Executive Order 11145

Executive Order 11145 was issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson on March 7, 1964. The order formally established the President's Committee on Consumer Interests and created the position of Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs. This action represented a significant institutionalization of consumer advocacy within the Executive Office of the President, building upon the momentum of the broader consumer movement in the mid-20th century. It directly responded to growing public demand for federal representation of consumer rights, famously championed by advocates like Esther Peterson.

Background and Context

The early 1960s were a period of heightened activism around consumer protection, influenced by works like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and the advocacy of figures such as Ralph Nader. President John F. Kennedy had earlier articulated a "Consumer Bill of Rights" in a 1962 special message to the United States Congress. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson sought to advance the Great Society agenda, which included strengthening the federal role in economic fairness and public welfare. The establishment of a permanent consumer voice within the White House was seen as a logical extension of these efforts, aiming to balance the influence of powerful business interests and regulatory bodies like the Federal Trade Commission.

Provisions of the Order

The order formally created the President's Committee on Consumer Interests, tasked with advising the president on policies affecting consumer economic interests. It mandated the committee to review existing programs of agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture. Crucially, the order established the role of the Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs, who would serve as the committee's chair. This official was empowered to coordinate consumer-related activities across the federal government, including those within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Department of Commerce. The order directed the committee to foster communication with state and local governments and private organizations concerned with consumer issues.

Implementation and Impact

President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Esther Peterson, a former official of the United States Department of Labor and advisor to President Kennedy, as the first Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs. Under her leadership, the committee became a vocal advocate within the administration, influencing subsequent legislation like the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The committee worked closely with existing bodies like the Council of Economic Advisers and sparked the creation of similar state-level offices. Its existence signaled a permanent consumer voice in federal policy deliberations, impacting regulations enforced by the Federal Communications Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Legal and Political Reactions

The order was generally welcomed by consumer advocacy groups, labor unions like the AFL–CIO, and members of the Democratic Party (United States). However, it faced skepticism from some segments of the business community and legislators who viewed it as an unnecessary expansion of Executive Office of the President authority. Critics argued that existing agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice were sufficient to handle consumer fraud. The order's reliance on executive authority, rather than a statute passed by the United States Congress, made its standing subject to the priorities of subsequent administrations, a point noted during the Presidency of Richard Nixon.

Legacy and Historical Significance

Executive Order 11145 cemented the role of a high-level consumer advocate within the White House, a structure that persisted for decades. The Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs position evolved, later being codified into law with the creation of the Office of Consumer Affairs. The framework influenced later federal initiatives, including the establishment of the Consumer Product Safety Commission under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The order is viewed as a key milestone in the history of the consumer movement in the United States, exemplifying the Great Society's approach to embedding advocacy within the executive branch and setting a precedent for federal engagement on issues of marketplace fairness and information.

Category:Executive orders of Lyndon B. Johnson Category:1964 in American law Category:Consumer protection in the United States