Curated historic collection
Landmark executive orders before 1993 68 selected orders from 1862 to 1992. This is not a complete archive of every executive order before 1993. The six presidential-term collections from Clinton onward remain separate and complete for their stated coverage.
Research depth: 68 guides include expanded historical analysis; 0 remain source-led overviews awaiting fuller order-specific review. These historic counts are separate from the post-1993 research totals. Each guide links its historical text or archival record and later sources. The research-depth label does not guarantee that every later consequence is known.
Selection considers civil rights, presidential power, enduring institutions and policy frameworks. Early executive-order numbers were sometimes assigned retrospectively; the Pelican Island order was unnumbered. Read how we research orders .
1860s 1900s 1910s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s October 20, 1862 · Abraham Lincoln · EO 1: Establishing a Provisional Court in Louisiana Expanded historical analysis · Wartime provisional court ended; number assigned retrospectively Lincoln created a provisional federal court for Union-occupied Louisiana and appointed Charles A. Peabody as its judge. “EO 1” is a later numbering designation, not the first presidential directive in US history. January 31, 1902 · Theodore Roosevelt · EO 163: Restricting Federal Employees’ Appeals to Congress Expanded historical analysis · Historical restriction superseded by later rules and statute Roosevelt barred executive-department employees from directly seeking higher pay or influencing legislation in their own interest through Congress, except through their department heads, on pain of dismissal. March 14, 1903 · Theodore Roosevelt · Unnumbered executive order: Reserving Pelican Island for Native Birds Expanded historical analysis · Refuge continues under later conservation law and administration An unnumbered Roosevelt order reserved Pelican Island in Florida as a breeding ground for native birds. It became the first federal bird reservation and the starting point of the National Wildlife Refuge System. January 25, 1906 · Theodore Roosevelt · EO 402: Extending the Federal Employee Legislative-Appeals Restriction Expanded historical analysis · Historical amendment superseded by later rules and statute Roosevelt amended his 1902 employee lobbying restriction to cover independent government establishments as well as executive departments. April 13, 1917 · Woodrow Wilson · EO 2594: Creating Committee on Public Information Expanded historical analysis · Committee abolished by EO 3154 in 1919 Wilson created the Committee on Public Information shortly after US entry into the First World War, bringing cabinet secretaries and a civilian director together to coordinate government information. July 21, 1930 · Herbert Hoover · EO 5398: Consolidation and Coordination of Governmental Activities Affecting Veterans Expanded historical analysis · Veterans Administration succeeded by cabinet department in 1989 Hoover consolidated three veterans’ agencies into the Veterans Administration, bringing benefits and care under one independent organization. April 5, 1933 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 6101: Relief of Unemployment Through the Performance of Useful Public Work Expanded historical analysis · Emergency Conservation Work program ended in 1942 Roosevelt set up Emergency Conservation Work, the program later widely known as the Civilian Conservation Corps, to employ unemployed people on conservation projects. April 5, 1933 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 6102: Forbidding the Hoarding of Gold Coin, Gold Bullion, and Gold Certificates Expanded historical analysis · 1933 restrictions superseded; private gold ownership lawful since 1974 Roosevelt ordered most privately held gold coin, bullion and gold certificates delivered to banks during the banking emergency, subject to stated exceptions. June 10, 1933 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 6166: Organization of Executive Agencies Expanded historical analysis · Historical reorganization with continuing park-system lineage; many functions changed Roosevelt reorganized a wide range of executive functions, including transfer of national monuments, historic sites and military parks to the National Park Service. May 6, 1935 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 7034: Establishing the Division of Applications and Information, the Advisory Committee on Allotments, the Works Progress Administration, and for Other Purposes Expanded historical analysis · Works Progress Administration abolished effective June 1943 Roosevelt created the Works Progress Administration and related machinery to distribute funds and run public employment under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. May 11, 1935 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 7037: Establishing the Rural Electrification Administration Expanded historical analysis · 1935 agency succeeded by a statutory agency in 1936; modern rural utilities programs rest on later law Roosevelt established a Rural Electrification Administration under the 1935 relief appropriation to finance electric service in underserved rural areas. September 8, 1939 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 8248: Establishing the Divisions of the Executive Office of the President and Defining Their Functions and Duties Expanded historical analysis · Executive Office continues; constituent offices and functions have changed Roosevelt organized the new Executive Office of the President into offices including the White House Office and Bureau of the Budget. June 25, 1941 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 8802: Reaffirming Policy of Full Participation in the Defense Program by All Persons, Regardless of Race, Creed, Color, or National Origin, and Directing Certain Action in Furtherance of Said Policy Expanded historical analysis · Historic wartime program; subsequently amended The order barred discrimination in defense employment by federal agencies and participating employers, and established a Fair Employment Practice Committee to receive complaints. June 28, 1941 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 8807: Establishing the Office of Scientific Research and Development in the Executive Office of the President and Defining Its Functions and Duties Expanded historical analysis · Wartime office terminated in 1947 Roosevelt created the Office of Scientific Research and Development to coordinate scientific and medical research for national defense. July 26, 1941 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 8832: Amendment of Executive Order No. 8389 of April 10, 1940, as Amended Expanded historical analysis · Historical wartime amendment; broad current-transaction controls lifted in 1947; residual assets treated separately Roosevelt extended the existing foreign-assets control framework to Japanese and Chinese property in the United States, requiring licenses for covered transactions. January 16, 1942 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 9024: Establishing the War Production Board in the Executive Office of the President and Defining Its Functions and Duties Expanded historical analysis · War Production Board terminated and functions transferred in 1945 Roosevelt created the War Production Board to coordinate industrial output and allocation for the Second World War. February 19, 1942 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 9066: Authorizing the Secretary of War To Prescribe Military Areas Expanded historical analysis · Authority ended in 1946; Proclamation 4417 confirmed termination in 1976 The order authorized military commanders to designate areas from which people could be excluded. Its implementation led to the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, although the order itself did not name them. March 18, 1942 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 9102: Establishing the War Relocation Authority in the Executive Office of the President and Defining Its Functions and Duties Expanded historical analysis · War Relocation Authority abolished effective June 30, 1946 Roosevelt created the War Relocation Authority to administer the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during the Second World War. June 13, 1942 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 9182: Consolidating Certain War Information Functions Into an Office of War Information Expanded historical analysis · Office of War Information terminated in 1945 Roosevelt combined domestic and overseas wartime information functions in the Office of War Information. October 3, 1942 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 9250: Providing for the Stabilizing of the National Economy Expanded historical analysis · Wartime stabilization order expressly revoked by EO 9801 in 1946; office changed before revocation Roosevelt set wage and price stabilization machinery during the war and created an Office of Economic Stabilization. January 22, 1944 · Franklin D. Roosevelt · EO 9417: Establishing a War Refugee Board Expanded historical analysis · War Refugee Board terminated in 1945 Roosevelt established a War Refugee Board to pursue rescue and relief for people facing Nazi persecution. September 20, 1945 · Harry S. Truman · EO 9621: Termination of the Office of Strategic Services and Disposition of Its Functions Expanded historical analysis · OSS abolished effective October 1, 1945; successor functions reorganized Truman abolished the Office of Strategic Services and assigned parts of its intelligence work to the State and War Departments. December 5, 1946 · Harry S. Truman · EO 9808: Establishing the President's Committee on Civil Rights Expanded historical analysis · Temporary committee completed its report in 1947 Truman created a presidential committee to examine civil rights protections and recommend federal action. March 21, 1947 · Harry S. Truman · EO 9835: Prescribing Procedures for the Administration of an Employees Loyalty Program in the Executive Branch of the Government Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 10450 in 1953 Truman ordered loyalty screening for federal employees through agency boards and a central review process. July 26, 1948 · Harry S. Truman · EO 9981: Establishing the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services Expanded historical analysis · Historic directive implemented; later military rules and law govern today Truman declared a policy of equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed forces regardless of race, color, religion or national origin and created a committee to oversee progress. July 26, 1948 · Harry S. Truman · EO 9980: Regulations Governing Fair Employment Practices Within the Federal Establishment Expanded historical analysis · Superseded by EO 10590 on January 18, 1955 Truman required fair employment practices in federal agencies without discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin. September 24, 1951 · Harry S. Truman · EO 10290: Prescribing Regulations Establishing Minimum Standards for the Classification, Transmission, and Handling, by Departments and Agencies of the Executive Branch, of Official Information Which Requires Safeguarding in the Interest of the Security of the United States Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 10501 in 1953 Truman set government-wide minimum standards for marking, transmitting and handling national security information. April 8, 1952 · Harry S. Truman · EO 10340: Directing the Secretary of Commerce To Take Possession of and Operate the Plants and Facilities of Certain Steel Companies Expanded historical analysis · Held invalid by the Supreme Court in 1952 Truman directed the Commerce Secretary to take possession of steel plants during a labor dispute. The Supreme Court held that the President lacked authority to seize them. April 27, 1953 · Dwight D. Eisenhower · EO 10450: Security Requirements for Government Employment Expanded historical analysis · Amended repeatedly; employment security now also governed by later orders and law Eisenhower replaced the loyalty program with a broader security standard for federal employment. November 5, 1953 · Dwight D. Eisenhower · EO 10501: Safeguarding Official Information in the Interests of the Defense of the United States Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 11652 in March 1972 Eisenhower replaced Truman’s classification order with rules for protecting defense information. August 17, 1955 · Dwight D. Eisenhower · EO 10631: Code of Conduct for Members of the Armed Forces of the United States Expanded historical analysis · Code continues as amended Eisenhower issued a six-article code for US service members facing capture or detention. September 24, 1957 · Dwight D. Eisenhower · EO 10730: Providing Assistance for the Removal of an Obstruction of Justice Within the State of Arkansas Expanded historical analysis · One-time intervention completed Eisenhower ordered federal military assistance in Little Rock after obstruction of court-ordered school desegregation. The action protected the students' ability to attend Central High School. March 1, 1961 · John F. Kennedy · EO 10924: Establishment of the Peace Corps Expanded historical analysis · Agency later authorized by the Peace Corps Act Kennedy established a pilot Peace Corps within the State Department. Congress enacted the Peace Corps Act later in 1961, giving the program a statutory foundation. March 6, 1961 · John F. Kennedy · EO 10925: Establishing the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity Expanded historical analysis · Superseded by EO 11246 in 1965; that successor revoked in 2025 Kennedy joined federal employment and contractor compliance in a presidential equal-opportunity committee and directed contractors to take affirmative action. January 17, 1962 · John F. Kennedy · EO 10988: Employee-Management Cooperation in the Federal Service Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 11491 effective 1970; later statutory labor system Kennedy recognized a formal role for federal employee organizations in discussions with agencies. September 30, 1962 · John F. Kennedy · EO 11053: Providing Assistance for the Removal of Unlawful Obstructions of Justice in the State of Mississippi Expanded historical analysis · Emergency deployment ended; university desegregation enforced Kennedy authorized federal action to overcome obstruction of court orders admitting James Meredith to the University of Mississippi. November 20, 1962 · John F. Kennedy · EO 11063: Equal Opportunity in Housing Expanded historical analysis · Partly amended and partly revoked; later Fair Housing Act and orders govern Kennedy prohibited discrimination in specified federally owned, assisted and insured housing. June 4, 1963 · John F. Kennedy · EO 11110: Amendment of Executive Order No. 10289 as Amended, Relating to the Performance of Certain Functions Affecting the Department of the Treasury Expanded historical analysis · Historical delegation tied to superseded silver-certificate authority Kennedy delegated an existing statutory silver-certificate function to the Treasury Secretary by amending EO 10289. June 11, 1963 · John F. Kennedy · EO 11111: Providing Assistance for the Removal of Obstructions of Justice and Suppression of Unlawful Combinations Within the State of Alabama Expanded historical analysis · Specific federal deployment ended after university integration Kennedy authorized federal action to enforce desegregation orders at the University of Alabama. November 29, 1963 · Lyndon B. Johnson · EO 11130: Appointing a Commission To Report Upon the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy Expanded historical analysis · Warren Commission completed its report in 1964 Johnson appointed a commission chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate President Kennedy’s assassination. September 24, 1965 · Lyndon B. Johnson · EO 11246: Equal Employment Opportunity Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 14173 on January 21, 2025 EO 11246 required nondiscrimination and affirmative-action measures in federal contracting and set rules for equal employment in federal agencies. It was revoked in 2025. July 29, 1967 · Lyndon B. Johnson · EO 11365: Establishing a National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders Expanded historical analysis · Completed: report submitted and commission terminated March 1, 1968 Johnson formed a commission to examine the causes of urban civil disorders and recommend preventive measures. October 13, 1967 · Lyndon B. Johnson · EO 11375: Amending Executive Order No. 11246, Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity Expanded historical analysis · Federal employment parts superseded in 1969; contractor host order revoked in 2025 Johnson amended federal contractor equal-opportunity rules to prohibit discrimination based on sex. March 5, 1969 · Richard Nixon · EO 11458: Prescribing Arrangements for Developing and Coordinating a National Program For Minority Business Enterprise Expanded historical analysis · Superseded by EO 11625 in October 1971; later statutory MBDA Nixon established arrangements to coordinate federal support for businesses owned by members of minority groups. August 8, 1969 · Richard Nixon · EO 11478: Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government Expanded historical analysis · Federal employment framework amended repeatedly; current law and later orders also apply Nixon directed equal employment opportunity across federal civilian agencies. July 1, 1970 · Richard Nixon · EO 11541: Prescribing the Duties of the Office of Management and Budget and the Domestic Council in the Executive Office of the President Expanded historical analysis · OMB continues under later statutes and orders; Domestic Council ended Nixon delegated functions transferred by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970 to OMB and assigned work to the Domestic Council. August 15, 1971 · Richard Nixon · EO 11615: Providing for Stabilization of Prices, Rents, Wages, and Salaries Expanded historical analysis · Superseded by EO 11627 on October 15, 1971, before 90-day horizon Nixon imposed a temporary freeze on prices, rents, wages and salaries under the Economic Stabilization Act. January 4, 1975 · Gerald R. Ford · EO 11828: Establishing a Commission on CIA Activities Within the United States Expanded historical analysis · Completed: report presented June 6, 1975; commission terminated one month later Ford appointed a commission to investigate allegations of unlawful domestic activity by the CIA. February 18, 1976 · Gerald R. Ford · EO 11905: United States Foreign Intelligence Activities Expanded historical analysis · Superseded by EO 12036 in 1978 Ford set government-wide arrangements for foreign intelligence activities, oversight and restrictions, including a prohibition on political assassination. January 21, 1977 · Jimmy Carter · EO 11967: Relating to Violations of the Selective Service Act, August 4, 1964 to March 28, 1973 Expanded historical analysis · 1977 pardon implementation completed; no continuing blanket amnesty program Carter directed agencies to implement his separate Vietnam-era draft pardon proclamation. July 20, 1979 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12148: Federal Emergency Management Expanded historical analysis · FEMA continues under later statutory and departmental arrangements Carter consolidated emergency-management and civil-defense functions in FEMA. November 14, 1979 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12170: Blocking Iranian Government Property Expanded historical analysis · In effect: 1979 national emergency continued beyond November 2025; asset rules changed over time Carter declared a national emergency and blocked Iranian government property under US jurisdiction during the hostage crisis. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12277: United States-Iran Agreement on Release of the American Hostages Expanded historical analysis · 1981 transfer instruction implemented; later Iran controls are separate Carter directed the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to transfer Iranian government gold and other assets to Bank of England accounts for the Algiers settlement. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12278: United States-Iran Agreement on Release of the American Hostages Expanded historical analysis · 1981 overseas-bank transfer direction was a settlement measure Carter directed overseas branches of US banks to transfer Iranian government deposits and securities for the Algiers settlement. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12279: United States-Iran Agreement on Release of the American Hostages Expanded historical analysis · 1981 domestic-bank transfer direction was a settlement measure Carter directed US-based banks to transfer Iranian government funds and securities to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12280: United States-Iran Agreement on Release of the American Hostages Expanded historical analysis · 1981 non-bank financial transfer direction was a settlement measure Carter directed non-bank holders of Iranian government funds and securities to transfer them to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12281: United States-Iran Agreement on Release of the American Hostages Expanded historical analysis · 1981 non-financial property transfer direction was a settlement measure Carter directed holders of Iranian government property other than funds and securities to transfer it on authorized Iranian instructions. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12282: United States-Iran Agreement on Release of the American Hostages Expanded historical analysis · Specified 1980 prohibitions revoked in 1981; later Iran sanctions remain distinct Carter revoked specified 1980 prohibitions on transactions involving Iran as part of the Algiers settlement. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12283: Non-prosecution of Claims of Hostages and for Actions at the United States Embassy and Elsewhere Expanded historical analysis · Ratified settlement restriction for defined hostage and embassy claims Carter instructed Treasury to bar specified claims against Iran arising from the hostage seizure and related events. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12284: Restrictions on the Transfer of Property of the Former Shah of Iran Expanded historical analysis · Ratified property restriction conditional on qualifying litigation Carter blocked specified US-based property of the former Shah’s estate and close relatives while Iranian recovery suits were pending. January 19, 1981 · Jimmy Carter · EO 12285: President’s Commission on Hostage Compensation Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 12379 on August 17, 1982 Carter established a commission to recommend whether and how the United States should compensate people held captive abroad, including the Iran hostages. February 17, 1981 · Ronald Reagan · EO 12291: Federal Regulation Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 12866 in 1993 Reagan required executive agencies to assess the costs and benefits of major regulations and submit significant proposals for review by the Office of Management and Budget. December 4, 1981 · Ronald Reagan · EO 12333: United States Intelligence Activities Expanded historical analysis · In force as amended; consult current agency rules The order sets out responsibilities and limits for US intelligence agencies. Later amendments changed its structure, and its application depends on statutes and agency procedures. April 2, 1982 · Ronald Reagan · EO 12356: National Security Information Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 12958 in 1995; subsequent classification orders govern Reagan set a government-wide system for classifying, safeguarding and declassifying national security information. September 15, 1986 · Ronald Reagan · EO 12564: Drug-Free Federal Workplace Expanded historical analysis · OPM continues to describe EO 12564 as a federal workplace program requirement Reagan directed executive agencies to establish drug-free workplace plans, including controlled testing and employee assistance. October 26, 1987 · Ronald Reagan · EO 12612: Federalism Expanded historical analysis · Revoked by EO 13083 in 1998; EO 13132 expressly revoked it again in 1999 Reagan directed executive agencies to assess how federal policies affect states and the division of governmental powers. August 2, 1990 · George H. W. Bush · EO 12722: Blocking Iraqi Government Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Iraq Expanded historical analysis · 1990 emergency terminated by EO 13350 in 2004; specified restrictions survived under later authorities After Iraq invaded Kuwait, Bush declared a national emergency, blocked Iraqi government property and prohibited specified transactions with Iraq. May 24, 1992 · George H. W. Bush · EO 12807: Interdiction of Illegal Aliens Expanded historical analysis · Amended by EO 13286 in 2003; referenced without displacement in a 2025 presidential memorandum Bush directed the Coast Guard to interdict certain sea voyages and return passengers outside the United States, amid the Haitian refugee crisis.