Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.
This executive order, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 1940-10-04, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Designating Colonel Lewis B. Hershey To Perform Certain Duties Under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940." It is a direct, concise executive instruction delivering focused administrative or military commands to department leadership.
Constitutional Assessment: Scrutinized through Article II, Section 2, this action exercises the President's constitutional role as Commander in Chief. Early Framers recognized broad executive discretion in commanding military forces during conflict, provided it remains bounded by congressional declarations and respects civilian domestic courts.
Key Directives & Operative Actions
▪Hershey, Field Artillery, United States Army, be, and he is hereby, designated, authorized, and empowered— (1) To perform all duties in connection with the administration of the Selective Service law prescribed in paragraph 119, Section III, Volume One (Organization and Administration) of the Selective Service Regulations.
Exec. Order No. 8559, Franklin D. Roosevelt (Oct 4, 1940). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-8559-designating-colonel-lewis-b-hershey-perform-certain-duties-under-the.
Official Document Text
Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)
Under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (Public No. 783, 76th Congress), it is hereby ordered that pending the appointment of a Director of Selective Service under the provisions of section 10 (a) (3) of the said Act, Lieutenant Colonel Lewis B. Hershey, Field Artillery, United States Army, be, and he is hereby, designated, authorized, and empowered— (1) To perform all duties in connection with the administration of the Selective Service law prescribed in paragraph 119, Section III, Volume One (Organization and Administration) of the Selective Service Regulations. (2) To appoint necessary members of local boards, local board physicians, government appeal agents, and members of appeal boards, provided for in Sections V and VI, Volume One (Organization and Administration) of the Selective Service Regulations. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT The White House, October 4, 1940.
