Norton, Mary Beth

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University of Rhode IslandDigitalCommons@URINational Endowment for the Humanities: CouncilReappointments (1984)Education: National Endowment for the Arts andHumanities, Subject Files II (1962-1996)1984National Endowment for the Humanities: CouncilReappointments (1984): Correspondence 07Mary Beth NortonFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_II_50This Correspondence is brought to you for free and open access by the Education: National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, Subject Files II(1962-1996) at DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in National Endowment for the Humanities: Council Reappointments(1984) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@etal.uri.edu.Recommended CitationNorton, Mary Beth, "National Endowment for the Humanities: Council Reappointments (1984): Correspondence 07" (1984).National Endowment for the Humanities: Council Reappointments (1984). Paper 8.http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_II_50/8http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/pell_neh_II_50/8CORNELL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY McGRAW HALL Ms. Kathy Burns House Committee on Government Operations B 350 Rayburn Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Kathy, ITHACA, N. Y. 14853 601-n6-4367 May 2, 1984 Thanks (I think) for sending the information on the nominees. They certainly do present a uniform picture, don't they? I have a few observations: 1) They show, once again, that Reagan has not a clue as to what the Humanities are. The only one that seems to be a real, practicing humanities scholar (and he has a PhD in science) is Leon Kass. Helen Taylor would be suitable for the Arts Council; what she's doing here isn't clear to me (a leftover from that group of nominees?). Jo Cresimore and Kathleen Kilpatrick seem to me to have no visible credentials for the job other than Republican Party/conservative~­activism. William Allen and James Schall are like the people Reagan already appointed the last time around (Berns, Carey, and Sandoz)--estremely right-wing political scientists, representing a fringe of a fringe within that profession. (That is, political science these days is highly quantitative; not many people in the area concentrate on thought & ideas rather than numbers. So they are of that subgroup, and then another subgroup--the conservatives.) Laxalt is at least a director of a university press, which is interesting--that background could be OK. You did not enclose any information on Rodrigues, but of course I know about his book, though I haven't read it. (He and Louise should have an intriguing time of it as the two Hispanics on the Councill) From a humanities standpoint he might be the best of the lot--at least he, like Kass, seems to be in the ballpark as far as the proper qualifications for the Council are concerned. 2) As for the right-to-life/Catholic etc. connection, that is evident. But it is irrelevant to most of the work of the Council. Those sorts of issues just don't come up on a regular basis. The key question is: how much homework will these people do? How much expertise/knowledge of the humanities will they bring to the Council? Bill has already stacked the General Programs Committee to represent the views he wants, and that's had a dramatic impact. But what will Jo Cresimore or Helen Taylor have to say, e.g., about fellowships for scholars or research projects on arcane topics or even Education Programs? I suspect that this new Reagan-dominated Council will not be a group of - individualists (as the Carter Council was), but rather a Council whose tone is set by just a few knowledgeable members, those with s"trong opinions who do their homework (I would cast Berns and Hirrunelfarb in those roles). The others won't know enough to have independent opinions, even if they wanted to. Most of these people (Probably not Allen, who I see as a potential activist, based on his vita) will come and vote, but not speak. .. CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, N. Y. 14853 DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY McGRAW HALL Ms. Burns May 2, 1984 page 2 Did you note that on page 4 of his vita Allen reveals a joint work with the late unlamented Jeff Wallin? Clearly that's where he came into all this. Also, Liberty Press, fDr which he writes, is very right-wing ideologically. (So what else is new?) . Well, I don't envy Louise, Roland, and the others for having to cope with these people for the next two years. At least Reagan has named more women, one minority member, and some "Public" members--they are not all conservative academics, as the last group was. I'll see you at the May meeting, unless a miracle happens and they are confirmed by the Senate before that. If I don't have a vote, I'm not coming! I assume some of them will come, too, since that's Bill's plan (to invite nominees to attend without vote). I wonder if any others of my group will come--maybe Neusner. Yours, ~i\~ ... -~~ :)v-v-Mary Beth Norton Professor PS. My comments above are, of course, not for publication! (though you can share them with trustworthy types) 

National Endowment for the Humanities: Council Reappointments (1984): Correspondence 07

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National Endowment for the Humanities: Council Reappointments (1984): Correspondence 07

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