Reading Room Document

Proposed legislation to prohibit picketing in the vicinity of the Executive Mansion

The document is a memorandum to the Honorable Paul W. Eggers, General Counsel of the Treasury Department, regarding proposed legislation to prohibit picketing in the vicinity of the Executive Mansion. The conclusion reached in the document is that while there is no constitutional objection to legislation designed to prevent disruption of business in the Executive Mansion or threats to the security of the President and his family, any such legislation must be narrowly conceived to avoid undue restriction of First Amendment rights. The document presents questions for review, such as the need to justify government interest in restricting picketing and the need to avoid unnecessary infringement of First Amendment rights. It also includes a redrafted version of the proposed legislation and letters to the Vice President and the Speaker of the House reflecting the changes.

May 23, 1969