... broad definition of what affirmative action is and what caused its development. The phase "affirmative action" was used in a racial discrimination context. Executive Order No. 10,925 issued by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The order indicated that federal contractors should take affirmative action to ensure job applicants and employees are treated "without regard to their race, creed, or national origin ... first fired, whether the employee is more skilled and competent than an employee protected by seniority. (1999)." Richard Lester, author of Manpower Planning, believes that seni...

• Word Count: 2762
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate