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 1942-04-28, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "Transfer of Certain Public Land From Public Buildings Administration, Federal Works Agency, to the War Department." 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
▪Formal executive instruction issued by the President establishing official administrative policy on Transfer of Certain Public Land From Public Buildings Administration, Federal Works Agency, to the War Department.
Exec. Order No. 9151, Franklin D. Roosevelt (Apr 28, 1942). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-9151-transfer-certain-public-land-from-public-buildings-administration.
Official Document Text
Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)
FLORIDA By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, it is ordered that the following-described public land in Pinellas County, Florida, be, and it is hereby transferred from the control and jurisdiction of the Public Buildings Administration, Federal Works Agency, to the control and jurisdiction of the War Department and reserved for use as a bombing range and for other military purposes: All that portion of the main island known as Mullet Key, in Tampa Bay, Florida, east of the bayou or lagoon which nearly separates the north arm from the east arm of the said island; such land having been reserved as a part of a military reservation by Executive Order of November 17, 1882, and transferred by the War Department to the Treasury Department by letter of May 15, 1899, and transferred from the Treasury Department to the Public Buildings Administration, Federal Works Agency, by Reorganization Plan No. I, effective July 1, 1939. FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT The White House, April 28, 1942.
