Every President Since 1965 Has Supported the National Endowment for the Humanities
Established by an act of Congress in 1965 to “promote progress in the humanities in the United States,” the mission of the National Endowment for the Humanities has been strongly endorsed by every U.S. president throughout the agency’s history. Notable presidential statements include:
President Johnson:
“The humanities are an effort to explore the nature of man’s culture and to deepen understanding of the sources and goals of human activity. Our recommendations recognize this effort as a central part of the American national purposed, and provide modest support for those whose work offers promise of extending the boundaries of understanding.” (Statement introducing the Administration’s bill to create a National Foundation on the Arts and the humanities, March 1965)
President Nixon:
“The attention and support we give the arts and the humanities — especially as they affect our young people — represent a vital part of our commitment to enhancing a quality of life for all Americans…
“At a time of severe budget stringency, doubling of the appropriation for the arts and the humanities might seem extravagant. However, I believe that the need for a new impetus to the understanding and expression of the American idea has a compelling claim on our resources.” (Special message to Congress introducing the Administrations’ bill to reauthorize the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act, December 1969)
President Ford:
“The humanistic traditions upon which this Nation was built still provide the moral and political basis of our life as a people….The Endowment’s efforts over the past ten years have been noteworthy. Public support for its programs and objectives can be measured by its increasing ability to attract public contributions that have, in the past 5 years, exceeded the federally appropriated funds set aside to match them…This reaffirmation of public confidence justified, I believe, the strong support the Endowment has received from both the legislative and the executive branches.” (Letter to Congress transmitting NEH’s ninth Annual Report, June 1975)
President Carter:
“I welcome the opportunity to pledge the Carter Administrations’ strong support for the humanities, which must have an ever widening role in the enrichment of our daily lives….I believe that to be truly effective, humanities programs must keep alive the wisdom of the past and apply it to developing the wisdom of our generation so that we may continue to build in the spirit of our ancestors a better, more just and more responsive social order.” (Message on the occasion for the sixth Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities, April 1977)
President Reagan:
“We have re-examined the National Endowments in light of current economic and political conditions [and] we have concluded that our Federal government bears a responsibility for encouraging and protecting the arts and the humanities.” (Remarks on receiving the report of the Presidential Task Force on the Arts and the Humanities, October 1981)
“I want to…express my personal commitment to the humanities and to reaffirm that Administration’s support of the National Endowment for the Humanities…[O]ur Administration has shown that it can use its limited resources to support basic disciplines and essential activities of the humanities. It also has shown that through example and encouragement the federal government can attempt to stimulate increased private sector giving for the humanities. We believe that such federal activity is appropriate for the humanities are crucial to the vitality of our Nation’s educational and cultural life and the maintenance of our civilization.” (Remarks at a ceremony honoring Independent Research Libraries as recipients of special initiative grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, December 1982)
President George H. W. Bush:
“Direct Federal expenditures and tax incentives for preserving America’s cultural heritage are a relatively small part of the [federal] budget. For a variety of reasons of political and cultural philosophy, they must remain so. But they should never be viewed as so small that they should be overlooked, nor so insignificant that they might be dismissed…Only through the memory and understanding of our past, and the past of other countries whose civilizations have contributed to ours, and to the world, can we gain a true sense of the present and the ways in which we might influence the future.” (From the President’s fiscal year 1991 budget request to Congress, January 1990)
“I am delighted to extend warm greetings and congratulations to the staff and friends of the National Endowment for the Humanities as you celebrate its 25th anniversary….The National Endowment for the Humanities has given the American people a wealth of opportunities to learn more about our nation’s history and culture. Its grants, in combination with matching funds raised through private resources, ha e not only enabled teachers to attend special seminars but also enabled researchers to visit distant archives. They have also helped colleges to create professorships and improve their course offerings, and they have enabled community libraries to sponsor book discussions. Endowment grants have also underwritten major educational and cultural events such as the exhibition of “The Treasures of Tutankhamen,” as well as historical television series such as The Adams Chronicles and, now The Civil War. By helping to make these learning opportunities possible, the National Endowment for the Humanities has enriched the lives of millions of Americans. I commend its dedicated staff and supporters for their efforts.” (Message on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the National Endowment for the Humanities, September 1990)
President Clinton:
“The National Endowment for the Humanities plays a vital role in encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of our country’s rich heritage.” (White House announcement of nomination of Sheldon Hackney as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, April 1993)
“Through the arts and humanities we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves as individuals and as a society. The arts and humanities remind us that whatever our differences, we share a common heritage that binds us together as a nation…History, literature, and philosophy allow us to explore and understand ourselves and others through collective reflection and learning.” (Message proclaiming October 1993 as National Arts and Humanities Month, October 1993)
“For 30 years, this Federal agency has given Americans great opportunities to explore and share with each other our country’s vibrant and diverse cultural heritage. Its work supports an impressive array of humanities projects. (Letter to Congress transmitting NEH’s 1995 Annual Report, April 1996)
President George W. Bush:
“America’s committed to supporting the arts and humanities.” (National Humanities Medal ceremony November 2007)
“For more than four decades, the NEA & NEH has helped enrich our culture, and deepened our appreciation for the ideals that bind us together as Americans.” (National Humanities Medal ceremony November 2007)
President Obama:
“Throughout my time here Michelle and I have tried to make it a priority to promote the arts and the humanities, especially for our young people. It’s because we believe the arts and humanities are in many way reflective of our national soul. They’re essential to who we are as Americans, dreamers, storytellers, innovators and visionaries. They’re what helps us make sense of the past, the good and the bad. They’re how we chart a course for the future while leaving something of ourselves for the next generation to learn from.” (National Humanities Medal ceremony September 2016)
“In this complicated world and in these challenging times, the arts and humanities enhance the character of our Nation. The flash of insight that comes from watching a thought-provoking documentary or discovering a compelling novel sparks moments of joy, awe, and sorrow. From symphonies that bring tragedy to life with long bow strokes to architecture that challenges the boundaries of the world around it, these works add texture to our lives and reveal something about ourselves. During National Arts and Humanities Month, we reflect on the many ways the arts and humanities have contributed to the fabric of our society.” (National Arts and Humanities Month Declaration, 2014)
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.
