Over 700 opera groups are active.

Hundreds of thousands of our younger people now play in orchestras and bands. There has been a spectacular increase and improvement of the off-Broadway theaters, in summer stock, and in university dramatics.

Today we have more widespread exhibitions of first-class painting and sculpture, and more cities with at least one distinguished work of contemporary architecture. Our American architects are world famous.

The earlier trickle of foreign students at American universities, and Americans studying abroad, has become a respectable stream. Today, nearly 50,000 foreign students are studying in America, while some 14,000 of our own students are enrolled abroad.

In short, our measurable trend in the arts does not indicate an America that lacks cultural consciousness. Far from it. I believe that we are at the beginning of our cultural thrust. But I also believe that what we have achieved in the art field is only a start in relation to what we must do.

In answer to your specific questions:

In my opinion, it would be better, at this time, to appoint an Advisory Council on the Arts, composed of the best qualified Americans in all the cultural fields, than a Secretary of Culture. In this way, the views of a larger number of competent professionals in the several arts could be heard nationally. This Council should make recommendations to the President and Congress as to the best line of Federal action in support of artistic endeavor. It might also be helpful in suggesting steps by which State and local governments might stimulate private cultural activities.

Legislation to create such a Council has been introduced in Congress with broad bipartisan backing. I support this idea, and will work for its passage. In response to your question whether the encouragement of art, in the broadest sense, should be a function of the Federal Government or one more properly left to local authorities, my position is that both the Federal and local authorities have a proper role to play. Obviously, the building of local civic and art centers is primarily a matter for local authorities. However, programs such as our present international cultural exchange programs are clearly much more suitable to Federal assistance.

We must, of course, remember that in America the pursuit of culture is an individual matter. We do not have a state controlled or state directed culture. Assistance, therefore, should be indirect-scholarships, exchange programs, encouragement rather than subsidy.

As an illustration, the U.S. Government already has committed itself to support the building of a National Cultural Center in Washington. This center to be constructed with private funds, was conceived with full bipartisan support as an effort to promote creative activities and the performing arts throughout the Nation. I personally pledge full support to the successful realization of this project.

With reference to our international cultural exchange programs, we must continue to encourage and expand our efforts in this direction. Our arts, industries, and sciences are open to the world. We welcome persons from abroad who want to have the opportunity to learn our ways and come to know more about us. In turn, Americans have much to learn from these visitors and from our trips abroad.

I can see no reason to limit these exchange programs in terms of their geographical scope. Unless unusual circumstances would warrant a change, I would continue to support the cultural exchange program with the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries-on the same scale as now with a view to future expansion.

In my view, these programs are best managed under the direction of the State Department. Cultural exchange programs necessitate a great deal of intergovernmental cooperation, and the State Department is in a unique position to make the necessary arrangements. I think the operation of the "Voice of America"-which I regard as a highly successful program-illustrates the point. We should give consideration to expanding and improving the "Voice of America” program because it has done such an effective job up to now.

I hope these views will be of interest to readers of the Saturday Review and I am grateful for the opportunity to express them.

Sincerely,

RICHARD M. NIXON.

DEAR MR. KOLODIN: I will attempt to answer the Saturday Review questionnaire as completely as possible.

1. The Government cannot order that culture exist, but the Government can and should provide the climate of freedom, deeper and wider education, and intellectual curiosity in which culture flourishes. If I thought the addition of a Secretary of Culture to the Cabinet would insure culture. I would be for it. I do not think such a department would accomplish the purpose. It might even stultify the arts, if wrongly administered. We have more than enough conformity now.

The platform of the Democratic Party proposes a Federal advisory agency "to assist in the evaluation, development and expansion of cultural resources of the United States. We shall support legislation needed to provide incentives for those endowed with extraordinary talent as a worthy supplement to existing scholarship programs."

If the people send me to the White House, I shall push this program. A gifted child deserves the finest education this Nation can provide. He is a national asset, whether his gift is to paint, write, design a jet airliner or a dramatic set, or explore the cosmos with a radio telescope. His worth cannot be estimated in the ledgers of the budgeteers.

2. The Federal Government already operates the National Gallery and the Freer and Corcoran Galleries, plus the magnificent Smithsonian Museum. The Library of Congress is perhaps the world's greatest repository of culture. The National Archives preserves the historical record of the Nation. I favor expansion of all these facilities so that all citizens have easier access to the cultural resources now centered in Washington. I do not believe Federal funds should support symphony orchestras or opera companies, except when they are sent abroad in cultural exchange programs.

3. The Democratic Party has accepted the responsibility of participating in the advance of culture. We fight for an end to apathy and a renaissance of purpose in America. We intend that our children be prepared, in education, health, and vision, to challenge a world of exploding technology-of great present danger but unlimited hope. Our children will reach, literally, for the stars. Ours is the renascent party-the party of humanity, of strength, of leadership. Our philosophy is quite simple. When an organism stops growing, it starts dying. This is true for nations as well as men, and for spirit and mind as well as material things. I am determined that we begin to grow again, and that there be an American renaissance in which imagination, daring, and the creative arts point the way.

4. Certainly.

5. On a larger scale. If every student in the U.S.S.R. and the satellites could tour the United States and compare what they see with what they have been told, I would have little fear of future wars. Conversely, Americans have much to learn abroad. One of our greatest strategic shortages is knowledge of foreign languages.

6. The State Department.

7. The National Cultural Center should be erected as speedily as possible. The private contributions have been welcome and helpful, and I hope will continue.

8. The encouragement of art, in the broadest sense, is indeed a function of government. It has always been so, in a tradition that extends from the most glorious days of Greece. It will be the responsibility of the advisory agency, which will be appointed in accordance with the pledge of the Democratic platform, to decide in what manner this shall be done.

At this moment, the Federal Government acts as art patron to only one person-the Consultant in Poetry and English at the Library of Congress. And his salary is paid through a private, anonymous bequest.

I think we can do better than that, if only by alleviating the unfair tax burden borne by writers, painters, and other creative artists. They may exist on small incomes for years to perfect their skills, and then be plundered by the Treasury in a single year of plenty.

But the problem is not simply one of money. It is one of attitude. It is a question of whether we are more interested in reading books of making book, in Maverick or Macbeth, Zorro rather than Zola, Peter Gunn or Peter Gynt. In this day of crisis, "Wisdom is better than strength *** a wise man better than a strong one."

If this Nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all-except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the critcisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.

For

The

9. The "Voice of America" should be revitalized and strengthened. "Voice" is only one part-shortwave broadcast-of the U.S. Information Agency. Shortwave radio is the media best suited to carrying news, commentary, and music. At this time, the most popular program is American jazz, which, incidentally is very good propaganda. The news operation should be speeded. It is in a life-and-death competition with Radio Moscow and Tass. With television becoming more important the world over, I feel that the USIA should also concentrate on producing documentaries for foreign broadcast.

10. Pay TV is currently being tested in both the United States and Canada. I prefer to reserve judgment until these tests give definitive evidence upon whether pay TV is in the current interest.

Sincerely,

JOHN F. KENNEDY,

U.S. Senator.

American political leaders learn very quickly. The quickest conversion in history, however, apparently took place in the case of President John F. Kennedy.

Let me illustrate by recalling the question asked both Presidential candidates which the Saturday Review published on October 29, 1960: To what extent should the Federal Government assist in the support of symphony orchestras, museums, opera companies, etc.?

To this, Candidate Kennedy replied:

The Federal Government already operates the National Gallery and the Freer and Corcoran Galleries, plus the magnificent Smithsonian museum. The Library of Congress is perhaps the world's greatest repository of culture. The National Archives preserves the historical record of the Nation. I favor expansion of all these facilities so that all citizens have easier access to the cultural resources now centered in Washington. I do not believe Federal funds should support symphony orchestras or opera companies, except when they are sent abroad in -cultural exchange programs.

Let us pass over the obvious, that the Federal Government does not operate, or contribute one smidgeon of support, to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in the Nation's Capital.

Let us simply point out that by early November, and before the election, Candidate Kennedy was taking a strong position in support of Federal financial aid for the fine arts.

His exact words in Equity magazine, published by the powerful Actors' Equity Association, which is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, only a few days later are as follows-and this leads me to hail this as a "conversion";

I am in full sympathy with the proposal for a federally supported foundation to provide encouragement and opportunity to nonprofit, private and civic groups in the performing arts. When so many other nations officially recognize and support the performing arts as a part of their national cultural heritage, it seems to me unfortunate that the United States has been so slow in coming to a similar recognition.

I think the civic and cultural leaders of the United States (who are as deeply interested in the advancement of American art and culture as they are in the preservation of the ancient treasures of the Nilewhich President Kennedy has asked the Congress to appropriate $10 million to accomplish) should pay particular attention to whether

this was truly a permanent "conversion" or whether it was only a "campaign" conversion on the part of the President.

We must remember that President Kennedy introduced legislation to save the historic buildings on Lafayette Square, including the Belasco Theater, and was joined by eight Democratic Senators, and that the President went through the campaign last fall with this as his position. Certainly we must hold him to this promise. The Federal Advisory Council on the Arts must be deeply concerned with preservation of our historic treasures in buildings, sites, and art in the same way that national programs in Europe are. One-quarter of our historic buildings have disappeared in the past 20 years largely as a result of federally financed building programs from highways to urban renewal projects. This is nothing less than criminal and it must be stopped. If the Council can stop the destruction of the Belasco Theater and the John Philip Sousa Home in the Nation's Capital then we will know it is not just a figurehead group and that it is worthy of its role.

I include, as part of my remarks, a speech on the subject of "Music and Public Education" which Dr. Finis E. Engleman, executive secretary, American Association of School Administrators, gave to the 1961 meeting of the Music Educators National Conference. In this connection I would like to call to the attention of the members of this Select Subcommittee on Education the following resolution which was adopted by vote of the 9,000 members of the American Association of School Administrators who attended their convention in Atlantic City, N.J., in February 1959. The resolution was as follows:

TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION ON THE CREATIVE ARTS, ADOPTED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN CONVENTION IN ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., FEBRUARY 18, 1959

The American Association of School Administrators commends the president, the executive committee, and the staff for selecting the creative arts as the general theme for the 1959 convention. We believe in a well-balanced school curriculum in which music, drama, painting, poetry, sculpture, architecture, and the like are included side by side with other important subjects such as mathematics, history, and science. It is important that pupils, as a part of general education, learn to appreciate, to understand, to create, and to criticize with discrimination, those products of the mind, the voice, the hand, and the body which give dignity to the person and exalt the spirit of man.

I am pleased to be able to say that the National Music Council, which represents the entire field of music in our country, has adopted resolutions strongly supporting H.R. 4172 and H.R. 4174.

I include a number of other items on the arts, which I am convinced should be made a part of the hearing record at this time, so that they may be studied carefully by the members of the Federal advisory council on the arts when that council gets underway. Certainly, one of the first projects it must tackle, other than the saving of the Lafayette Square buildings, is that of the absurdly high salaries, some of them higher by as much as $1,000 a week than the salary of the President of the United States, which are paid to some artists by the Department of State under the President's Program of International Cultural Exchange.

We must have such cultural exchanges, of course, but such salaries make a travesty of this program. The Federal Advisory Council has a major role to play, indeed, if our arts are to be anything more than a convenient vehicle to get the top Federal officials and their wives

of the "New Frontier" on the society pages of our newspapers. This kind of personal glorification and publicity has nothing at all to do with art but it has a lot to do with politics.

The Federal Advisory Council should also take a long, hard look at the monopolization of the Carter Barron Amphitheater by commercial entertainment to the complete exclusion of the National Symphony Orchestra and other civic, nonprofit cultural programs of the Nation's Capital such as the Washington Ballet Co., the Washington Civic Opera Co., and the Children's Theater of Washington.

The plans which have been developed by Senator Clinton Anderson to deprive the National Collection of Fine Arts of the home which the Congress provided in 1958 in the historic Patent Office Building must be critically examined and disapproved by the Federal Advisory Council on the Arts. I have included articles on these matters. (The items referred to follow :)

[H. J. Res. 386, 87th Cong., 1st sess.]

JOINT RESOLUTION Designating the first week of May each year as "National Music Week"

Whereas the National Federation of Music Clubs for many years has sponsored the observance of the first full week in May as National Music Week; and Whereas one of the purposes of this annual observance has been to focus national attention on music, as well as on those allied arts and those industries dependent upon music such as the theater, ballet, motion pictures, radio, television, and the recording industries; and

Whereas music is a proven, effective, and major media of communication and understanding between all peoples for the advancement of peace and mutual good will; and

Whereas an understanding of other peoples can best be achieved from the firm foundation of a knowledge of, and respect for, our own arts and culture; and

Whereas George Washington, our first President, declared that an education which included the fine arts was essential to enable our youth to develop a true understanding of our form of government and the true and genuine liberties of mankind, and said that the arts essential to the ornament and happiness of human life have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind; and

Whereas Pope Pius XII in his encyclical letter on the subject of music declared that "Music is among the many and great gifts of nature with which God, in whom is the harmony of the most perfect concord and the most perfect order, has enriched men" and added that "music contributes to spiritual joy and the delight of the soul"; and

Whereas President Eisenhower, in his 1955 state of the Union message stated that: "In the advancement of the various activities which will make our civilization endure and flourish, the Federal Government should do more to give official recognition to the importance of the arts and other cultural activities; and

Whereas many outstanding organizations have participated actively in the observance of National Music Week, among them being the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; the American Guild of Musical Artists; the National Association of Schools of Music; and the National Music Council; and

Whereas music must have a major role in any great overall plan to give the signficant overarching cultural climate needed to make it possible for the Nation's Capital to take its place beside other world capitals in regard to the fine arts: Now, therefore, be it.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the seven-day period beginning on the first Sunday in May of each year is hereby designated as National Music Week. The President shall issue annually a proclamation calling on the American people to observe National Music Week with appropriate ceremonies in order to advance the art of music and those arts and industries dependent upon music such as