The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Robert D. Powers, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from August 1960 to May 1964 as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Navy. As a leading national authority in the field of international law, Rear Admiral Powers has written outstanding articles and opinions which have become persuasive and authoritative precedents in the field of the law of the sea and its relationship to the preservation of United States seapower and military posture. Widely acclaimed for his realistic and practical assessment of crises which have confronted the United States during the recent stages of the cold war, he played a major role in connection with the Cuban quarantine of 1962 by drafting a proclamation which was ultimately announced to the world by the late President John F. Kennedy and which triggered the quarantine. In addition, he drafted the regulations which the United States put into force to ensure all ships of all nations not carrying offensive weapons to Cuba would continue to enjoy their lawful freedom to reasonable use of the high seas.