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Cultural Laureate Foundation (2)
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7580799
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Cultural Laureate Foundation (2)
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John O. Marsh Files (Ford Administration)
John Marsh's Bicentennial Subject Files
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American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976
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The original documents are located in Box 66, folder "Cultural Laureate Foundation (2)"
of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 66 of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THIRD CENTURY DECLARATION
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO a new nation was brought forth in this land, dedicated to
independence, to equal human rights, to opposition toward every tyranny over the mind of man,
and to the proposition that all people, with free access to information, have within them
the inherent ability to govern themselves.
when a nation so conceived in liberty reaches its 200th year, it seems proper for
its people to give an accounting of their stewardship and, in decent regard for the opinions
of mankind, make a new Declaration of their resolves for their Third Century of Independence.
LET IT BE KNOWN, therefore, that in 1976, as in 1776, we hold certain truths to be
self-evident; that all persons are created equal in rights, among them the right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In pursuance of these truths, we have preserved and
enlarged human rights, encouraged the growth of agriculture, industry and commerce for
ourselves and for others, maintained a legislature representative of the wishes of the
sovereign people, and assured so far as humanly possible the fair administration of justice.
We assemble in this Bicentennial period to recall and review the unfolding history
of a people governing themselves; a people drawn from the entire world, diverse in heritages
and outlooks and problems transformed by the chemistry of shared aspirations into a dynamic,
changing, evolving and giving society, pursuing the continual improvement of the human
condition.
We here and now reaffirm the promise of the Declaration of Independence as the
surest guide to our Third Century of Independence. We reaffirm that life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights of all Americans, and, to the extent they wish
these benefits for themselves, for all mankind.
On the occasion of our 200th anniversary of independence, we reassert the peoples'
rights to freedom of speech, the press and of all communication; the right to exercise
religion and worship according to one's own conscience; the right to peaceably assemble
and petition the government for a redress of grievances; the right to remain secure against
unreasonable searches and seizures and any manner of intervention that violates personal
privacy; and the continuing right of a sovereign people to govern themselves through
representatives and chief executives of their own choosing. We, at the same time, affirm
that the rights of each one do not extend to the violation of the rights of any others or
to the impairment of the whole society within which our rights alone are secure. As we
improve the human environment for all in our Third Century of Independence, we shall enlarge
each one's opportunity to achieve personal goals and aspirations.
Upholding these self-evident truths and in these proved beliefs, we look toward
our own and the world's future with faith that our tomorrow will be better than all our
yesterdays. In our Third Century of Independence we foresee an expansion of peoples'
freedom of thought, an evolution of new concepts, and an era of peaceful change, not away
from self-evident truths or human rights, but toward a human environment that will afford
all people lives which are more fulfilling.
WE, THEREFORE, citizens of the United States of America, do reaffirm the enduring
purposes of the Declaration of Independence and, with our trust in God, pledge our lives,
our fortunes and our sacred honor to continuing and enlarging those purposes in our Third
Century of Independence.
Drafted by,
Donald L. Miller
Washington, D.C.
June 19, 1974
A Cultural Laureate Bicentennial Initiative
1976
WORLD
LAUREATE
CULTURAL LAUREATE FOUNDATION, INC.
2030 North Lincoln Street, Arlington, Virginia 22207 telephone (703) 524-5552
ALLEN E. TURNER
PRESIDENT
June 27th, 1974
Ms. Becky L. Schergens
Assistant Director Special Projects
Office of the Secretary
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Ms. Schergens:
Enclosed are certain correspondence which I hope will stimulate a
re-examination of the relevance of the Laureate programs to the Department of
Education which you serve.
You may confirm with Mr. Hugh Hall that the Laureate program will be
on the first agenda of Mr. Warner's Bicentennial Council following its Presidential
appointment. The Arts, the Sciences, the Humanities, and other federal agencies
have now all responded affirmatively to the Laureate programs; HEW remains the only
holdout, which leaves us consternated and alarmed for those in the general academic
and educational community, one of the prime beneficiaries, interested parties and
intellectual and cultural groups of the nation, for HEW should be closely repre-
senting their interest in this proposed program.
We are now prepared to concentrate our efforts on convincing HEW that
this Bicentennial program also belongs to them.
Please let us know your present position on relevance for we certainly
do not desire to contend, and we are certain that somewhere in the Department is
a friendly open door, interested in the concept and its Bicentennial applications.
Cordially,
Allen E. Turner
President
CC:
$
Honorable Anne Armstrong
Counsellor to the President
Mr. Robert Miller
The White House
Datelined for the Bicentennial
Ms. Becky L. Schergens
-2-
June 27th, 1974
CC:
Mr. Andrew Wahlquist
Honorable Julia Butler Hansen
The White House
House of Representatives
Honorable Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
Honorable Jacob K. Javits
United States Senate
United States Senate
Honorable Roman L. Hruska
Honorable Strom Thurmond
United States Senate
United States Senate
Honorable William L. Scott
Honorable Joel T. Broyhill
United States Senate
House of Representatives
Honorable M. Caldwell Butler
House of Representatives
Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
Secretary of State
Honorable Caspar W. Weinberger
Secretary of HEW
Dr. Sidney P. Marland, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for Education
Department of HEW
Commissioner, Office of Education
Department of HEW
Mr. William Weld
National Endowment for the Arts
Dr. R. Lynn Carroll
National Science Foundation
Mr. Richard Stephens
National Science Foundation
Honorable John Richardson, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for Education
and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
Honorable John 0. Marsh
Office of the Vice President
Honorable Leonard Garment
The White House
AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL ADMINISTRATION
736 JACKSON PLACE, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20276
(202) 382-1776
June 11, 1974
Mr. Allen E. Turner
President
Cultural Laureate Foundation, Inc.
2030 North Lincoln Street
Arlington, Virginia 22207
Dear Mr. Turner:
I have been calling 524-5552 in hopes of reaching
you to advise that Mr. Warner will meet with you.
If you would be kind enough to call Herb Hetu on
382-1776 he will arrange a time that is mutually
convenient.
Sincerely,
Hugh
Hugh A. Hall
Assistant Administrator
NATIONAL
WASHINGTON
ENDOWMENT
D.C. 20506
FOR
THE ARTS
A Federal agency advised by the
National Council on the Arts
June 10, 1974
Mr. Allen Turner
President
Cultural Laureate Foundation, Inc.
Arlington, VA 22207
Dear Mr. Turner:
I am sorry to have been SO long in replying to your
letters of April 25 and May 20. My delay has been
occasioned by several absences from Washington and the
resulting pressures of work during the periods when I
was in my office.
In the meantime, your letter of May 20, 1974 has been
forwarded to me for reply, since Miss Hanks is recuper-
ating from a long illness and the date of her return
is still uncertain. In the responses below to the ques-
tions you raise in your letter to Miss Hanks, I have
sometimes referred to Endowment policy, and have some-
times expressed opinions. In the latter cases, the
opinions are mine, though I have tried to reflect views
which I believe would represent accurately the position
of the Chairman.
As I believe I told you when we met here, I do not find
any conflict between the objectives of the National En-
dowment for the Arts and the purposes of the Cultural
Laureate Foundation, although clearly the scope and
operation of the Cultural Laureate's proposed program
are quite dissimilar to those of this Endowment.
Individual members of the Endowment staff are in contact,
on a regular basis, with arts organizations of all kinds;
and the Endowment works closely with the state arts
agencies. The Endowment does not, however, have a regular
mechanism--such as a newsletter--for communicating with
or disseminating information to arts organizations across
the country.
Mr. Allen Turner
- 2 -
June 10, 1974
I am not an authority on awards which are made in the
arts, sciences and humanities; but I am aware of no pro-
gram in which awards are made at state, national or
international levels "in the name of the American people,"
as proposed by the Cultural Laureate Foundation. The
National Endowment for the Arts, as I assume you know,
makes a large number of grants each year, both to organi-
zations and to individuals. The grants are competitive
in the sense that the Endowment always receives more
qualified applications for a particular category of grant
than it can accommodate with available funds, but the
Endowment makes no attempt to select and honor "the best"
performer in any given field. Perhaps closer in concept
to the Cultural Laureate idea are the award programs of
such organizations as the National Institute of Arts
and Letters and the Nobel and Pulitzer Foundations. I
assume that you have considered how your activity would
complement or supplement what is done by such already-
established institutions.
As you say in your letter to Miss Hanks, what you pro-
pose is "epic"; it is therefore something which cannot
be quickly or easily realized. I can foresee, as I know
you have, many practical problems which you will have to
overcome before it becomes operative: the recruitment
of qualified selectors at each level; the coordination
of the Cultural Laureate awards with other similar initia-
tives; the raising of funds to support such an ambitious
endeavor, etc. In theory, I see no reason why these and
other problems cannot, as you put it, "be resolved in
a positive manner by people of good will and intelligence
SO that our nation may have the Cultural Laureate program
as a feature of the Bicentennial observances in 1976."
In practice, I must regretfully admit to grave doubts
that you can successfully surmount all the obstacles to
realization of your plans in the brief period now re-
maining before our Bicentennial year.
On the question of having Miss Hanks or a member of her
staff become a "founder" of the Cultural Laureate Founda-
tion, this Endowment's answer must be the same as that
given by Dr. Kingston, of the National Endowment for
the Humanities, in his letter of May 16, 1974. The
National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endow-
ment for the Humanities are governed by the same concerns
on matters of this nature.
CERALO R. FORD
Mr. Allen Turner
- 3 -
June 10, 1974
In reply to the sixth, and last, of the questions in
your letter to Miss Hanks, let me summarize what I trust
has emerged from the previous paragraphs of this com-
munication. It appears to me that the Cultural Laureate
Awards Program does not conflict with the objectives of
the National Endowment for the Arts. My reservations
about it are less in the area of the program's aims than
in the area of the implementation of those aims. If
these problems can be successfully resolved, I believe
the program may become a welcome addition to our country's
cultural life.
Sincerely yours,
in 4 Mild.,gr.
W.E. Weld, Jr.
Bicentennial Coordinator
CC to: John Schonleber
Hugh Hall
Leonard Garment
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10020
Room 5600
Circle 7-3700
May 23, 1974
Mr. Donald L. Miller
Vice President
Cultural Laureate Foundation, Inc.
2030 North Lincoln Street
Arlington, Virginia 22207
Dear Mr. Miller:
Mr. John D. Rockefeller 3rd has asked me to respond to
your letter of May 9th. We couldn't agree more with your
first paragraph about the need for private sector response
and the more visual demonstration of the point which you
sent to Mr. Rockefeller: "Don't throw in the sponge on the
Bicentennial." I take a great delight in showing that to
visitors to my office.
We are doing our best to prod the foundations and
corporations to become interested in the Bicentennial. Mr.
Rockefeller will limit himself to two major national projects
(the American Issues Forum and a plan for stimulating commun-
ity goal-setting in some ten to twenty cities) and to contin-
uing to communicate about the Bicentennial.
We have had such a tremendous number of requests from
people who either want to see Mr. Rockefeller or get financial
support from him that we have had to make a firm decision to
limit his involvement in the manner I have just described.
We are trying to get the private sector moving and yet every-
body seems to think that Mr. Rockefeller is the private sector.
One of the things we are going to do in the communications
side is to expand the circulation of the monthly publication
USA-200 which you may have seen. On that score I think we
should do a story on the Cultural Laureate idea whenever you
think the time is right for that. If you want to do that
please send me some descriptive materials and I will get back
to you with any questions that I have.
2.
We wish you success in your own endeavor and thank you
for your interest in the Bicentennial.
Best regards.
Sincerely,
John Han Joshn Harr
E.
Harr
Associate
John D. Rockefeller 3rd
enc.
" FORD
-
UNITED
10
STATES
UNITED
10
STATES
-
Cultural Laureate Foundation, Inc.
2030 N. Lincoln Street, Arlington, Va. 22207
Honorable John O. Marsh
Office of the Vice President
The White House
Washington, D.C.
S THE
SULLIVED OFFICE OF
VICE PRESIDENT 6001974
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John m. McCormack
1408 Holm m. McCormack Plast Office and Courthouse
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Boston. Massachus
July 02109 1819752
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GERALD
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FORD
August 14, 1975
Dear Don:
Many thanks for your letter of August 7 and
your report with regard to your conversation
with Allen Turner.
I am glad we had the opportunity to get together
again.
With warmest personal regards, I remain
Sincerely,
John O. Marsh, Jr.
Counsellor to the President
Mr. Donald L. Miller
309 Green Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
JOM:RAR:rs
GERALD PUNNIT R. FORD
DONALD L. MILLER
AUG 11 1975
309 GREEN STREET
ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA 22314
of
August 7, 1975
The Honorable
John O. Marsh, Jr.
Counselor to the President
sliats!
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Jack:
I deeply appreciate the amount of time
you were able to give the meeting on Tuesday.
I discussed all of the pertinent topics
we covered with Allen and he is in agreement
that now is the time for all of us to work
together to build a significant institution
of which you and I and the entire nation can
be proud for decades to come.
Thank you again for your understanding
and for your helpfulness in this matter.
Warm personal regards.
FORD
Sincerely,
Non
Donald L. Miller
DONALD L. MILLER
309 GREEN STREET
ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA 22314
The Honorable
John O. Marsh, Jr.
Counselor to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
m
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 4, 1975
MEMORANDUM TO:
JACK MARSH
FROM:
RUSS ROURKE
R
Jack, I spoke with Ted Marrs re Cultural Laureate program (I
had given Ted a memo on this subject about a week ago
I
have known Don Miller personally for 14 years). Ted plans
to hold a meeting in the very near future to include himself,
Milt Mitler, Bob Goldwin, Rourke, Don Miller, you (if you are
available). He does not plan to invite Alan Turner, with whom
he has had some difficulty (similar to our own. rather demanding
"I spoke with the President, and he told me to set up a meeting
with Jack Marsh, etc. ").
Ted thinks the program basically is a good one, but believes
that Turner would goof it up.
Will report to you further after our meeting.
(The meeting mentioned about has now been scheduled for Tuesday,
August 5, 1975 at 3:00 p.m. in Room 103.)
FO
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Cuttural
(aureate ?
Status
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
R -
\
11
Discuss
LIBRARY GERALD #. FORD
today
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Pull
Culture
Laureas file
STATE
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
A/m
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Jack-
Please see the
attached copy of
my letter of
8 July to Don
Miller -
R.
JUL 14 1975
1976
CULTURAL LAUREATE FOUNDATION, INC.
2030 North Lincoln Street, Arlington, Virginia 22207 telephone (703) 524-5552
July 12, 1975
ALLEN E. TURNER
PRESIDENT
The Honorable John 0. Marsh, Jr.
Counsellor to the President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Marsh:
I do not know how to effectively say that you may be delaying our
meaningful Bicentennial effort on behalf of the nation.
The President instructed me in April to get in touch with you to
arrange a meeting to brief him on Cultural Laureate Foundation progress.
Accordingly we have met with Dr. Theodore C. Marrs of your staff and
he reports he has recommended the meeting.
I do urge you to look into this matter without delay, and advise
us immediately if the President is or is not going to meet with us.
It is important that we proceed with knowledge of the Presidents
interest in our American Revolution Bicentennial Board approved
programs.
With cordial regards,
Allen E. Turner
Enclosure
in
FORD
GERALD
Datelined for the Bicentennial
July 12, 1975
Mr. Marsh:
Two prints of the Smithsonians
Centennial medallion are enclosed,
one of which has been updated for
suggested Congressional enactment to
national Bicentennial flag status.
ARBA's flag can only be flown at approved
program locations. Every American should
have a Bicentennial flag to fly.
AET
EPLURIBUS,
UNUM
Figure
Embroidery
C-A. 1876
China
Silk
Red, white and blue
and brown
Embroidered in heavy color with brown eagle. Flags and
shield in national colors. Made in last quarter of
19th Century, probably for the Centennial of 1876.
From the private collection of Bolseau Mastar
A Smithsonian Artifact
Framed by William Lane, Craftsman to the White House
Kennedy Administration
FORD
*****
EPLURIBUS.
UNUM
American Revolution
Bicentennial Administration
2401 E Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20276
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1776-1976
June 24, 1975
Mr. Allen E. Turner
President, Cultural Laureate
Foundation, Inc.
2030 North Lincoln Street
Arlington, Virginia 22207
Dear Mr. Turner:
This is in response to your recent letter requesting
my views regarding action by the U.S. Congress on the
Third Century Declaration prepared under the auspices
of the Cultural Laureate Foundation, Inc.
I will applaud any Bicentennial initiatives of the
Congress, including that of the Third Century Decla-
ration and any other Bicentennial action or initiative.
Harner In the Spirit of '76,
John W. Warner
Administrator
THIRD CENTURY DECLARATION
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO a new nation was brought forth in this land, dedicated to
independence, to equal human rights, to opposition toward every tyranny over the mind of man,
and to the proposition that all people, with free access to information, have within them
the inherent ability to govern themselves.
When a nation so conceived in liberty reaches its 200th year, it seems proper for
its people to give an accounting of their stewardship and, in decent regard for the opinions
of mankind, make a new Declaration of their resolves for their Third Century of Independence.
LET IT BE KNOWN, therefore, that in 1976, as in 1776, we hold certain truths to be
self-evident; that all persons are created equal in rights, among them the right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In pursuance of these truths, we have preserved and
enlarged human rights, encouraged the growth of agriculture, industry and commerce for
ourselves and for others, maintained a legislature representative of the wishes of the
sovereign people, and assured so far as humanly possible the fair administration of justice.
We assemble in this Bicentennial period to recall and review the unfolding history
of a people governing themselves; a people drawn from the entire world, diverse in heritages
and outlooks and problems transformed by the chemistry of shared aspirations into a dynamic,
changing, evolving and giving society, pursuing the continual improvement of the human
condition.
we here and now reaffirm the promise of the Declaration of Independence as the
surest guide to our Third Century of Independence. We reaffirm that life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights of all Americans, and, to the extent they wish
these benefits for themselves, for all mankind.
On the occasion of our 200th anniversary of independence, we reassert the peoples'
rights to freedom of speech, the press and of all communication; the right to exercise
religion and worship according to one's own conscience; the right to peaceably assemble
and petition the government for a redress of grievances; the right to remain secure against
unreasonable searches and seizures and any manner of intervention that violates personal
privacy; and the continuing right of a sovereign people to govern themselves through
representatives and chief executives of their own choosing. We, at the same time, affirm
that the rights of each one do not extend to the violation of the rights of any others or
to the impairment of the whole society within which our rights alone are secure. As we
improve the human environment for all in our Third Century of Independence, we shall enlarge
each one's opportunity to achieve personal goals and aspirations.
Upholding these self-evident truths and in these proved beliefs, we look toward
our own and the world's future with faith that our tomorrow will be better than all our
yesterdays. In our Third Century of Independence we foresee an expansion of peoples'
freedom of thought, an evolution of new concepts, and an era of peaceful change, not away
from self-evident truths or human rights, but toward a human environment that will afford
all people lives which are more fulfilling.
WE, THEREFORE, citizens of the United States of America, do reaffirm the enduring
purposes of the Declaration of Independence and, with our trust in God, pledge our lives,
our fortunes and our sacred honor to continuing and enlarging those purposes in our Third
Century of Independence.
Drafted by,
Donald L. Miller
Washington, D.C.
June 19, 1974
A Cultural Laureate Bicentennial Initiative
File
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
5/2/75
Hand delivered attached to John
Borling. Contact will be made
directly
RR
Jurner
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Jurner,
aleen
April 28, 1975
MEMO TO:
JACK MARSH
FROM:
RUSS ROURKE
Allen Turner says he spoke with the President
the other night at the dinner in Virginia, regarding
the Cultural Laureate program. He called to
NO
arrange an appointment with the President for
purpose of briefing him on his program, and to
present him with a little flag. The President suggested
he get in touch with you. Basically then, Allen
called to request you to Trange a meeting with the
President for the aforementigned purposes. Turner
is convinced "the President is looking for something
to unite the country, and my program is the vehicle
through which this can be accomplished".
Your advice?
Ted MARRS
To JOM
Date 4-28
Time 4:05
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
M allen Turner
of actural Lorette Foundation
Phone
524-5552
Area Code
Number
Extension
TELEPHONED
PLEASE CALL
CALLED TO SEE YOU
WILL CALL AGAIN
WANTS TO SEE YOU
URGENT
RETURNED YOUR CALL
Message
X
Operator
ol
EFFICIENCY ® LINE NO. 4725 AN AMPAD PRODUCT
July 8, 1975
Dear Don:
Many thanks for your letter of June 30 and your detailed
discussion of certain facets of your Cultural Laureate program.
As you correctly suggest in your letter, Ted Marrs has been
designated as the preeminent White House operative for Bicen-
tennial affairs. For that reason, Jack Marsh properly referred
the Cultural Laureate matter to Ted.
In response to your letter, I am contacting Ted Marrs directly.
I shall ask Ted or a member of his staff to get back to you with a
final report on the requested meeting with the President.
I hope you and Norma have a great time on your visit to England.
With warmest personal regards, 1 remain,
Sincerely,
Russell A. Rourke
Deputy to Presidential Counsellor,
John O. Marsh, Jr.
Mr. Donald L. Miller
309 Green Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
TRAED 4. FORD
RAR:cb
July 8, 1975
MEMORANDUM TO:
TED MARRS
FROM:
RUSS ROURKE
I have known Don Miller on a professional basis
for many years. He's a former Naval Intelligence
Offleer. Very conservative. Anything you choose
to do, or not do, with the attached, will be just
fine with me.
Thanks.
RAR:db
JUN 30 1975
DONALD L. MILLER
309 GREEN STREET
ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA 22314
June 30, 1975
Mr. Russell A. Rourke
Administrative Assistant to
Hon. John O. Marsh Jr.
FORD is GERALD LIBRARY
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Russ:
In proof reading a new Federal-State-Local-Government
Directory one of my little companies is publishing I read
your name and enjoyed a moment of pleasure. How amazing
are the turnings of the paths of life!
Since talking with last I have been around the world
again - Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, but also South
Vietnam ( just as it was falling) and Laos, and back thru
Europe. A private citizen on business of sorts sees the world
in much more human terms than the government official, a
point I once made to Bryce Harlow who seemed very unimpressed
by it.
It was obvious to me in March and April, as it is to
some others now, that those who prefer the western to the
socialist or the communist order of things are retreating
all over the world. The scene reminds me of efforts some years
ago to bring Charles Malik here.
All the great struggles that have been made and lost. Well,
I am in the midst of another which I hope to win, not for my
sake, but for the country. Some years ago a few of us got
behind the Cultural Laureate Foundation, an imaginative prógrám
to designate high achievers in every useful field of knowledge
as Laureates and, so, focus American attention upon positive
achievement in our society rather upon negative criticism.
Nearly everyone likes the concept. The American Revolution
Bicentennial Board has encouraged us officially. John Warner
recently let us know he would applaud action by the Congress on
one of our initiatives - The Third Century Declaration. The National
Association of Realtors will support us nationally. A new Board
member is the wife of a former president of the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, currently an advisor to the Reynolds Metals family.
A short while ago the CLF President, Allen Turner, talked
with the President at a dinner in the Marriott. The upshot was
that President Ford asked Allen to arrange with Jack Marsh for
a meeting with the President in the White House. Jack turned the
DONALD L. MILLER
309 GREEN STREET
ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA 22314
page 2
matter over to Ted Marrs. Allen and I and another associate, Jason
Stern had a good talk with Dr. Marrs. As the result, Dr. Marrs
sent our request for a meeting with President Ford to whomever
gets such requests along with his recommendation for it.
Meanwhile, Russ, the President of the National Association of
Realtors, Mrs. Rice, the wife of the former U.S. Chamber President,
and several others have come to regard a brief meeting with the
President for his private blessing on their efforts as very important.
They see the President kicking a soccer ball with Pele and wonder
when the President will meet with them.
It would be most helpful if we could get a decision that the
President will meet with a few people briefly on the Cultural
Laureate or will not. Either way it would clear the decks for
everyone to move ahead.
All we want is a response.
Incidentally, I'll be off to England July 5 after my annual
July 4 visit to Mt. Vernon. Norma and I will be there for about
two weeks going to the theatre and doing a little work on a
Bicentennial travel/cultural exchange program.
Sometime, I'd very much like to get together with you for
some old times talk.
Warm personal regards.
Sincerely,
Don
296-4870
548-2140
January 31, 1975
Dear Don:
Thank you for your letter of January 27 and
your report on your meeting with ARBA with
regard to the Cultural Laureate program.
With all good wishes, I remain,
Sincerely,
John O. Marsh, Jr.
Counsellor to the President
Mr. Donald L. Miller
Vice President
Cultural Laureate Foundation
309 Green Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
JOM:rcb
GERALA R. FORD
DONALD L. MILLER
309 GREEN STREET
ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA 22314
JAN 28 1975
January 27, 1975
The Honorable
John O. Marsh, Jr.
Counselor to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Jack:
I thought you would be interested in the
outcome of our Cultural Laureate confrontation
with the American Revolution Bicentennial Admin-
istration.
The discussions with John Warner, Dr. Squires,
Senator Brooke and the others took a great deal
of our time and theirs, but that is the American
system. We hammered out the issue on the anvil of
debate.
As a consequence the American Revolution
Bicentennial Board unanimously voted the enclosed
resolution commending and encouraging the Laureate
as having potential etc.
In discussions with Dr. Squires, Hugh Hall,
Gene Skora and John Warner, Dr. Squires suggested
that when the Laureate is a bit farther along, we
could come back for official recognition.
We are happy, and I personally want to thank
you for everything you did to assure us a fair
hearing.
Warm personal regards.
senteopy to T. marrs
Sincerely,
LIGRARY DERALD to FORD
R
very
Nm
Donald L. Miller
Vice President
Cultural Laureate Fdn.
very brief Adc
DONALD L. MILLER
309 GREEN STREET
ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA 22314
January 27, 1975
The Honorable
John W. Warner
Administrator
American Revolution Bicentennial Administration
736 Jackson Place N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20276
Dear Mr. Warner:
Since I carried the burden of the presentations
on the Cultural Laureate program, I want to thank
you, especially, for your ready willingness to
listen to us, and for the ultimate fairness of
your judgment.
ARBA's mission of encouraging whatever cele-
brates the USA, recalls its past, projects its
future, and improves its environment ( intellectual
as well as material, I would hope) is fulfilled in
the decision on the Laureate.
On our part we pledge mutual cooperation toward
making this a meaningful Bicentennial.
As a personal note, I was pleased to note that
you are about to become an honored member of our
Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Company.
Sincerely,
Donald L. Miller
Vice President
Cultural Laureate Foundation
CC: Hon. John O. Marsh, Jr.
ARBB-15
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Cultural Laureate Foundation, Inc., a non-profit
corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
has applied to the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration
for official recognition for a nationwide program of Cultural Laureate
awards for excellence in various fields; and
WHEREAS, The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration
cannot by policy accord official recognition to programs which are
primarily award-granting programs.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Revolution
Bicentennial Board commends the individual initiatives which developed
the concept of the Cultural Laureate program. The Board feels it is
in the spirit of the national commemoration and encourages the further
development of the program as having the potential for making a mean-
ingful contribution to the Bicentennial and to the nation as it enters
its third century.
The Resolution was moved, seconded and passed at a meeting of the
Board on January 22, 1975.
Edward W. Brooke
Chairman, Pro Tem
:
FORD
Engine Eugene J. Skora
Secretary