1. Executive Order 10980, 14 December 1961, in President's Commission on the Status of Women, American Women (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1963), 76.

2. Washington Post , 24 May 1962, clipping, folder 91-5, Katherine P. Ellickson papers, ALUA. The article quoted other cabinet wives expressing similar sentiments.

3. Draft reply for the signature of a special assistant to the president, in folder "General Correspondence, PCSW, 12/61-12/62," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

4. "Notes by Mr. Bookbinder," 16 June 1962, in folder "General Correspondence," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

5. Margaret Mealey to Esther Peterson, 8 March 1963, in folder "Background memo, Dr. Ware, folder 1," box 1, PCSW papers, JFKL.

6. President's Commission on the Status of Women, Report of the Committee on Home and Community (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1963), 9.

7. President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 1 April 1963, Washington, D.C., pp. 11-12, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

8. Ibid., 11 February 1963, pp. 91-92, 1 April 1963, pp. 5-6; Interview with Richard A. Lester, 22 March 1974 (Princeton, N.J.).

At a meeting of the Civil and Political Rights Committee, Harriet Pilpel, a New York attorney, responded to Katherine Ellickson's assertion that the commission would be more likely to act on a resolution framed more generally than the one Pilpel had been proposing, by saying: "I am disinclined to state my view in view of what Mrs. Ellickson says. She knows what the Commission wants. If the Commission doesn't want it, I won't urge it" (Committee on Civil and Political Rights, transcript of the meeting of 9 March 1963, pp. 331-333, in box "Misc. Box A," Edith Green papers, OHS). Myer Feldman observed, talking about the report of the Panel on Mental Retardation, that part of his job was to "avoid anything that would be embarrassing to the President." He therefore went over the panel's report to "make sure that there weren't any outlandish recommendations." Any such group, he said, was "not completely independent, except in very rare instances" (Transcript, Myer Feldman Oral History interview, 21 September 1968, pp. 8-10. JFKL).

See David Burner and Thomas West, The Torch Is Passed: The Kennedy Brothers and American Liberalism (New York: Atheneum, 1984), for a discussion of the liberalism of the Kennedy administration.

9. PCSW, American Women, 10, 16, 30.

10. Section 165, "Revised Statutes and Opinion of the Attorney General of September 17, 1934," Doc. IV-24, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

11. J. Stanley Lemons, The Women Citizen: Social Feminism to the 1920s (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1975), 77-78; O. Glenn Stahl to the commission, 19 September 1957, file 38-2, CSC; "Background Information on Women in the Federal Government," December 1926, in folder "Women Executives—Federal Woman's Award Winners," FE papers, PCSW; Catherine East to John Macy, 13 June 1963, in black notebook "Debate—Section 165 Revised Statutes," FE papers, PCSW; U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, ''In the Federal Service: Equal Opportunity and Equal Pay," January 1965, reel 16, DOL records, LBJL; J. Lee Rankin to Hon. Charles C. Diggs, Jr., 16 March 1955, in folder "ERA,'' box 57-3, Edith Green papers, OHS; Cindy S. Aron, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Civil Service: Middle-Class Workers in Victorian America (New York: Oxford University Press, 1987).

12. See citations in previous note.

13. See citations in note 11; Mary Anderson, Woman at Work: The Autobiography of Mary Anderson as Told to Mary Winslow (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1951). 152-153.

14. U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, Women in the Federal Service 1954, pamphlet 4 (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1957); Civil Service Journal, October-December 1960, 24.

15. The BPW came out against selection by sex in the civil service in 1944. Minnie L. Maffett to Harry B. Mitchell, 15 March 1944, and Harry B. Mitchell to Minnie L. Maffett, 22 March 1944, file 36-150, CSC. Civil Service commissioner Barbara Gunderson, working from within, tried to wrest a new interpretation of Section 165 from administration attorneys, but to no avail. Frustrated, she developed an awards program at least to recognize the contributions of women in the federal service. Interview with Evelyn Harrison, 12 September 1978 (Washington, D.C.); Mary Seebach to Alice Paul, 27 June 1956 (plus attachments: The Federal Employee, September 1954, 7 [typed copy] and Independent Woman, May 1955, 163 [typed copy]), reel 102, NWP papers (microfilm ed.); George Stafford to H. Richard McCamant, 31 July 1954, and H. Richard McCamant to George Stafford, 22 July 1954, file 36-150, CSC; J. Rankin to Charles Diggs, Jr., 16 March 1955, in folder "Equal Rights Amendment," box 57-3, Edith Green papers, OHS; O. Glenn Stahl to the Commission, 19 September 1957, file 38-2, CSC; Harris Ellsworth to Thomas Murray, n.d., file 38-2, CSC.

16. Civil Service Journal, October-December 1960, 24.

17. U.S. Civil Service Commission, 77th Annual Report Fiscal Year Ended--June 30, 1960 , 26.

18. "Highlights of Federal Employment," January 1962, Doc. IV-28, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Philip Hart to Lawrence O'Brien, 15 May 1961, folder HU3 (Exec.), box 374, WHCF, JFKL.

19. "Committee on Federal Employment Policies and Practices, Activities since April 9, 1962," 8 June 1962, in black notebook, box 4644, Eleanor Roosevelt papers, FDRL; Robert Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, 14 June 1962, Doc. IV-23, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Catherine East to Margaret Hickey, n.d., in folder "Miss Hickey's Hyde Park Commission meeting notebook papers," FE papers, PCSW; John F. Kennedy to Eleanor Roosevelt, 15 June 1962, box 4526, and John W. Macy to Heads of Departments and Agencies, 24 July 1962, Doc. IV-31, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 16 June 1962, Washington, D.C., pp. 86-87, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Evelyn Harrison to Warren B. Irons, 20 June 1962, and O. Glenn Stahl to the Civil Service Commission, 20 July 1962, file 39-2, CSC; John F. Kennedy, Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, 24 July 1962, Doc. IV-30, PCSW papers; (Washington, D.C); FPM letter 30-1, 31 July 1962, Doc. IV-33, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

20. John Macy to the President, n.d., [11 October 1963], in folder "Commission on Status of Women, August, 1963 to November, 1963," box 7, Myer Feldman papers, JFKL.

21. PCSW, American Women, 52.

22. "Analysis of appointments of top women. . . ," n.d., in folder "Political Executives," FE papers, PCSW; Margaret Hickey to Eleanor Roosevelt, 7 August 1962, in folder ''Meeting of committee, September 21, 1962,'' FE papers, PCSW; Catherine East to Margaret Hickey, 28 August 1962, in folder "Meeting of committee, September 21, 1962," FE papers, PCSW; President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 2 October 1962, Washington, D.C., pp. 243-267, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); "Notes on meeting with Mr. Dan Fenn, Thursday, December 13, 1962," attached to Catherine East to John Macy, 14 December 1962, "Report on Political Executives to the Committee on Federal Employment Policies and Practices from the Chairman," 3 January 1963, in folder "Political Executives, U.S.,'' FE papers, PCSW.

23. Phillip S. Hughes to Lee White, 23 January 1962, in folder "Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Act, January 4-October 1962, 6/25/63," box 20, Lee White papers, JFKL; Clarence Mitchell to Edith Green, 21 January 1962, in folder "Equal Pay--Equal Rights, August 24, 1961-1962," box 61-3, Edith Green papers, OHS; James Roosevelt to Catherine May, 8 March 1962, in folder "H.J.R. 55," box 42, Katharine St. George papers, Cornell University.

24. Executive order 10925, 6 March 1961; Executive Order 11114, 22 June 1963; Frances Ambursen to Emily S. Wood, 13 June 1961, in folder "ERA letter 1961," Women's Bureau, DOL (Washington, D.C.); Interview with Catherine East, 6 July 1978 (Arlington, Va.); Inter-agency procurement policy committee, minutes of the meeting of 7 June 1962, in folder "General Correspondence, Committee on Government Contracts, #1 folder," PE papers, PCSW; Summary of federal interagency procurement policy committee meeting, 7 June 1962, Doc. 7, PE papers, PCSW. An employment discrimination bill was considered by the Subcommittee on Labor, House Committee on Education and Labor, early in 1962.

25. President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 12 February 1962, Washington, D.C., pp. 9-10, 24-25, PSCW papers (Washington, D.C.).

26. Committee on Private Employment, transcription of the meeting of 4 April 1962, pp. 25-28, 97-101, PE papers, PCSW.

27. Summary of federal interagency procurement policy committee meeting, 7 June 1962, Doc. 7, PE papers, PCSW.

28. Committee on Private Employment, minutes of meetings of 19 November 1962, Doc. 22, and 31 January 1963, Doc. 30, PE papers, PCSW.

29. President's Commission on the Status of Women, Report of the Committee on Private Employment, (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1963), 7-8.

30. Ibid., 16-18.

31. "Confidential background paper on the PCSW," PCSW Doc. 4, December 1961, file 4644, Eleanor Roosevelt papers, FDRL.

32. President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of meetings of 12 February 1963, pp. 307-340, 23 April 1963, pp. 260-273, and 27 May 1963, pp. 127-36, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Richard Lester to Samuel Morgenstein, 21 February 1963, folder L, PE papers, PCSW; Esther Peterson to members of the Commission, n.d., folder 94-17, Katherine P. Ellickson papers, ALUA.

33. PCSW, American Women, 30.

34. Ibid.

35. Ibid., 27-34.

36. Committee on Protective Labor Legislation, summary of the meeting of 6 June 1962, Doc. VII-1, and transcript of the meeting of 6 June 1962, pp. 83-84, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Summary report and recommendations, Committee on Protective Labor Legislation, 26 March 1963, in folder "Commission meeting, April 1-2, 1963," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

37. Committee on Protective Labor Legislation, transcript of the meeting of 6 February 1963, pp. 63-69, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.). (David quotes are on pp. 67-68).

38. Summary report of the meeting of the Committee on Protective Labor Legislation, 6 February 1963, Doc. 8, PLL papers, PCSW; Committee on Protective Labor Legislation, transcript of the meeting of 6 February 1963, pp. 63-74, PLL papers, PCSW; Draft outline--Preliminary report of Subcommittee of Committee on Protective Labor Legislation, 1 February 1963, Doc. VII-5, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); President's Commission on the Status of Women, Report of the Committee on Protective Labor Legislation (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1963), 9-13.

39. President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 1 April 1963, Washington, D.C., pp. 153-204, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.). (David statement is on p. 171).

40. Esther Peterson to Arthur Morley et al., 19 April 1963, in file "General Correspondence, January 1963-December 1963," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

41. President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 24 April 1963, Washington, D.C., pp. 384-415, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

42. PCSW, American Women, 9-12.

43. President's Commission on the Status of Women, Report of the Committee on Education, (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1963), 31.

44. PCSW, American Women, 16.

45. Ibid., 15.

46. President's Commission on the Status of Women, Report of the Committee on Civil and Political Rights, (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1963), 22.

47. PCSW, American Women , 48.

48. "The Status of Women Under the Old-Age Survivors' and Disability Insurance Program," 15 May 1962, Doc. VIII-2, p. 11, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Elizabeth Wickenden to Martha Griffiths, 14 June 1962, in folder "88th Cong., Ways and Means, Social Security," box 50, Martha Griffiths papers BHL; Committee on Social Insurance and Taxes, transcript of the meeting of 29 June 1962, pp. 38-41, minutes of the meeting of 29 June 1962, Doc. VIII-28, transcript of the meeting of 29 January 1963, pp. 78-85, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Eveline Burns to Esther Peterson, 5 February 1963, SIT papers, PCSW; President's Commission on the Status of Women, Report of the Committee on Social Insurance and Taxes (Washington, D.C.:GPO, 1963); 36-39; PCSW, transcript of the meeting of 1 April 1963, (Washington, D.C., pp. 60-65, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); PCSW, American Women , 40-43.

49. Recommendations on old-age, survivors', and disability insurance, n.d., Committee Doc. B-6, in folder "Committee meetings--January 29-30, 1963," SIT papers, PCSW.

50. Ibid.; PCSW, Report of the Committee on Social Insurance and Taxes , 3-10; PCSW, American Women , 40-43. A similar decision was made about civil service pension benefits for women.

51. PCSW, American Women , 69.

52. William Chafe, The American Woman: Her Changing Social, Economic, and Political Roles, 1920-1970 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1972), 159-173, 186; "History of Daycare and Child Development Council of America," in folder "Daycare," box 3, Elinor Guggen-heimer papers, SL; U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Children's Bureau, and U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, Day Care Services, Form and Substance: Report of a Conference, November 17-18, 1960 (Children's Bureau Publication, no. 393, 1961; Women's Bureau bulletin no. 281, 1961); Mildred Arnold to Miss Emery, 6 March 1959, in folder "1959, legislation, day care," Katherine B. Oettinger to Charles I. Schottland, 28 July 1958, in folder "1958, legislation, day care,'' box 27, acc. 72A-3008, Records of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Federal Records Center (Suitland, Md.); Esther Peterson to Arthur Goldberg, 1 August 1961 (plus attachments), folder WA-1, box 92, RG 174 (Goldberg), NA; New York Times , 28 July 1962.

53. New York Times , 2 February 1962, 17 May 1963; "Use of Federal funds for day care of children," in folder "1963, legislation, day-care," box 29, acc. 72A-3008, Records of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Federal Records Center (Suitland, Md.); PL 87-543, 26 July 1962; Committee on Home and Community, transcript of the meeting of 25 May 1962, pp. 148-156, summary of the meeting of 13 September 1962, Doc. 6, HC papers, PCSW; President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 1 October 1962, Washington, D.C., pp. 86-88, 95-96, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

54. PCSW, Report of the Committee on Home and Community , 7.

55. President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meeting of 1 April 1963, Washington, D.C., pp. 287-292; PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); PCSW, Report of the Committee on Home and Community , 7, 39-42; PCSW, American Women , 19.

56. PCSW, American Women , 18.

57. Ibid., 53-54. Esther Peterson did not favor the establishment of continuing bodies. She said later she intended the Women's Bureau to oversee the commission recommendation (Esther Peterson, Recorded Interview by Ann M. Campbell, 11 February 1970, p. 77, JFKL Oral History Program).

58. Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique (New York: Dell, 1974), 361.

59. Katherine Ellickson to Esther Peterson, 12 January 1962, draft letter, 31 January 1962, folder 90-27, and Evelyn Harrison to John Macy, 1 February 1962, folder 91-21, Katherine P. Ellickson papers, ALUA; Summary of meeting of 23 January, 1962, Esther Peterson to Mrs. Arthur L. Zepf, 10 August 1962, attached to Mrs. Arthur Zepf to Esther Peterson, 20 June 1962, and Mrs. Robert J. Phillips to Esther Peterson, 9 July 1962, in folder "Women's Organizations File, General, PCSW," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Committee on Social Insurance and Taxes, transcript of the meeting of 29 June 1962, p. 8, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Summary of meeting of 19 February, 1962, in folder "PCSW organization," box "PCSW #1," Esther Peterson papers, SL; Interviews with Catherine East, 6 July 1978 and 20 November 1978 (Arlington, Va.).

60. Governor John Swainson of Michigan had created the first state commission in September 1962, before the BPW began its campaign. Swainson did so on the advice of Mildred Jeffries, a close political associate of his, who had been the first director of the Women's Division of the United Automobile Workers, and who had been involved in the quest for a commission on women since the forties. Telephone interview with Mildred Jeffries, 23 October 1981 (Detroit, Mich.); President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of the meetings of 2 October 1962, pp. 400-401, and 24 April 1963, pp. 324-325, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Eleanor Coakley to Esther Peterson, 30 November 1962, in folder "General Correspondence, PCSW, 12/61-12/62," Minnie C. Miles to Esther Peterson, 30 November 1962, in folder "Organizations--Correspondence," PCSW papers (Washington, D. C.); Esther Peterson to Kenneth O'Donnell, 11 January 1963, in folder "Peterson, Esther," box 2174, WHNF, JFKL; Esther Peterson to Myer Feldman, 17 January 1963, "Memorandum of Conversation with the President and Dr. Miles and Miss Allen of the BPW, January 18, 1963," in folder ''Governor's Commissions on the Status of Women,'' box "Women," Esther Peterson papers, SL; Albert D. Rosellini to the Members of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, 30 February 1963 (plus attachments), in folder "Commission and Committees, President's Commission on the Status of Women," box 7, Maurine Neuberger papers, University of Oregon; National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, press release, 18 January 1963, in folder "PCSW . . . (2 of 3)," BPW Archives; Interdepartmental Committee/Citizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Progress Report on the Status of Women October 11, 1963 Through October 10, 1964 (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1964), 18-25.

61. Diana T. Michaelis to Esther Peterson, n.d., in folder "Meeting February 11-12, 1963," box "PCSW, #1," and Esther Peterson to Pierre Salinger, n.d., in folder "PCSW, Misc., Mass Media," box "PCSW #2," Esther Peterson papers, SL; President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of media consultation, 19 March 1963, pp. 21-22, 85, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); President's Commission on the Status of Women, Four Consultations (Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1963).

62. Daniel Patrick Moynihan to Esther Peterson, 26 March 1963, folder 95-1, Katherine P. Ellickson papers, ALUA.

63. "Women in Minority Groups," 18 March 1963, in folder "Minority Groups," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); President's Commission on the Status of Women, transcript of minority consultation, 19 April 1963, pp. 3, 11, and passim, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); "Summary of Meeting on the Status of the Negro Woman," 19 April 1963, in folder "Minority Groups Meeting, April 19, 1963," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); PCSW press release, n.d., "Problems of Negro Women Discussed at Commission Sponsored Meeting," press release file, PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); PCSW, Four Consultations , 29-38.

64. At the ceremony, the first row of commission members was filled, according to protocol, with cabinet members, who were of course all male. Before the pictures were taken and the ceremony began, Kennedy rearranged the seating so that Senator Maurine Neuberger and Representative Edith Green shared the front row with the cabinet (Transcript, John W. Macy, Jr., Oral History Interview, 23 May 1964, p. 60, JFKL). Myer Feldman to Esther Peterson, 9 October 1963, "Thank you letters, PCSW report," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); John F. Kennedy to Esther Peterson, 22 October 1961, folder FG737, box 206, WHCF, JFKL; White House press release, 11 October 1963, in folder "1963 Commission--PCSW (May-Oct.)," box 52, RG 174 (Wirtz), NA; Arthur Schlesinger to Esther Peterson, 16 October 1963, Lyndon Johnson to Esther Peterson, 7 October 1963, and Walter Heller to Esther Peterson, 10 October 1963, in folder ''Thank you letters, PCSW report," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

65. Wall Street Journal , 6 November 1963, cited in Loeta Korns, "Treatment by Seven Newspapers of the Report of the President's Commission on the Status of Women," 9 December 1963, in folder "General Correspondence, PCSW, January 1964-," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

66. Washington Post , 12 October 1963; Washington Post , 13 October 1963, and Baltimore Sun , 12 October 1963, clippings in folder "Publicity on presentation of report, October 11, 1963," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); Milwaukee Journal , 16 October 1963, clipping, in folder "Women--President's Commission on the Status of Women, reported October, 1963," box 105, DNC papers, LBJL; Ruth Holstein, "The Status of Women," NEA Journal , November 1963, 68; ''The Status of Women" (editorial), Catholic Nurse , December 1963, 16-17; The Guidepost (American Personnel and Guidance Association), November 1963, 1-3, in folder "Appreciation letters--Report, American Women," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.); National Businesswoman , November-December 1963, 16-18; Margaret Mead, "Do We Undervalue Full-Time Wives?" Redbook , November 1963, 22, 24, 26; Esther Peterson, "The Status of Women in the United States," International Labour Review 89 (May 1964): 447-460; New York Times , 12 October 1963, 2 November 1963.

67. Myer Feldman to John F. Kennedy, 9 October 1963, folder FG737, box 206, WHCF, JFKL.

68. Executive Order 11126, 1 November 1963; White House, press release, 1 November 1963, in folder "Continuing Leadership, Executive Order," PCSW papers (Washington, D.C.).

69. Esther Peterson to Arthur Goldberg, 2 June 1961, FG737, box 206, WHCF, JFKL.