Letter from Harry S. Truman to Eleanor Roosevelt

Vth for jay o A WASHINGTONI HOUSE like August 24, 1949 the THE WAITE Dear Mrs. Ropsevelt: duc a lot It gives me great pleasure to invite you to serve as member of the National Committee for the Midcentury White House Conference on Children and Youth. A This will be the fifth in a series of conferences on chil- economic to dren held every ten years on the call of the President of the United States. Each of the earlier conferences made notable contributions national understanding of the needs of children and youth and to the development of principles and programs to advance their well- being. I know of no greater challenge facing the world today than how it can help its children to be secure in themselves, in their families and in their communities. It is through secure and happy children and families that we make an important contribution toward that kind of national and international well-being that makes for world peace. The Midcentury White House Conference on Children and Youth has, I believe, a rare opportunity to turn its searchlight on the great advances made in the last decade in health, welfare and educa- tion. Part of the responsibility of the Conference will be to bring together our best knowledge about children and to ascertain ways of applying this knowledge in homes, schools, churches and the entire community. Through the cooperation of State and local groups through- out the Nation, I am asking that study be undertaken of significant, unsolved problems in child life in this country. Through the joint efforts of citizen groups everywhere, and of competent experts, I look for solutions to some of the unanswered questions about child life in this country, for guides to parents and to all who work with children. Groundwork has been well laid for the Conference by the National Commission on Children and Youth, the Federal Interdepart- mental Committee on Children and Youth, and many cooperating national organizations and State committees, as well as individuals having broad concern for children and their needs. The Congress has made possible the work that has been done to inaugurate this project by appropriating funds to the Children's Bureau.