Remarks on Receiving a
Report From the President's Committee on the Arts and
Humanities
Well,
good afternoon to all of you. And you probably think I was invited to talk to
you today because I have a little pull with the Honorary Chairman. [Laughter]
Seriously, I'm delighted to be with you today to receive the report of the
President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. And it comes at a time of
reflection for me, a time to look back and see what we've done and how we did
it. And I don't mind telling all of you how very proud I am of the work that
you all have done and how proud I am that this administration has lived by the
philosophy that when it comes to the arts and humanities the Nation is best
when government intrudes the least.
At
the beginning of this administration, there were many who believed we were
antagonistic to the arts because in our search for ways to cut the Federal
budget we looked at arts funding as critically as we looked at everything else.
But that idea was nonsense. In fact, what opposition there was to government
funding for the arts was rooted in a deeply held conviction that it is not the
place, and should not be the place, for government officials to determine what
is good art and what is bad art. That path is a dangerous one for a democratic
society -- well, for any society, to take. No, the determination of such things
should be left to women and men of taste and education, and indeed, finally, to
history itself.
And
yet we faced a very real dilemma. If not the Government, then
who? How could the arts, the lively arts and the visual arts, spread
across the country instead of being concentrated in just a few cities where
there was enough private support? And that's where you all came in. This
Committee, which was created by Executive order in 1982, has been instrumental
in expanding arts funding in this country, devising innovative methods of
fundraising from private sector sources in tandem with Federal and State
resources. And in the process, you've revolutionized the way Americans think
about the arts and humanities and have made American business understand that a
literate and cultured
All
of you have made concrete, lasting contributions to the arts and humanities,
and the Committee couldn't have been more ably served. One
special note of thanks to your Chairman, Andrew Heiskell.
Andrew, your stewardship as Chairman throughout the 6 years of the Committee's
existence has been invaluable. Nancy and I are especially delighted that you
are here today.
And
one final word: I hope that the national dialog about the central role played
by Western culture in the very concept of the humanities will continue. Western
culture represents the flowering of the best that has been thought and said by
humankind and is every American's birthright. Let us never forget that and let
us aim to bring its bounties to every American.
Let
me assure you, I'm going to read this and share it with George. So, I thank you
all again, and God bless you. And now Nancy and I are going over there in front
of the fireplace and hope we'll have a chance to shake hands and have our
picture taken with each one of you.
Note: The President
spoke at