Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–14, Part 1, Documents on the United Nations, 1973–1976

167. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations (Wright) to the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Fulbright), Washington, October 18, 1973.¹ ²

Washington, October 18, 1973

18 OCT 1973

Honorable J.W. Fulbright, Chairman
Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman;

Secretary Kissinger has asked me to reply to your letter of September 24, 1973 concerning the nomination of women as representatives and alternate representatives to our delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.

The Department welcomes the expression of interest of the Foreign Relations Committee on this subject. We share the view that the talents of American women should be utilized at the United Nations to the maximum possible extent. We are proud of the women who have served as representatives or alternate representatives in the past. Women have been included on all recent delegations and their contributions have been considerable.

As you know, the UN Participation Act and the Rules of Procedure of the United Nations limit each nation to a total of ten representatives and alternates. Each year two positions are filled by members of Congress and some others are traditionally filled by the Permanent United States Representative to the United Nations and his principal deputies. The number of positions remaining to be filled each year, therefore, is relatively small. However, l can assure the committee that qualified women will not be neglected in our search for distinguished Americans from varying backgrounds to fill these important positions.

Sincerely yours,
Marshall Wright
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–73, UN 22–1. No classification marking. Drafted in IO/OIC on October 12; and cleared in M/WA, IO/OIC, and IO. Published from an unsigned copy. Fulbright’s letter of September 24, in which he encouraged Kissinger to appoint more women to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly to avoid “tokenism,” is ibid.
2. Wright reassured Fulbright that, given the limitations imposed by the U.S. government and the U.N., women received careful consideration in the selection process for the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.