Dear Mr.----------:
Earlier this year President
Eisenhower sent to the leadership of the House and the Senate a message
urging the enactment of legislation to enlarge the site of the proposed
National Cultural Center in Washington. Under the National Cultural Center
Act, the site for the Center is to be provided by the federal government.
As the President pointed out on January 18th, it is necessary that three
parcels of land not now included within the description of the site be
added in order to permit construction of the Center in accordance with
the approved architectural plan.
I want to renew this recommendation.
The National Cultural Center is the most significant cultural undertaking
in the history of this city and has enormous importance to the cultural
life of the nation as a whole. There is a real and promising opportunity
to establish new horizons for the performing arts in this city. There have
been many public-spirited citizens participating in the work and planning
of the Cultural Center, and I believe that the federal government should
take these small additional steps in order to provide a suitable setting
and environment for the Center. Moreover, this is an enterprise which has
earned the support of membership of both parties in the Congress.
I urge the early enactment of
this legislation so that the plans for the National Cultural Center may
proceed promptly. This can be an important step in recognizing the vital
role of culture in the vigorous development of our country.
Sincerely,
JOHN F. KENNEDY