WHEREAS, there have existed certain labor disputes between General Electric Company and certain of its employees represented by: International Union of Electrical Radio and Machine Workers, AFL-CIO; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO; International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, AFL-CIO; International Union, Allied Industrial Workers of America, AFL-CIO; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO; Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, AFL-CIO; American Federation of Technical Engineers, AFL-CIO; American Flint Glass Workers' Union of North America, AFL-CIO; United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America; Unittil ANuciation of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO; United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO; International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO; International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America; Pattern Makers' League of North America, AFL-CIO; International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers, AFL-CIO; Syracuse Draftsmens Union; and WHEREAS, although a tentative resolution of these disputes was arrived at by the parties, or some of them, nevertheless there is a strike at the Evendale, Ohio, plant of General Electric Company by Local No. 647 of the International Union of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, AFL—CIO, and Locals 34 and 912 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers, AFL— CIO, and there exists a threat that there will be further strikes at General Electric Company plants by one or more of the aforesaid international unions or local units thereof; and WHEREAS, the existing strike at the Evendale, Ohio, plant of General Electric Company will, in my opinion, if permitted to continue, affect a substantial part of the military jet engine industry, which industry is engaged in trade, commerce, transportation, transmission, or communication among the several states or with foreign nations, or engaged in the production of goods for commerce, and which strike, if permitted to continue, will imperil the national safety; and WHEREAS, threatened strikes at other General Electric Company plants will, in my opinion, if allowed to occur, affect a substantial part of the military jet engine industry, military aircraft industry, military armament industry and military electronics industry, which industries are engaged in trade, commerce, transportation, transmission, or communication among the several states or with foreign nations, or engaged in the production of goods for commerce, and which threatened strikes, if permitted to occur, will imperil the national safety; NOW THEREFORE by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 206 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 155 ; 29 U.S.C. 176), I hereby create a Board of Inquiry, consisting of Mr. David L. Cole, Chairman, Mr. John Dunlop and Mr. Jacob Seidenberg, whom I appoint to inquire into the issues involved in these disputes. The Board shall have powers and duties as set forth in Title II of such Act. The Board shall report to the President in accordance with the provisions of Section 206 of such Act. With respect to the dispute giving rise to the strike at Evendale, Ohio, plant it shall report on or before October 18th, 1966, and with respect to the dispute or disputes resulting in any other such strike, it shall report as soon as possible. Upon the submission of its report or reports, the Board shall continue in existence to perform such other functions as may be required under such Act. LYNDON B. JOHNSON The White House October 17, 1966.
Executive Order 11314—Creating a Board of Inquiry to Report on Certain Labor Disputes Affecting the Military Jet Engine Industry, Military Aircraft Industry, Military Armament Industry and Military Electronics Industry of the United States
Executive Brief • At a Glance
I hereby create a Board of Inquiry, consisting of Mr. David L. Cole, Chairman, Mr. John Dunlop and Mr. Jacob Seidenberg, whom I appoint to inquire into the issues involved in these disputes.
Plain-English Translation & Framers' Constitutional Analysis
Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 17, 1966, this order concerns Creating a Board of Inquiry to Report on Certain Labor Disputes Affecting the Military Jet Engine Industry, Military Aircraft Industry, Military Armament Industry and Military Electronics Industry of the United States. I hereby create a Board of Inquiry, consisting of Mr. David L. Cole, Chairman, Mr. John Dunlop and Mr. Jacob Seidenberg, whom I appoint to inquire into the issues involved in these disputes. The Board shall have powers and duties as set forth in Title II of such Act. The Board shall report to the President in accordance with the provisions of Section 206 of such Act.
Key Directives & Operative Actions
I hereby create a Board of Inquiry, consisting of Mr. David L. Cole, Chairman, Mr. John Dunlop and Mr. Jacob Seidenberg, whom I appoint to inquire into the issues involved in these disputes.
The Board shall have powers and duties as set forth in Title II of such Act.
The Board shall report to the President in accordance with the provisions of Section 206 of such Act.
With respect to the dispute giving rise to the strike at Evendale, Ohio, plant it shall report on or before October 18th, 1966, and with respect to the dispute or disputes resulting in any other such strike, it shall report as soon as possible.
Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted
Policy Areas & Topics
The Framers' Constitutional Council
1787 PrismEvaluating this order against the constitutional debates of 1787 and the limits of Article II executive power.
"When the President acts in absence of either a congressional grant or denial of authority, he can only rely upon his own independent powers, but there is a zone of twilight in which he and Congress may have concurrent authority."
James Madison
Separation of Powers & Legislative Primacy
"Power is of an encroaching nature, and it ought to be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it." — Federalist No. 48 (1788)
Madison would view this order with watchful scrutiny. Operating in the 'Zone of Twilight' where Congress is silent, each such directive establishes an administrative precedent that steadily expands the executive perimeter at the expense of legislative primacy.
Alexander Hamilton
The Energetic Executive & Unified Command
"The direction of war implies the direction of the common strength; and the power of directing and employing the common strength must be under the direction of the single hand of the Executive." — Federalist No. 74 (1788)
Hamilton would forcefully champion executive discretion here. For foreign entanglements, commerce defense, and national security, deliberative assemblies are too slow and faction-ridden. A unified, energetic Executive exercising swift command is precisely what the Philadelphia Convention intended for national preservation.
George Mason
Bill of Rights, Due Process & 10th Amendment
"The president will be surrounded by flatterers and sycophants... and the great powers of the executive will gradually absorb the liberties of the people." — Cato IV (Anti-Federalist, 1787)
The Anti-Federalist prism advises continuous democratic vigilance. Even routine administrative directives aggregate centralized federal power away from town halls and state assemblies toward a distant executive apparatus.
Five Measurable "Constitutional Friction" Dimensions
An objective audit measuring potential separation-of-powers tension against the United States Constitution and established Supreme Court doctrine.
Legislative Encroachment & Purse
Operates within delegated statutory execution without modifying legislative appropriations or taxing powers.
Executive Scope & Faithfulness
Exercises standard supervisory executive authority to faithfully execute existing statutes.
Federalism & State Sovereignty
Engages state and local partners in cooperative federalism programs.
Due Process & Individual Rights
Applies regulatory or compliance standards to private contractors or commercial entities.
Youngstown Jacksonian Tier
The order relies on inherent Article II executive discretion, civil service management, or foreign diplomacy where Congress has neither expressly approved nor prohibited action.
This order operates within Justice Jackson’s Zone of Twilight, resting upon concurrent presidential authority or congressional silence.
Scholarly & Legal Citations
Exec. Order No. 11,314 (Oct. 17, 1966), https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-11314-creating-board-inquiry-report-certain-labor-disputes-affecting-the.