with sixty dollars in his hand, faced the problems of finding a job and a home and meeting the other economic questions facing every man who returns from the service of his country. One of the earliest American Legion economic programs was that of assistance in finding employment. Closely allied with this was the program of obtaining a preference for veterans in federal employment.

The American Legion has for many years advocated certain preference for veterans in federal employment. The passage of the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944 was the culmination of years of hard work by the major veterans' organizations, the Civil Service Commission, and the Committee on Civil Service in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

The American Legion has a deep interest in the provisions of the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944, as amended, because this statute was enacted with the Legion's unqualified endorsement and, in fact, The American Legion itself was instrumental in the drafting of the language of this legislative measure. It is interesting to note that this law was enacted with but a single dissenting vote.

In spite of the continued opposition to such preference, The American Legion wrote and had approved the first Executive Order establishing preference by giving five points to veterans and ten points to disabled veterans in competitive examinations for federal employment. Thus, the qualified compensable service-connected veteran was able to get to the top of the certificate of eligibles for federal employment.

BRIEF HISTORY

Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933

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The first legislation which provided federal assistance to veterans in finding employment was included, at the request of The American Legion, in the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933. This act provided for the development and maintenance of a national system of employment offices to include a veterans' service to be devoted to securing employment for veterans.

The current program for veterans' employment is built around legislation sponsored or supported by The American Legion which provides for effective retraining, job counseling, and employment placement service for veterans. Such legislation also requires employment policies to be promul gated and administered which will provide veterans the maximum of job opportunity.

Typical of American Legion National Convention scenes is this of the opening session of the 1960 conclave at Miami Beach, Florida.

AN N ORGANIZATION of war veterans, The American Legion has found itself in a position to perform vital services to community, state, and Nation immediately prior to and during subsequent periods of armed conflict.

More than a year before the United States entered World War II, The American Legion began organizing for more effective cooperation with local,

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HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION

state, and national defense activities. In February 1941, a commission was sent to Europe at the expense of The American Legion to study civilian defense under modern war conditions. Heading this commission was then National Commander Milo J. Warner. Upon its return the commission reported at a special meeting of the National Executive Committee and The American Legion published and distributed 150,000 copies of a manual on civilian defense-the first such information to be issued in this country.

After Pearl Harbor, American Legion posts threw themselves into the task of strengthening the homefront to assure victory. The American Legion collected necessary salvage; engaged in a nationwide program of training instructors for air raid wardens, auxiliary police, and firemen; established blood banks; collected cigarettes and gifts for men in camps and overseas; located skilled workers for essential services and industry; cooperated with the Red Cross and the USO; provided entertainment for hospitals at home and operated canteens for men in uniform; staged bond drives and invested post and personal surplus funds in U. S. War Bonds; cooperated with the F.B.I. in helping to check sabotage and espionage; recruited flying cadets and volunteers for the various branches of the armed forces. These and many other services were volunteered by American Legion posts and members. Thousands of American Legionnaires themselves returned to active service with the armed forces and saw action on every front.

For three years prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, The American Legion warned of the spread of communism in Asia and called for a Universal Military Training program to strengthen our Nation in dealing with this problem. However, an America enjoying the first sweet taste of victory and peace after World War II would not heed the Legion's alarm.

Throughout the period of hostilities in Korea, The American Legion supported the measures necessary to bring about a total military victory, but the advocates of political settlement prevailed. The consequences of such a decision are still to be weighed by future historians.

On August 5, 1964, an incident in the Gulf of Tonkin changed the role of the United States in its assistance to the people of South Vietnam. Overnight, U. S. armed forces personnel became more than advisers to South Vietnamese military units, and another generation of Americans answered the call to defend the cause of freedom.

Leading the Nation's expressions of support for the men and women in uniform were American Legion Posts which established elaborate programs of contact with military personnel, providing mail, gifts, and the hospitality of thousands of posts throughout their tours of duty. The Legion also undertook a gigantic program of personal contact to help ease the problems facing the men and women of the armed forces as they returned to civilian life.

BRIEF HISTORY

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X. American Legion Publications

THE

HE FIRST VENTURE of the national organization of The American Legion into the publishing field was The American Legion Weekly, which made its debut with the July 4, 1919, issue. The weekly was published until June 18, 1926, when it was succeeded by The American Legion Monthly. In June 1937, the publication's name was changed to The American Legion Magazine, which today ranks as one of the leading magazines in America. This publication goes to every Legionnaire.

In January 1935, there also was established a monthly tabloid, The National Legionnaire, which also was sent to every member. This publication was devoted entirely to news of American Legion activities and carried no fiction stories or advertising. After fourteen years as a separate publication The National Legionnaire was merged in February 1949, with The American Legion Magazine.

ESTABLISHMENT

STABLISHMENT OF A women's auxiliary to The American Legion was provided for by the First National Convention in 1919 at Minneapolis, and when the 1920 Convention opened in Cleveland, Ohio, 1,342 local units had been formed and 11,000 members enrolled under the tentative name of Women's Auxiliary of The American Legion.

Intensive organization followed the Cleveland convention with the number of units being increased to 3,653 and the membership to 131,000 within a year.