With the signature of Executive Order 10925 in 1961, President
             John F. Kennedy created the President's Commission on Equal Employment
             Opportunity, and thus, began transforming the world of minorities, woman
             and the handicapped to equal existence with Caucasian males (Shelton
             10). Still, this was only the foundation for a debate, which had begun
             decades prior to Kennedy's presidency. As "...one of the most
             significant public policies of the twentieth-century..." affirmative
             action is surrounded by controversy and criticism (Soni 1). Affirmative
             action is intended to benefit groups plagued with life-long
             discrimination (LaNoue 1). Significantly, there are many definitions
             and justifications given for affirmative action. The most recent
             justification is cultural diversity (Carney 2). A comprehensive
             definition of affirmative action may include, "...any effort taken to
             fully integrate our society by expanding educational, employment and
             contracting opportunities to the multitude of gender, ethic, national
             origin, and handicapped-condition groups that have been and remain
             locked out of full economic, social, and/or political participation in
             our country" (Shelton 9). Through the examination of the history and
             motive for affirmative action, one may better determine their ethical
             Discrimination has been part of society since the beginning of
             America. Initially, discrimination was limited to African-Americans, as
             they served as slaves on plantations (Banfield 13). However, over the
             years discrimination has spread to nearly every race and class.
             President Franklin D. Roosevelt very limitedly began the grounds for the
             establishment of the affirmative action program. In 1941 he signed
             Executive Order 8802 "...which outlawed segregationist hiring policies
             by defense-related industries which held federal contracts" (Skyes 1).
             Next, President Johnson took another positive step in equali...