Nomination of Three Members of the Commission on Civil Rights

May 25, 1983

The President today announced his intention to nominate the following individuals to be members of the Commission on Civil Rights:

John H. Bunzel, formerly president of San Jose State University in San Jose, Calif., is currently serving as senior research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. A longtime supporter of civil rights, Dr. Bunzel was honored in 1974 by the board of supervisors of the city and county of San Francisco when he was awarded a certificate of merit for ``unswerving devotion to the highest ideals of brotherhood and service to mankind and dedicated efforts looking to the elimination of racial and religious bigotry and discrimination.'' Dr. Bunzel earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University (A.B., 1948), his masters degree from Columbia University in 1949, and his Ph. D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1954. He resides in Belmont, Calif. He was born April 15, 1924, in New York City. Dr. Bunzel is a Democrat and will succeed Blandina Cardenas Ramirez.

Morris B. Abram is currently a partner with the law firm of Paul Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison in New York City. In 1968 - 1970 Mr. Abram served as president of Brandeis University. Mr. Abram has been long involved in civil rights activities. In 1946 Mr. Abram was a member of the American prosecutorial staff at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremburg, Germany. In 1962 - 1964 he served as a member of the U.N. Subcommittee on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities by appointment of President Kennedy. Between 1963 and 1968, he served as president of the American Jewish Committee. In 1965 - 1968 he served as U.N. Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. In 1970 - 1979 he also served as chairman of the United Negro College Fund. Since 1961 he served as a member of the executive committee of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He graduated from the University of Georgia (B.A., 1938) and the University of Chicago (J.D., 1940). He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University (B.A., 1948; M.A., 1953). He resides in New York City. He was born June 19, 1918, in Fitzgerald, Ga. Mr. Abram is a Democrat and will succeed Mary Frances Berry.

Robert A. Destro is currently serving as assistant professor of law at the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, where he teaches, among other courses, constitutional law, church-state relations, and legal ethics. In 1977 - 1982 he served as general counsel for the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in Milwaukee, Wis. While at the Catholic League, Mr. Destro developed a legal services department for a nationwide civil rights practice. In 1978 - 1982 Mr. Destro also served as adjunct associate professor of law at Marquette University School of Law. In 1975 - 1977 he served as an associate attorney with the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. He graduated from Miami University (A.B., 1972) and Boalt Hall School of Law (J.D., 1975). He is married and resides in Arlington, Va. He was born September 6, 1950. Mr. Destro is a Democrat and will succeed Murray Saltzman.

Nomination of Linda Chavez To Be Staff Director of the Commission on Civil Rights

May 25, 1983

The President today announced his intention to nominate Linda Chavez to be Staff Director for the Commission on Civil Rights. This position is currently vacant.

Ms. Chavez currently serves as assistant to the president of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL - CIO, Washington, D.C. She also serves as editor of the American Educator. During 1981 she acted as a consultant to ACTION in Washington, D.C. Previously she served as a member of the professional staff of the Civil and Constitutional Rights Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee.

She graduated from the University of Colorado (B.A., 1970). She has done graduate work and taught at the University of California at Los Angeles. She is married, has three children, and resides in Washington, D.C. She was born June 17, 1947, in Albuquerque, N. Mex.

Appointment of James Webb as a Member of the National Voluntary Service Advisory Council

May 25, 1983

The President today announced his intention to appoint James Webb to be a member of the National Voluntary Service Advisory Council. This is a new position.

Mr. Webb is a writer. He was assistant minority counsel to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs in the U.S. Congress in 1977 - 1978. In 1979 he became the first visiting writer at the United States Naval Academy. He returned to the Congress in 1979 to become the chief minority counsel for the Veterans Affairs Committee. Since 1981 he has been a full-time writer.

He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1968. Mr. Webb received a degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1975. He is married, has two children, and resides in Arlington, Va. He was born February 9, 1946, in St. Joseph, Mo.

Nomination of Joseph Alison Kyser To Be a Member of the Federal Farm Credit Board

May 25, 1983

The President today announced his intention to nominate Joseph Alison Kyser to be a member of the Federal Farm Credit Board, Farm Credit Administration, for a term expiring March 31, 1989. He would succeed Lawrence Owen Cooper, Sr.

Mr. Kyser owns and operates a farm in Greensboro, Ala. He has been president of the Greensboro Farmers Cooperative since 1973. He is director and past chairman of the Federal Land Bank Association of Demopolis. He is a member of the National Cattlemen's Association and the Tri-County Cooperative.

He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. He is married, has four children, and resides in Greensboro, Ala. He was born June 7, 1913, in Minter, Ala.

 

Date
05/25/1983