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H HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

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HEARING

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON PARKS AND RECREATION

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON

INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS

UNITED STATES SENATE

EIGHTY-NINTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

S. 810

A. BILL AUTIIORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE

HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

IN THE STATE OF IOWA

JUNE 7, 1965

Printed for the use of the

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1965
COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS

HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington, Chairman

CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico THOMAS H. KUCHEL, California

ALAN BIBLE, Nevada

FRANK CHURCH, Idaho

ERNEST GRUENING, Alaska

FRANK E. MOSS, Utah

QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota

CARL HAYDEN, Arizona

GEORGE McGOVERN, South Dakota

GAYLORD NELSON, Wisconsin

LEE METCALF, Montana

GORDON ALLOTT, Colorado

LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho

MILWARD L. SIMPSON, Wyoming

PAUL J. FANNIN, Arizona

JERRY T. VERKLER, Staff Director

STEWART FRENCH, Chief Counsel

ROY WHITACRE, Professional Staff Member

SUBCOMMITTEE ON PARKS AND RECREATION

ALAN BIBLE, Nevada, Chairman

HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington

CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico

FRANK CHURCH, Idaho

FRANK E. MOSS, Utah

GAYLORD NELSON, Wisconsin

II

MILWARD L. SIMPSON, Wyoming

LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho

PAUL J. FANNIN, Arizona
CONTENTS

Page

S.810 1

Departmental reports:

Budget 3

Interior 2

STATEMENTS

Anderson, Hon. John B., a Representative in Congress from the State of

Illinois 34

Arnold, Dr. James R., mayor, West Branch, Iowa 21

Hartzog, George B., Jr., Director, National Park Service, Department of

the Interior 18

Hickenlooper, Hon. Bourke B., a U.S. Senator from the State of Iowa_ _ _ 4

Hillman, Paul, president, West Branch Commercial Club 28

Hoover, Allan, president of the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation of

Iowa 11

Miller, Hon. Jack, a U.S. Senator from the State of Iowa 6.

Orr, D., chairman, zoning commission, West Branch, Iowa 26

Schmidhauser, Hon. John R., a Representative in Congress from the State

of Iowa 8

Smith, Spencer, secretary, Citizens' Committee on Natural Resources_ _ 33.

Strauss, Rear Adm. Lewis L 16

Wagner, William, architect for West Branch Historical Foundation 31

COMMUNICATIONS

Cowles, Gardner, president, Des Moines Register & Tribune Co.: Letter to

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, dated May 14,

1965 7

Hoover, Allan, president of the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation of

Iowa: Letter to Hon. Alan Bible, chairman, Parks and Recreation Subcommittee, U.S. Senate, dated June 14, 1965 15.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Estimated cost of development for the Herbert Hoover National Historic

Site 25

Resolution of the Town Council of West Branch, Iowa, passed on June 5,

1965 22

III

HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

MONDAY, J17NE 7, 1965

U.S. SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE

COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS,

TV asking ton, D.C.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:30 a.m., in room 3110,

New Senate Office Building, Senator Alan Bible (chairman of the

subcommitte,e) presiding.

Present: Senators Alan Bible (Nevada), Len B. Jordan (Idaho),

and Paul J. Fannin (Arizona).

Also present: Jerry T. Verkler, staff director; Stewart French, chief

counsel; Roy M. Whitacre, professional staff member; and Crocker

Price, assistant minority,counsel.

Senator BIBLE. The Subcommittee on Parks and Recreation will

come to order.

The bill, S. 810, will establish a national historic site at the Herbert

Hoover birthplace at West Branch, Iowa. The Advisory Board of the

National Parks Historic Sites found this place to be of an exceptional

value illustrating the history of the United States and commemorating the life of Herbert Hoover. A copy of the bill and reports of the

executive agencies will be included in the record at this place.

(The material referred to follows:)

[ S. 810, 89th Cong., 1st sees.]

A BILL Authorizing the establishment of the Herbert Hoover National Monument in the

State of Iowa

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Mated States

of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior shall acquire on behalf of the United States by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, all right, title, and interest in and to such lands, together with any improvements thereon, as the Secretary may deem necessary for the purpose of establishing a national monument commemorating the birthplace and burial place of

Herbert Hoover, the thirty-first President of the United States, on the site located

in Cedar County in the State of Iowa.

SEC. 2. (a) The property acquired under the provisions of the first section of this

Act shall be designated as the Herbert Hoover National Monument and shall be

set aside as a public national memorial. The National Park Service, under the

direction of the Secretary of the Interior, shall administer, protect, and develop

such monument, subject to the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to establish

a National Park Service, and for other purposes", approved August 25, 1916, as

amended and supplemented, and the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the

preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of

national significance, and for other purposes", approved August 21, 1935, as

amended.

(b) In order to provide for the proper development and maintenance of such

national monument, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to construct and

maintain therein such markers, buildings, and other improvements, and such

1
2 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

facilities for the care and accommodation of visitors, as he may deem necessary.

SEC. 3. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be

necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,

Washington, D.C., June 4, 1965.

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: This responds to your request for a report on S. 810,

a bill authorizing the establishment of the Herbert Hoover National Monument

in the State of Iowa.

We recommend that the bill be enacted with the amendments suggested in this

report.

The bill provides that the Secretary of the Interior shall acquire by gift. purchase, condemnation, or otherwise all right, title, and interest in the lands he

tdeems necessary to establish a national monument commemorating the birthplace

and burial place of the late President Herbert Hoover. The lands would be designated as the Herbert Hoover National Monument and would be administered by

the Secretary in accordance with the act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16

IT.S.C. 1 et seq.) as amended, and the act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16

IT.S.C. 461 et seq.). The Secretary is authorized to construct within the national

monument markers, buildings, other improvements, and such facilities for the care

and accommodation of visitors as he deems necessary.

The combination of birthplace, boyhood home, and burial place of the 31st

President of the United States constitutes historical resources of unquestionable

national significance. The presence in the same area of the Herbert Hoover

Library, containing not only the late President's papers but also objects illustrating his long and distinguished life, further enhances this significance. It is evident that these sites and objects illustrating our Nation's history should be preserved and made accessible to the people in a spacious and dignified setting. The

Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments

has found this site to be of "exceptional value in illustrating the history of the

United States and in commemorating the life of Herbert Hoover and his accomplishments" and recommended that it be established as a national historic

site.

Herbert Hoover, world-renowned engineer, humanitarian, and 31st President

of the United States, was born August 10. 1874, in a simple two-room cottage in

the town of West Branch, Iowa. The cottage was originally built about 1870 by

Herbert Hoover's father, Jesse Clark Hoover. It has been completely restored

and refurnished, and stands on the original site not far from the west branch of

Wapsinonoc Creek from which the town drew its name. Nearby is a wellexecuted replica of Jesse Clark Hoover's blacksmith shop, which houses an extensive collection of contemporary tools and other objects. A caretaker's cottage

and a workshop stand behind these structures.

About one-fourth mile to the southwest on a hillside overlooking his birthplace are the graves of Herbert Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover. The

graves are sheltered by a crescent-shaped planting of evergreens and the view

down the valley to the birthplace is kept open in accordance with the wishes of

President Hoover.

Just south and west of the birthplace stands the Herbert Hoover Library.

This recently enlarged structure will house the large collection of papers accumulated by Mr. Hoover during his many years of public service, his collection of

books, and a variety of other objects. The library and its contents will remain

under the custody and control of the Administrator of General Services. However, we believe it will be possible to work out mutually satisfactory agreements

with the Administrator whereby the Secretary could make use of portions of the

library from time to time and the Administrator could in turn utilize portions

of the facilities constructed by the Secretary.

Approximately 200 acres of lands or interests therein should be acquired so

that the area may be developed for the education and enjoyment of the public,

and will provide a dignified setting for the birthplace, burial place, and related

features of the historic scene free from modern vehicular traffic and other en-
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 3

croachments. Nearly 28 acres of the Hoover Birthplace Park now administered

by the Administrator of General Services, except the Herbert Hoover Library,

could be transferred to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the

Interior if the bill is amended as we recommend, Also to be included in the

proposed area are 6.7 acres owned by the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation,

Inc. and 15 acres on which the foundation has acquired a scenic easement. There

Is a possibility that the foundation will donate these lands and interests in lands

to the United States. In addition, a small amount of property owned by the town

of West Branch will be included in the proposed area due to the necessity of

vacating and relocating streets and alleys, some of which are adjacent to the

birthplace cottage. We believe the town will agree to donate this property to

the United 'States. The remainder of the needed land is privately owned.

We recommend the following amendments of the bill:

1. On page 1, amend the title of the bill by changing "Herbert Hoover National Monument" to "Herbert Hoover Birthplace National Historic Site" and

make the same amendment on page 2, line 3 of the bill; on page 2, line 6 and 15,

delete "monument" and substitute therefor "historic site".

With a few exceptions, the Congress has consistently designated areas which

derive their national significance from historical associations as national historic sites. Also, the birthplace is the key historic structure in the area and

we believe this should be recognized in the name given to the site.

2. On page 1, revise section 1 to read:

"That the Secretary of the Interior may acquire on behalf of the United

States by gift, purchase, or otherwise such lands and interests in lands, together

with any improvements thereon, as the Secretary may deem necessary for the

purpose of establishing a national historic site commemorating the birthplace

and burial place of Herbert Hoover, the thirty-first President of the United

States, on the site located in Cedar County in the State of Iowa. The Administrator of General Services may transfer to the Secretary without reimbursement

any lands or interests in lands under his jurisdiction, except the Herbert Hoover

Library building, that are needed for the purposes of this Act."

The amendment permits the Secretary to acquire less than the fee title to

lands, such as scenic easements, in eases where it is adequate to do so. The

General Services Administration now has administrative jurisdiction over the

lands on which the birthplace and other key properties are located, and we

believe these lands, with the exception of the library building, should be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Secretary. The amendment authorizes such a

transfer.

3. On page 2, lines 4 and 5, delete "National Park Service, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior," and substitute therefor "Secretary of the

Interior".

The Hoover Commission reports recommended, and the subsequent reorganization plans generally placed in the head of each department complete responsibility

for administration of the programs of the Department. In keeping with that

approach, the bill should confer authority on the Secretary of the Interior

rather than on a bureau of the Department.

It is estimated that the lands involved will cost about $1 million and that

the developments will cost about $650,000. Annual operating costs should

approximate $95,000 by the fifth year.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the

presentation of this report from the standpoint of the administration's program.

Sincerely yours,

STEWART L. 'UDALL,

Secretary of the Interior.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,

BUREAU OF THE BUDGET,

Washington, D.C., June 4, 1965.

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON.

Chairman, Committee on Interior, and Insular Affairs,

U.S. Senate, New Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in response to your request for the views of

the Bureau of the Budget respecting S. 810, a bill authorizing the establishment of

the Herbert Hoover National Monument in the State of Iowa.
4 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

The report which the Secretary of the Interior is submitting describes the

current situation in the area of Herbert Hoover's birthplace and burial and

sets forth plans for the preservation and development of an appropriate setting

in commemoration of the life and accomplishments of the late President. The

Secretary recommends that the bill be enacted with certain amendments suggested in his report.

The Bureau of the Budget would have no objection to the enactment of S. 810,

amended as suggested by the Secretary of the Interior.

Sincerely yours,

PHILLIP S. HUGHES,

Assistant Director for Legislative Reference.

Senator BIBLE. Our first witness on this bill is the Honorable

Bourke Hickenlooper, of Iowa.

Senator Hickenlooper, we are delighted to have you with us this

morning.

STATEMENT OF HON. BOURKE B. HICKENLOOPER, A U.S. SENATOR

FROM THE STATE OF IOWA

Senator HICKENLOOPER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members

of the subcommittee.

I appreciate this opportunity to speak in behalf of this bill which

was filed by Senator Miller and myself. The matter of establishing

a historic site and its name, 'and the details with regard to its administration, often cause some conflicts and disagreement. However, we

have a report here from the Department of Interior, sent to the Chairman of the full committee, I believe, on this legislation.

Senator BIBLE. That is correct; it is dated June 4 and it was received this morning, Senator.

Senator HICKENLOOPER. Yes. I just received a copy of it, myself, a

couple of minutes ago.

The establishment of a national historic site of prime importance

such as this is sometimes complicated by municipal interests and locations, and in this case this historic site, which is not only the birthplace

but the burial place of President Hoover and Mrs. Hoover, is, as I

understand it, located entirely within the corporate limits of the small

town of West Branch, Iowa.

For those of you who have not seen West Branch or this site, I may

say that West Branch is a small community of 400 or 500 people. It

is a very old town located near Iowa City, where the State university

is located, and is in the center of a beautiful countryside.

•There have been problems involved. The Herbert Hoover Foundation has been interested for a number of years in this particular site

because President Hoover, himself, 'had picked this as his burial site

for himself and Mrs. Hoover; and there have been many discussions,

many alternate plans, and some complications along the way in connection with the final adoption of this as a 'historic site or national

monument.

However, in the last few weeks it is my information from all sources

that are available to me 'at least, that as a result of the meetings between the representatives of the Interior Department and other agencies of the Government and the proper representatives of the community of West Branch and of the Hoover Foundation and of the

Hoover family, represented by Mr. Allan Hoover, 'that what we might

call a full agreement on the plans, programs, and the administrative
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 5

setup for the permanence of this site, the construction of facilities

needed, the addition of certain other lands and supervision over others,

and the permanent plan have been agreed to.

So far as I know, there is no material or substantial objection to

the plans that will be presented to you here this morning. In fact, I

think there is quite universal approval and acceptance of that plan.

That is not to say that one or two individuals might not have their

own individual views. But the overwhelming consensus of opinion

of all the interested groups of people, I think, are quite unanimous in

approving the general overall program which will be presented to you

today.

Mr. Chairman, you will recall that 3 or 4 weeks ago, when the

hearing was first set up, we were not quite ready because we were not

assured of agreement among the various groups. I believe all those

matters have been resolved now, and there are others who are much

more capable of giving you the details of the program and the proposal

which will satisfy everyone, including these groups that I mentioned—

the Hoover family, the foundation, the city of West Branch? the Government interests—in this matter, and the methods of carrying it out.

Therefore, I urge, along with the representatives of West Branch

who are here this morning, and Mr. Allan Hoover of the Hoover family, and the Department's representatives, the favorable consideration

of S. 810 as representing quite, if I may use this word—I guess it has

become popular now—quite a consensus in this program. While there

may be some suggestions as to implementing this which may not be

contained in this bill, I think those will be amplified and suggested

to you as your hearing goes on.

I thank you for your courtesy for hearing me.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Senator Hickenlooper. It

is always much easier when we have a problem presented when there

is a consensus. This is always a little unusual in the area of national

parks, recreation areas, seashores, and lakeshores. So, as we proceed

with this hearing we will do our best to reach accord and consensus

which will be helpful to us. It is much nicer if the problem presented

to us has been pretty well worked out before it gets here.

Senator HICKENLOOPER. I will not say there has always been a consensus, because there has been a misunderstanding here and there of

various interests, but I think they have been satisfactorily resolved

and I believe that will be developed as the hearing goes on.

I thank you for permitting me to make this brief statement first.

I have a meeting in the Foreign Relations Committee on three or four

matters that are going on. I will have to leave to go there.

Senator BIBLE. Senator Jordan?

Senator JORDAN. I am glad to have you before this committee on this

worthy cause. Have you looked over the amendments that the Secretary of Interior recommends?

Senator HICKENLOOPER. Senator Jordan, I haven't because I got the

report just as I walked into the room. I have not had time to read it.

Senator JORDAN. So did I. I urge you to look them over. If you

have any comments you may submit them later.

Senator HICKENLOOPER. I shall.

Senator BIBLE. Senator Fannin?

49-704-65-2
6 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

Senator FANNIN. Mr. Chairman, and Senator Hickenlooper, I am

very much impressed with the presentation, the way it has been

handled, and the reports of the Department of the Interior; but there

are some questions regarding the suggestion by the Secretary. If

you want to defer that, I think that would be in order, because there

is the name change and things of that nature that I imagine you would

like to comment about.

Senator HICKENLOOPER. Yes. When I have an opportunity, which

I hope to be today, to read this report. Perhaps some of the witnesses

who are here will have had the opportunity to read the report before

they testify, and they may have some preliminary suggestions. If I

have any, I would appreciate the opportunity to make them known.

Senator BIBLE. It is the intention of the chairman to leave the

record open for some length of time for submission of additional

statements.

Senator HICKENLOOPER. Thank you.

Senator BIBLE. The next witness is Senator Jack Miller.

Senator, we are delighted to have you with us.

STATEMENT OF HON. JACK MILLER, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE

STATE OF IOWA

Senator -M 1LLER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the

subcommittee.

I very much appreciate your consideration in arranging for this

hearing on S. 810, of which I am a cosponsor. We have arranged for

a number of witnesses who, I am sure, will supply the subcommittee

with all the pertinent information needed by the members in considering this legislation.

May I say that both Senator Hickenlooper and I have met with

President Johnson on this matter, and he assured us of his full and

enthusiastic support and asked the Interior Department people to

extend their fullest cooperation. This has most assuredly been forthcoming. You will note that our bill would authorize the establishment of the Herbert Hoover National Monument. We could have

drafted the bill to provide for the establishment of the Herbert Hoover

National Historic Site. There is precedent for either designation in

the case of former Presidents of the United States. We discussed this

with President Johnson, and it was his feeling—which we shared—

that whichever designation will best fit the requirements of the Department of Interior should be used.

I understand that the Department would prefer the designation of

a national historic site and that a representative of the Department

will suggest to the subcommittee an appropriate amendment to make

the change.

Senator BIBLE. They have done that, as you know, in their report.

We will examine in detail on that. At first blush, it seems to me

maybe yours is a little better name than theirs, because theirs 1,as five

words in it. That spreads it out a long way. It seems to me Herbert

Hoover National Historic Site is a better name. But you don't have

any preference one way or the other?

Senator MILLER. Not at all. As I say, we discussed this at some

length with President Johnson. He had a very extensive list of prece-
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 7

dents. He pointed out that there were precedents either way; but it

was our feeling and his feeling that whichever way the Interior Department would prefer to move would probably be the best way;

and, of course, this is up to the subcommittee to recommend. But

I did want to bring out the fact that, as far as we are concerned,

that we would prefer to defer to the Interior Department on this

matter.

A great amount of preliminary work has been done on this proposed project by the Herbert Hoover Foundation in reviewing the

properties available, and in coordinating the project with the Hoover

family, with the city officials of West Branch, Iowa, and county officials

of Cedar County, the West Branch Heritage Foundation, and with

the Cedar County Historical Society. Those of us who were privileged to attend the graveside services at West Branch last fall could

not help but recognize the need for this project. The thousands of

people present on that afternoon were but a fraction of those who

would receive a true spiritual uplifting from a visit to a well-developed facility of the National Park Service.

I hope the subcommittee will give its earliest approval.

Mr. Chairman, and members of the subcommittee, I might add that

Harold E. Hughes, the Governor of my State, and Mr. Gardner Cowles

of the Des Moines Register and Tribune, and the _president of not only

the Des Moines Register and Tribune but of Look magazine, also

-v isited with President Johnson on this matter, and are very much

in support of this project.

I have a letter to the committee from Mr. Gardner Cowles which

he would like to have placed in the record, and I ask your permission

to have it placed in the record at this point.

Senator BIBLE. Without objection, that will be the order.

(The letter referred to follows:)

DES MOINES REGISTER & TRIBUNE,

Des Moines, Iowa, May 14, 1965.

COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS,

U.S. Senate,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

GENTLEMEN: My name is Gardner Cowles. I am president of the Des Moines

Register & Tribune Co. I desire to go on record in support of S. 810 which has

been referred to your committee.

I was a lifelong friend and admirer of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hoover. On many

occasions, Mr. Hoover discussed with me his great interest in his birthplace at

West Branch, Iowa. Because of his interest, he caused the home in which he was

born to be converted back to look as it had in 1874. Mr. Hoover also encouraged

his friends to create the foundation which constructed with private funds the

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library at the West Branch site.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are now buried at the site which consists of Mr. Hoover's

birthplace, the Hoover Library, and the two graves. To date, the rural setting

has been preserved which meant so much to Mr. Hoover.

The only way to insure that this area will permanently remain in his appropriate setting is for the Federal Government to establish the Herbert Hoover

National Monument as proposed in S. 810.

I feel this memorial to the first American President born west of the Mississippi River would be fitting and a proper expression of gratitude from the people

of the United States for the many ways in which Mr. Hoover served the Nation

over so many years.

I hope that S. 810 can speedily be enacted into law.

Respectfully yours,

GARDNER COWLES.
8 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

Senator MILLER. That concludes my testimony, Mr. Chairman.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Senator Miller.

Our next witness will be Hon John R. Schmidhauser, Congressman

from the district where this is to be located.

Mr. Congressman, we are very happy to have you here before us.

STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN R. SCHMIDHAUSER, A REPRESENTATIVE

IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF IOWA

Representative SCHMIDHAUSER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and distinguished members of this subcommittee.

It is a great honor and privilege to come here today to support the

worthwhile objectives that both the Senators from the State of Iowa,

and I, myself, representing the First District of Iowa, have undertaken.

I would like to underscore, first and foremost, our most important

consideration in this matter is that we appropriately and soberly and

reverently commemorate the great life and services of this great American, the President that the State of Iowa has contributed to our

Nation. I also want to express to the many members of the community in West Branch who have consulted with me for over a month

since I had the privilege of making the proposal last September that

we seek an appropriate means of recognizing President Hoover's life

and services.

I would like to also say that I think it is in the highest tradition

of our national service that both of our Senators and myself bend our

efforts in what I believe is a very cordial and friendly effort at working out a proposal that will best fit the needs of both our national

recognition of President Hoover and adequately protect the interests

of the State of Iowa, of Cedar County, and West Branch, Iowa. I

would like to respectfully point out some of the suggestions that I

would like to place before you for your consideration.

As you know, I have introduced H.R. 8111. Its ultimate purpose is

primarily the same as the legislation which has been introduced in

the U.S. Senate. On consultation with the National Park Service,

we discussed the question of the title, and I believe this is something

that we can work out in sober realization of the importance of the

objective that we have. My bill, of course, underscores the title "National Historic Site." I feel very agreeable to an amendment that

will work out for the best interest of the ultimate purpose something

that we can both agree on and will fulfill the objective that we soberly

seek to fulfill.

I would like to recommend also—and I think this is a very important

matter—the possibility that you would add these provisions: that a

commission known as the Herbert Hoover Birthplace National

Historic Site Advisory Commission be created, composed of five members, each appointed for a term of 2 years by the Secretary of the

Interior.

The purpose of this suggestion is to provide for the State of Iowa,

Cedar County, and West Branch, an advisory voice in the operation

of this national facility in future years. Since we will eventually find

that this land will be given to the Federal Government in perpetuity,

on consultation with many people in that region, it was felt that they
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 9

would like to keep a sober advisory voice in this matter. The Commission that I recommend would be composed of members appointed

as follows: There would be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior

two members upon recommendation from the Governor of Iowa, one

member on recommendations made by the chairman of the Cedar

County Board of Supervisors, one member on recommendations made

by the mayor of West Branch, and the fifth member, a prominent

historian, would be designated by the Secretary of the Interior.

I would like also to add this: that we know of the tremendous contribution that members of the late President's family and of the

Heritage Foundation have made in commemoration of his life and

services. I would like to add in the bill a provision that the Secretary

of Interior have discretionary authority to appoint ex officio members

to this Advisory Commission in the event that, if he felt it was fitting—

and I, personally, do feel that it would be—that he could appoint

the surviving members of the President's family as members of this

advisory committee or members of the Heritage Foundation itself.

In short, I would like to say that I fully support the cooperative

efforts that all of us representing the State of Iowa are making in

this matter. I feel it is a matter of great moment to our State, to the

First Congressional District of Iowa, and most importantly is a fitting

and important measure in commemoration of the great life and services which our late President has made.

I certainly thank you for the opportunity to meet with you this

morning.

(The prepared statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN R. SCHMIDHAITSER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS

FROM THE FIRST DISTRICT OF IOWA

I want to thank the distinguished chairman and the members of the committee for providing me with an opportunity to appear today on behalf of the

plan to establish the Herbert Hoover Birthplace National Historic Site in the

State of Iowa. The purpose of these plans, as envisaged by my bill, H.R. 8111,

is to preserve in public ownership historically significant properties associated

with the life of Herbert Hoover.

I originally recommended national recognition of the life and public services

of the late President Hoover in December 1964. During the intervening months,

I have consulted with leaders of the West Branch community, representatives

of the Hoover Memorial Heritage Society, which has been associated with the late

President's family, with many Cedar County residents, and with Iowa's Governor Hughes and other State officials. As a result of these discussions and similar discussions with regional and national officials of the National Park

Service, I proposed in the bill authority for the Secretary of the Interior to

adequately commemorate the services of Iowa's only President.

Before introducing the bill, I received word from the National Park Service

that the Secretary of Interior's Advisory Committee had recommended in its

April 1965 report that the life and services of President Herbert Hoover be

recognized by establishment of the national historic site. I followed this recom- mendation and made such a designation in my bill.

I believe, however, that on the basis of my prior extensive study of the various

factors related to this matter, some provision should be made in the final legis- lation for recognition of Iowa's own stake and heritage in this matter. My consultations with local and State officials in Iowa convinced me that the State

and localities affected should retain an advisory voice in the administration of

an established national historic site. After consultation with Park Service officials on this question, I proposed the establishment of a Herbert Hoover Birthplace National Historic Site Advisory Commission. The Commission would be
10 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

composed of five members who would be appointed for a period of 2 years by the

Secretary of the Interior, two members appointed from recommendations made

by the Governor of Iowa, one member appointed from recommendations made by

the chairman of the Board of County Supervisors of Cedar County, Iowa, one

member appointed from recommendations made by the mayor of West Branch,

Iowa, and one member who is a prominent historian to be designated by the

Secretary of the Interior. My proposal also authorizes the Secretary of the

Interior to appoint ex officio members, if he so desires, who may include the surviving members of the late President's family or representatives of the Herbert

Hoover Heritage Foundation.

This proposal for representation for local and State residents, which I respectfully request this distinguished committee to incorporate into its final

report, is consistent with the Park Service procedures and has been incorporated

in the operation of several existing national historic sites. I feel that such an

advisory board is absolutely necessary to maintain a proper voice for the State

of Iowa and for the citizens of West Branch and Cedar County in the development and administration of what will become national property within the

borders of the State itself.

I believe that this provision also is important for the continuation of the

proper relationship between the local community and the Federal Government.

I requested the Park Service to hold several public meetings in West Branch to

discuss plans for the memorial; such meetings were subsequently held. All

indications from the West Branch community point to an increased degree of

mutual understanding between the concerned groups. I believe the maintenance

of this mutual feeling of cooperation and good will is important to the successful

operation and development of the Herbert Hoover memorial. I also believe this

approach is in the best tradition of mutual activity between the various levels

of government and between citizens and the loyal and dedicated government

officials who selflessly serve them.

In conclusion, I respectfully urge the committee to favorably report this proposal for a Herbert Hoover Memorial National Historic Site, incorporating the

preceding proposals. I also want to applaud Senator Miller's efforts on behalf

of the anticipated memorial and Senator Bible and this committee for their

efforts in this matter.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you, Mr. Congressman. We certainly will

explore the pros and cons of your suggestion about the appointment

of an advisory commission. Whether that is advisable in the case of

this kind or not, I don't know. We will ask the Park Service people

when they are here before us.

Senator Jordan?

Senator JORDAN. I have no questions, Mr. Chairman.

I compliment the Congressman for a very fine statement.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Arizona.

Senator FANNIN. I will just say, Mr. Chairman, and Congressman,

that it certainly is commendable that all of you have worked this out

together and that it is so well prepared. I do commend you for it.

Representative SCHMIDHAUSER. Thank you very much.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you, Mr. Congressman.

Senator BIBLE. Our next witness is Mr. Allan Hoover, of New York

City.

Mr. Hoover, I am delighted personally to welcome you to the witness

chair. We felt very, very close to your father and to your people, and

particularly in that mining district area where your good father spent

so much time in his earlier years. It is a particular source of personal

privilege and high honor to welcome you here before us this morning,

the distinguished son of a very, very distinguished father.
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MO:\:VM7NT 11.

STATEMENT OF ALLAN HOOVER, PRESIDENT OF THE HERBERT

HOOVER BIRTHPLACE FOUNDATION OF IOWA

Mr. HOOVER. Mr. Chairman, it is a privilege and honor to be here

today, and I thank you very much.

Mr. Chairman and members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, my name is Allan Hoover and I am president of the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation of Iowa.

The foundation and the members of our family have a very deep

and vital interest in the establishment of a national historic site, under

the National Park Service, at West Branch, Iowa. Our very great

concern that the National Park Service now should assume the operations originally established by the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation can most easily be explained by a short review of my father's

and our family's interest in West Branch.

My father was born in West Branch in 1874, and lived there in extremely modest circumstances until the death of his parents when he

was 10 years of age. His boyhood memories of West Branch were of

the kindness of its people,. their religious, sturdy, and practical approach to life; and of the beauty of its countryside. In later years, it

gave him an unusual pleasure to return to Iowa. And he never failed

to go back from time to time between his many undertakings and

humanitarian services throughout the world. He went not only to

visit family and old friends in and around Cedar County, but, as he

used to tell us, "because Iowa was in the heartland of America and it

contained typically all of those diverse and forceful intangible values

that were the roots of what had made America the greatest Nation

on earth." The State of Iowa, and especially West Branch, always

held a very special place in his heart.

I first went to West Branch with my father and mother in 1935.

When we realized how much the association and the community meant

to my father, we acquired the little two-room house in which he was

born and lived, restored it, and with the advice and counsel of Fred

Albin and other of his boyhood friends purchased some adjacent

property, including part of the creek where dad had fished as a boy.

These acquisitions were for the protection and preservation of the

environment he loved so dearly and that meant so much to him.

In due course, we established the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation, which is guided largely by Iowa trustees, to take over and to

care for these acquisitions. s The foundation provided some increments

to the original area; restored the blacksmith's shop, my grandfather's

trade and where he worked; provided picnic and other facilities for

the neighborhood and for our then relatively few visitors; made arrangements for use of the grounds by the Boy Scouts; and, in general,

gradually developed a sort of West Branch Park.

During the late 

1950's, 

my father decided to establish his Presidential library in the park. The foundation built the building, subsequently more than doubled its size, and even now we are havin g to

consider a further addition. We employed as designing architects

the same firm that created the National Gallery here in Washin..ton.

The firm considers our far smaller building, in its aesthetic simplicity

and environmental adaptation an equally important architectural

gem in its own right as is the National Gallery.
12 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

By act of Congress a few years ago, the building was accepted by

the United States as the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and

since then has been under the jurisdiction and operation of the General

Services Administration. In accordance with my father's wishes, the

gift of the library buildincr

''

was augmented by the foundation's presentation to the United States of the 29-acre park, his birthplace cottage,

the blacksmith's shop, and all of the other facilities heretofore mentioned. These gifts represented an investment of well over a million

dollars, and all are in the most capable and protective hands of the

General Services Administration.

Due to his very great affection for West Branch, and since his

parents also rest there, our father over the years expressed the desire

to be buried, along with our mother, who also was a native of Iowa.,

on a little knoll at the edge of the present park boundary that overlooks his birthplace and his Presidential library. The foundation

expects shortly to have the construction and the landscaping completed at the "overlook" and along the very beautiful vista atween

the overlook and the birthplace cottage.

I would like to bring up one very particular matter that must constantly be borne in mind, and preserved in any future operation at

West Branch—that is, the relationship between the community and

the park. Our family's relations over the years with the community

in Iowa have always been most pleasant and cooperative. There is a,

mutual understanding and parallel interest. An example of this relationship occurred recently when the local residents purchased and

gave to the foundation the old Quaker meeting house my father and

his parents attended when he was a boy, and where his mother was

one of the elders. Numerous other examples could be cited of the

friendship of the people of West Branch, including the voluntary and

most farsighted activities of the West Branch Heritage Foundation,

a local organization. The devotion of the community, its assistance,

and on occasion even the placing of the best interest of the park above

personal interest has been an inspiration. It has been our family

policy largely to remain in the background and to work from and

through the counsel and suggestions of the local residents and the

town authorities, and it is our intention to continue to do so. They are

wonderful people, typical of the Iowa my father loved so well, and

they continually demonstrate the kindness and warm friendliness that

always drew him back to West Branch. The continuance of their

voluntary cooperation would be of inestimable value to any future

operator of the park.

The foundation's and our family's concern and earnest desire that

the Congress create a national historic site at West Branch are due to

the fact that we believe the United States will find that with the recent

and phenomenal public interest shown in the park it no longer is going

to be possible to maintain the peaceful, tranquil country atmosphere

either within or particularly around the periphery of the park without

certain well-conceived and coordinated measures of shielding and protection. I have been advised that over 300,000 visitors came to the

park last year, most of them in the latter quarter of 1964, and that

attendance to date this year has far exceeded all previous experience.

The GSA is doing a magnificent job of organizing the Presidential

library, caring for the grounds, directing the visitors, and maintain-
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 13

ing security. However, we have been given to understand that it is

not in a position to provide further protection to certain of our borders

by obtaining and maintaining additional property that is urgently

needed, nor is it the function of GSA to participate in the solution of

problems that suddenly have been thrust upon the town of West

Branch.

The National Park Service is well familiar with these matters, and

is engaged in dealing with practically identical situations elsewhere.

While the atmosphere of West Branch still is largely intact, we

have been warned by both GSA and the National Park Service that

under present conditions it could disappear almost overnight, and this

would be a tragedy. Our earnest and foremost objective is to preserve

the serene and peaceful atmosphere that my father remembered so

fondly and hoped could be maintained around the library and the

overlook, and it would appear that the National Park Service has the

capabilities to achieve these objectives.

Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee on Interior and

Insular Affairs, I am extremely grateful to have been given the privilege to express the foundation's and our family's views today. Thank

you.

Senator BIBLE. That is a very, very fine statement, Mr. Hoover.

We are delighted to have you with us. As this record develops, I

think various questions will suggest themselves. In the amendment

which the Department suggests, they say the Administrator of General Services may transfer to the Secretary without reimbursement

any lands or interest in lands under its jurisdiction, except the Herbert

Hoover Library building, that are needed for the purpose of this act.

Do I understand it correctly that the library building is within

the acreage that is to be set aside for the creation of the national

historic site?

Mr. HOOVER. Yes, sir; it is. We as individuals and without the

responsibility of the United States would like to provide for its continued expansion. Our collections are growing at such a rate that

we discover even our present addition to the building is too small. It

is our very strong feeling that enough acreage around the building

should be preserved in some manner for GSA that would permit our

expansion, and in what direction we have no knowledge of. If that

would be agreeable to the Department of Interior and General Services, of course.

Senator BIBLE. Surely. I don't know that I particularly question

that point. My point was more or less directed toward the matter

of responsibility, to have the National Park Service responsible for

the complete historic site whereas you would have the GSA responsible for the library.

Mr. HOOVER. Yes, sir.

Senator BIBLE. Why could this not all be done under the jurisdiction

of the National Park Service? Maybe the National Park Service

does not run libraries. Your father was a great administrator, and

I know he would have a straight line of command. I am just wondering if that has been explored. I am not questioning the problem

about the acreage. Maybe there is good reason for having the library

operated by GSA and the birth place and burial place and having the

49-704 65 3
14 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

park operated by National Park Service. I don't know whether you

have considered this or not, or whether your people have.

Mr. HOOVER. I would believe there is a good reason to have it continued under the jurisdiction of the General Services Administration,

Senator, because this is an academic operation of research among

scholars and for educational purposes. It is a logical operation of the

Archivist of the United States. The other Presidential Libraries? I

understand, are so operated; although the Park Service in some mstances, I believe, do take care of the surrounding ground. But because

of the entirely different nature of the activities within the building,

I would think that it would be far more logical for it to remain under

the jurisdiction of the General Servces Administration than to be incorporated in the National Park Service. I would very much prefer

to have it, personally.

Senator BIBLE. That is why I wanted to develop the record on that

point. I certainly appreciate your views.

Mr. HOOVER. Personally, I would like to see it remain as it is, and

I believe that my father, in setting up the arrangement with the Con-

(Tress under the act that enabled it to become a Presidential Library,

envisaged it as being conducted in the academic atmosphere of the

Archivist of the United States.

Senator BIBLE. That is an excellent explanation. It completely answers my question. Certainly this is an area that should be preserved

and commemorated for all time. I hope we can move forward.

The Senator from Idaho.

Senator JORDAN. Mr. Hoover, it is a pleasure to have you before this

committee today. I was a great admirer of your father. I enjoyed

personal acquaintance with him. I spent many happy occasions listening to his wise counsel. I am reminded, too, that he used to like to

come to the State of Idaho for fishing. He had a special spot down

there on the Snake River that we sort of held in reserve for him, because he liked to come there and we liked to have him come there.

Your recommendation will have great weight before this committee,

Mr. Hoover, because we respect you personally for your fine record.

And certainly the wishes of the family will be taken into full account.

We will take this proposal to the full committee.

Mr. HOOVER. Thank you very much.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Arizona.

Senator FANNIN. Mr. Hoover, I certainly want to commend you for

a very informative presentation. I, too, was a great admirer of your

father. I had the privilege of attending Stanford University, and

at the time I was on the campus he was living there. It was his home.

Of course, I have known the family for years. It was a great service

that your father and family performed especially for my own State

of Arizona. I feel very fortunate to have you here this morning to

make this presentation.

Mr. HOOVER. Thank you.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Mr. Hoover.
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 15

(Subsequent to the hearing Mr. Hoover submitted the following

additional testimony:)

THE WALDORF-ASTORIA,

THE TOWERS,

New York, June 14, 1965.

Re S. 810, Herbert Hoover National Monument.

Hon. ALAN BIBLE,

Chairman., Senate Subcommittee on Interior nad Insular Affairs,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR BIBLE: At the hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Interior

and Insular Affairs at which you presided on June 7, a letter from the Secretary

of the Interior, dated June 4, 1965, addressed to Senator Jackson, was presented

for the record and, as you know, it covered certain suggestions of the Secretary,

together with amendments to the bill that you and the subcommittee presently

are considering.

I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully submit the views of the

Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation and of our family in regard to three

points set forth in the Secretary's communication. They are the following:

1. On page 2, last sentence of paragraph 3, of the letter there is stated the

suggestion by the Department that "it will be possible to work out mutually

satisfactory agreements with the Administrator whereby the Secretary could

make use of portions of the Library from time to time * *

The situation here is that we have a small and highly specialized building,

designed for the preservation of archives and documentation. It contains a

research library; facilities for research, scholarly activities, and study; an

auditorium and a limited area for public exhibitions. The staff is small and the

administrative space, together with the public exhibition area, now are commencing to prove inadequate. The structure was not designed for the easy

movement and flow of large numbers of people and crowds, nor does it have

the public conveniences adequate for such purposes. The auditorium seats

approximately 190 people, is designed primarily for seminars, educational lectures, research conferences, and general academic purposes. The structure was

built and donated under the Presidential Library Act of 1955, and without the

expectation of the tremendous public interest that so recently has developed.

The Park Service, it is assumed, is anticipating using only the auditorium

as a reception and briefing center. The building, of course, belongs to the

United States, and the sentiments here expressed naturally are personal and

only those of the foundation and our family, but we feel that in addition to

physical limitations involved, the effect and atmosphere created by this handsome heritage building, and its relation to the rest of the park would be materially impaired by the passage of large numbers of tourists in and out at

regular intervals, and by their waiting in groups on the outside of the building

for their turn. (For your information, almost 300,000 visitors passed through

the park during the last quarter of 1964.)

It is our desire to cooperate fully with the Secretary and the National Park

Service. We recognize the need for, and it would be only reasonable to have

the Park Service use the auditorium for staging purposes, but for only a strictly

limited period, until its own adequate facility would be constructed.

Bill, H.R. 811, introduced in the House by Congressman Schrnidhauser contained similar language to the suggestion in the Department's letter. On

explaining the matter to the Congressman, I was extremely honored and grateful

to have him agree with me that the Presidential library should be confined to

its originally intended academic and educational purposes, that he would endeavor to have the final wording of the House bill revised, and that I was privileged to so testify at the House hearing.

Bill, S. 810, does not yet contain this concept, and we would be most appreciative and grateful if it likewise did not have to be incorporated.

2. On page 3, paragraph 1 (amendment 1), the Department proposes to

"amend the title of the bill by changing 'Herbert Hoover National Monument' to

'Herbert Hoover Birthplace National Historic Site'." The designation as to

whether the project is a "monument" or "site" would appear to be a technical

distinction of the Department and not of material difference to us. However.

the inclusion of the word "birthplace" does not seem appropriate or fitting to

the foundation and to our family, and for the same reason we are considering

changing 'the name of the foundation. The entire project .in question comprises
16 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

considerably more than a birthplace. It is a Presidential library and museum, a

resting place, and a park. It includes also an atmosphere difficult to define, as

well as the immediate historic area of the town of West Branch.

I would like to suggest for your and the subcommittee's consideration just the

name "Herbert Hoover National Historic Site" (or Monument), as I believe it

would provide a designation inferentially covering all of these considerations

and the phases of my father's life and activities enshrined in that limited location.

3. On page 3, paragraph 3 (amendment 2), the last sentence of the paragraph

has to do with the transfer of property by the Administrator of the GSA to the

Secretary "except the Herbert Hoover Library Building." I would like to advise

that the foundation anticipates and solicitously hopes the United States will

accept a gift of an enlargement of the library building at some time in the not

too distant future, and this situation may arise more than once if documentation and collections materialize at the rate presently foreseeable. Therefore,

might I suggest that the GSA be permitted to retain sufficient land contiguous

to the library to enable expansion in presently indeterminable directions.

As stated previously, we wish to cooperate with the Secretary in every respect,

and I would like to say that in many recent meetings with the staff of the Park

Service I have found the members to be most imaginative, constructive, and

considerate.

Mr. Chairman, with your acquiescence, I would like to place these considerations before your subcommittee.

Very sincerely yours,

ALLAN HOOVER,

President of the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation.

Senator BIBLE. Our next witness is Rear Adm. Lewis L. Strauss.

STATEMENT OF REAR ADM. LEWIS L. STRAUSS

Mr. STRAUSS. Mr. Chairman and Senators, Mr. Hoover's statement

and mine were prepared independently and I saw his statement this

morning for the first time. I find mine redundant and I can either

submit it for the record or read it.

Senator BIBLE. We will be very happy, Admiral, to have you submit

your statement for the record. It will be made a part of the record

and you can highlight or make any additional comment you would

like to.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT BY REAR ADMIRAL STRAUSS

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I am grateful for the privilege of appearing before you this morning. I am here as chairman of the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation. One-half century ago, I was private secretary to Mr. Hoover, and the relation with him, until his death last year, and

with his sons, has been close and continuous. I believe that I know something

of what his wishes and his hopes were with respect to the community in which

he was born nearly 91 years ago, and in which he desired to be buried.

When his parents, Jesse and Hulda Hoover, settled in the village of West

Branch, they came as pioneers. The little two-room cottage they built stands

today as the humble beginning of a man who grew up to become famous as an

engineer, renowned and beloved as the feeder of millions of children during

World War I, and again before and after the Second World War, and the 31st

President of his country. He was, probably, the last President we shall have

who came into the world under circumstances this humble. In later years, he

and his sons acquired the little cottage and the considerable acreage surrounding

it. Subsequently, it was deeded to the birthplace foundation. In due course,

the foundation, with funds contributed by Mr. Hoover and other private citizens,

built a library to house his correspondence, papers, medals, and other memorabilia. In 1962, the real property was given by the foundation to the people of

the United States.

At the same time Mr. Hoover made a tender of the material associated with

his life and accomplishments. With congressional approval the GSA, and its
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 17

constituent agency the Federal Archives, became the custodial possessors of

this material. A fine cooperation between the agencies and the birthplace

foundation prevails. At the request of the GSA for an addition to the library

structure to house the growing collection, as more and more records became

available from men who have served in Government with President Hoover,

the birthplace foundation raised the necessary money affective to extend the

size of the original library building. No Federal moneys have been involved in

this construction.

On October 20 of last year, the ex-President died, and is buried beside his wife

on a knoll a few hundred yards from his birthplace and the library now designated by the Federal Archivist as the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. It

conforms in this respect with the presidential libraries at Hyde Park, Independence, and Abilene, and it's a place of pilgrimage for many thousands of people each year with the numbers steadily increasing.

Mr. Hoover was solicitous for the welfare of the community of West Branch.

and anxious that its aspect of peacefulness and simplicity be preserved. For

reasons stipulated, the library was to be a building of but one story with no

modern features, and the architects have faithfully realized this vision of compatibility with a modest agricultural setting. In fact, an Iowa cornfield stretches

from right to left within a few feet of the overlook where the graves of President

and Mrs. Hoover are situated. Visitors, a large percentage of whom are young

people, cannot fail to be impressed with the fact that Herbert Hoover was a

man of the people, and that he returned to the simplicity of his origin when

his days were at an end. The message is clear that ours is truly a land of opportunity for the young.

The birthplace foundation has been concerned to prevent commercial enterprise in the area by purchasing available real estate, which might otherwise fall

into the hands of persons who would ruin the site with enterprises such as

souvenir stands and food and drink concessions. We have put great emphasis

on following Mr. Hoover's suggestions, that the character of the town be

scrupulously protected. The blacksmith shop, by which Jesse Hoover supported

his family, has been remodeled on its original location, and scenic easements have

been acquired where property could not be purchased.

The people of West Branch deserve particular credit for the vision and the

strength in which they have acted. The mayor, the public community, the

county officials, the West Branch Heritage Foundation, and many private citizens

who have been generous with their time and means. Nothing ought to be done

by the Federal Government in this area without the concurrence of the people

of West Branch. They knew Mr. Hoover and held him in affection and respect.

They would know that any serious interruption to their living, any considerable removal of property from tax roles of the community, would not be commensurate with the concern which Mr. Hoover himself expressed for the welfare

of the community while he lived. Speaking for the birthplace foundation, we

hope that any proposals made by the Federal agencies under the bill now before

you, will conform to the guidelines Mr. Hoover had expressed. Briefly stated

they are: (1) simplicity, (2) solicitous regard for the image of a wholesome

American agricultural community in which the birthplace and library are

located, (3) the library and its construction to remain under the supervision of

the Federal Archivist, in accordance with the terms of the tender of gift.

Mr. STRAUSS. Thank you. I will be glad to answer any questions

that you or the committee may have.

I am chairman of the birthplace foundation resulting from the fact

that I suppose that there has been a half century of relationship with

ex-President Hoover and his family. I was his private secretary 50

years ago.

I am familiar to some extent with his wishes in connection with the

birthplace property and the library and, as I say, I act as chairman of

the birthplace foundation.

We have raised the funds which, without assistance. from the Federal Government, have built the first library and the addition thereto

and which we assume should be kept in being in order that further additions to the library which we envisage may be provided.
18 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

If there are any questions, Senator, I will be very happy to answer them.

Senator BIBLE. I think I have none. I know of your devotion and public service, Admiral Strauss. I am glad to have your statement and your additional comments part of this record. It looks to me as though the homework has been done extremely well. There is no reason why we should not move along at a fairly fast rate. Senator Jordan?

Senator JORDAN. I am glad to have you here, Admiral. I am glad you are in this because I have a great deal of respect for your dedication.

Mr. STRAUSS. I thank you.

Senator JoRDAN. I appreciate your statement.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Arizona?

Senator FANNIN. I have been very much impressed with the presen- tation and, certainly, your support gives it greater prestige. I as- sume you are satisfied with the compatibility with the different ar- rangements that are being made for the scenic easements and things of that nature?

Mr. STRAUSS. Yes. I am particularly impressed by that. One of the scenic easements involved the farm to the west of the burial site. There the thousands of visitors that come each day see an Iowa corn- field stretching to the right and left as far as one can see. I don't think t hat there is anything more impressive to the thousands of young people than a man who rose to the greatest heights, who died and returned to his people, an example of the opportunity for the youth of this country.

I hope, and I know that the ex-President hoped, that the simplicity of this location would always be scrupulously preserved.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Admiral Strauss. Our next witness is Mr. George B. Hartzog of the National Park Service.

You may indicate anyone you desire to have accompany you to the witness table.

STATEMENT OF GEORGE B. HARTZOG, JR., DIRECTOR, NATIONAL

PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; ACCOMPANIED

BY CHESTER BROWN AND FRANK E. HARRISON

Mr. HARTZOG. Thank you very much. I would like to have Mr. Har- rison and Mr. Brown, Chief of our Park System Planning, join me. Senator BIBLE. Fine. Will you gentlemen come forward.

Mr. HARTZOG. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am pleased to state the Interior Department's strong support of legislation which will authorize an appropriate commemoration of the birthplace, burial place, and the accomplishments of Herbert Hoover.

Our 31st President, Mr. Hoover, was born in a two-room cottage in West Branch, Iowa, on August 10, 1874. From a bumble beginning he achieved great prominence in the engineering profession which took him to the far corners of the earth. By the time he was 40, Mr. Hoover's hard work and scientific genius had made him a wealthy and highly respected man,
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 19

Herbert Hoover's creativity in establishing the Comnaission for

Relief in Belgium, and as Food Administrator under President Wilson

made him one of the most popular nonmilitary figures of the World

War I era.

Subsequently, he served as Secretary of Commerce under Presidents

Harding and Coolidge and then entered the White House on March 4,

1929. Although he relinquished the Presidency to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, Mr. Hoover remained a public servant for the rest of his

life.

Among the more notable services he performed was his leadership

of the two Commissions, both named for him, under Presidents Truman and Eisenhower.

Our studies reveal that the most appropriate place to commemorate

the accomplishments of this distinguished former President is a 200-

acre site encompassing his birthplace, boyhood 

home, 

and burial place

at West Branch, Iowa. The Secretary's Advisory Board on National

Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments has endorsed this

proposal and strong support has been evidenced by our discussions with

the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation, town officials and interested citizens, and members of the Hoover family.

We are indebted to them for their assistance in the development of

these plans before you here. One is a preliminary plan for development and the other is a general site orientation map. If I may, I will

ask Mr. Brown to take you on a tour of this development plan as I

present the details.

The development of the area has been planned in accordance with

the wishes of the late President Hoover to keep the view from the

birthplace cottage to the grave sites free from any obstructions.

A visitor orientation facility will be located near the Herbert Hoover

Library and a nearby parking area could serve visitors to the library

and those who wish to see the birthplace cottage, Jesse Hoover's blacksmith shop, or the gravesite.

It is also planned to reroute Downey Street—the main artery into

the town—and restore the present street to a historic trace, where it

runs in front of the birthplace.

Some of the period houses will be retained or, in some cases relocated within the boundary to maintain the historic smalltown atmosphere.

The estimated cost of development is $650,000 and the estimated cost

of land acquisition is $1 million. Annual costs for maintenance and

operation will be approximately $95,000.

The Herbert Hoover Library, now administered by the National

Archives and Records Service of the General Services Administration, will continue under the administration of that Service.

Senator BIBLE. There is no desire on the part of the Park Service to

administer the library?

Mr. HARTZOG. No, sir there is not. This would be an arrangement,

Mr. 

Chairman, 

quite comparable to that in Hyde Park where we

cooperate with the archivist in the administration of the library at the

national historic site there.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you.

Mr. HARTZOG. As Interstate Highway 80 runs along the south

boundary of the proposed Herbert Hoover Birthplace National His-
20 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

tonic Site, access to the area is excellent. From West Branch this

route carries heavy traffic from Des Moines and Omaha on the west

and from Davenport, Iowa, and the Chicago metropolitan complex on

the east. Other large centers of population within easy driving distance from the site include Kansas City, St. Louis, and MinneapolisSt. Paul.

Over 300,000 visitors were counted at the birthplace park and

library during 1964, and we estimate that annual visitation will reach

350,000 by the fifth year after establishment. Mr. Chairman, by way

of summary, this site is of unquestioned national significance, there is

strong support for the proposal we have outlined to you, and the

Herbert Hoover Birthplace National Historic Site will be an extremely worthwhile addition to the National Park System.

We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank

you.

Senator BIBLE. Why don't, you just briefly tell us why you call it the

Herbert Hoover Birthplace National Historic Site rather than the

Herbert Hoover National Monument?

Mr. HARTZOG. Sir, this is a matter of classification. The administration of this area will be carried out under the Historic Sites Act

of 1935 which is the act in which Congress laid down the policy that

we should preserve the important parts of our national historic

heritage.

The Congress has generally used the "historic site" designation for

areas of historical significance whereas a national monument is a

term generally applied in connection with scientific and prehistoric

areas that are established pursuant to the Antiquities Act of 1906.

There is some ambiguity on this in that, on occasion, the Congress

has set up national monuments which are primarily for historical

interpretation. It is not a clear-cut definition but this is the general

category which we have tried to maintain in the executive actions

that are authorized under both of these acts and which the Congress

has also maintained in establishing areas.

Senator BIBLE. What do you call Hyde Park?

Mr. HARTZOG. Hyde Park is a national historic site.

Senator BIBLE. And the acquisition cost is approximately a million

dollars, the development cost is approximately $650,000. You will

operate at an annual cost of about $95,000.

Mr. HARTZOG. After 5 years, yes, sir.

Senator BIBLE. Do you have any comment on the suggestion made

by the Congressman from the district that there might be some use

here for an advisory committee to represent the local viewpoints? We

have done that in some areas. I don't know whether it is indicated

here or not.

Mr. HARTZOG. Mr. Chairman, this is a policy which the Congress

adopted, as you point out, in connection with certain new legislation

in the past few years. We have found it, a very helpful arrangement

and we would certainly be in favor of such a Commission.

Senator BIBLE. You would favor writing some type of amendment

in this bill to accomplish it?

Mr. HARTZOG. If this be the desire of the Congress, we would be very

pleased to have it, yes, sir, and we would look forward to working
49-704 0 - 65 (Face p.23)

•

HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 21

with it. We have found it to be very helpful in the establishment

of these new areas.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Idaho.

Senator JORDAN. Mr. Hartzog, how many acres in this whole tract?

Mr. HARTZOG. 195. Because of possible inaccuracies in surveys we

have rounded up to 200.

Senator JORDAN. You expect to buy those in fee simple and there

will not be scenic easements involved.

Mr. HARTZOG. There will be scenic easements to the west, over an

area which has been set aside for development, but the developments

there we believe are compatible with the maintenance of the scene.

We would propose that the area, shaded in the darker color and inside

this heavy dotted line be acquired in fee. Within this area are lands

owned by the Hoover Foundation and also lands owned by the United

States now administered by GSA. The amendment we propose would

provide that under agreement between the Secretary and GSA these

lands could be transferred to the administration of the National Park

Service except for the library building. And also we would hope that

the foundation would see fit to donate its lands. The cost of purese lands is not included in this $1 million figure.

Senator DAN. How many acres are involved in this area for

which you expe to et easements?

Mr. HARTZOG. .eacit6targir,-- ---

Senator JORDAN. Do you think that acquisition will adequately protect the property?

Mr. HARTZOG. We do, sir. On the basis of the suggestions by some

of the local people we have proposed the rerouting of this street as a

main entrance in town in order to better protect the historic scene

immediately in front of the birthplace.

We believe now with the scenic easement authority and the fee

acquisition that this can be maintained in its traditional and historic

environment.

Senator BIBLE. So, you will have a town on two sides and a highway

on one side and a scenic easement on the other side.

Mr. HARTZOG. Yes, sir.

Senator BIBLE. That will pretty well protect it.

Mr. HARTZOG. Yes, sir we believe it will.

Senator JORDAN. Thank you.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Arizona.

Senator FANNIN. I have no questions.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Mr. Director, for your presentation on this matter.

The next witness is Dr. James R. Arnold, mayor of the town of

West Branch, Iowa.

STATEMENT OF DR. JAMES R. ARNOLD, MAYOR, WEST BRANCH,

IOWA

Dr. ARNOLD. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I

will begin by reading you a resolution that was passed by the town

council. This is an exact copy of the resolution passed by West

Branch Town Council on June 5, 1965, and spread on the minutes.
22 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

RESOLUTION

Be it resolved, That the West Branch Town Council at a special meeting on

June 5, 1965, unanimously voted in favor of the proposed Herbert Hoover Birthplace National Historical Site plan and favor the Wetherell-Harrison-Wagner

Architects plan dated June 3, 1965. We believe this to be the wishes of a large

majority of the West Branch citizens; be it further

Resolved, That the West Branch Town Council will cooperate with the city

planning and zoning commission to make areas availabe for relocation of businesses and homes.

JAMES R. ARNOLD, Mayor.

F. W. PEARSON, Councilman.

PHILLIP A. THOMAS, Councilman.

L. B. SLACH, Councilman.

L. C. RUMMELLS, Councilman.

E. L. ESTAL, Councilman.

Attest:

J. J. HAYSLETT, City Clerk.

I will give you this copy for your records.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much.

Dr. ARNOLD. This is a small town as you were told previously. Our

tax base is $989,729. The tax approximately is $989.73 per mill. The

taxes in the seven functional funds are at the maximum allowed.

Along with this program that you were shown here wo felt we

should have municipal easements for gas, water, sewer, telephone, and

electrical services in order to expand the size of our town because of

the location and the natural runway for sewers and waterways.

We felt that we should have four lanes on South Downey Street

with a small divider and this should be done at the Federal expense

which the town cannot afford.

The reason for the four lanes is that if you were ever there on a

Sunday afternoon it is impossible to get an emergency vehicle down

South Downey Street. Our fire department is a community fire department, not a town solely owned department.

Senator BIBLE. Give me that street name again. Is that the one

coming off the freeway!

Dr. ARNOLD. Yes Interstate 80. As I say it is community-owned

fire equipment, so we have to provide fire protection for those south of

us. Also, if you notice the proximity of the park to Interstate 80,

when you get a group of people coming down there it is only approximately three blocks to the gate entrance from the interchange, and you

need space there for at least some of the cars to get by beyond the

approach to the park in order to not have a bottleneck coming off 80.

We had this at the time of Mr. Hoover's burial and we have had it

continuously on Sundays, especially weekends and holidays, since that

time.

We also would like to have an exit road leading from the parking

area in the park, itself, to go around the gravesite and back to the

picnic area.

Then it comes back to what was formerly State-owned Road No. 1,

which the State still owns but does not consider No. 1 any longer. It

is not numbered. I think that we should have some form of fire protection agreement with the Park Service which we do not have at the

present time.

Senator BIBLE. May I ask, Mayor, how many of these problems you

are mentioning now—and I can certainly understand the gravity of
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 23

some of them—have been worked out with the Park Service in their

development plans?

Dr. ARNOLD. We have talked to them on that. We recommended

the extra exit around the gravesite and also we have talked of the

four-lane highway.

Senator BIBLE. They intend to comply with that in the course of

their development of this historic site; is that correct!

Dr. ARNOLD. I don't see the roadway on this particular map which

leads from the parking area back to the picnic area which could lead

to a lessening of congestion if someone comes out of the other way,

where they can take the old road in either direction 5 miles and come

back onto the interchange.

Senator BIBLE. May I just ask Mr. Brown—you have previously

been identified—how many of these problems that the mayor is raising

have been met by the Park Service as you proceeded with your development plan?

Mr. BROWN. Mr. Chairman, all of these points which Dr. Arnold

has just mentioned to you are ones which we discussed with the town.

We were out there last week. Our feeling was that all of these were

points that were reasonable to consider when we got into final planning. We certainly would be open to the consideration of them. We

felt they were planning rather than legislative matters.

Senator BIBLE. That is correct. Also when you are trying to plan

development it is well to have a meeting of the minds so that the

people of West Branch are satisfied with the commitments.

As I understand, you have gone over most of these problems with

the mayor and his council, his *board and his planning group, and you

feel that you can accommodate yourself to most of these requests.

Mr. BROWN. Yes; for itself, a commitment like a four-lane highway

down here, this is something we think would properly be worked out

as we and the Bureau of Public Roads get down to a detailed analysis

subsequently. If it demands four lanes, certainly we would go along

with that.

Senator BIBLE. Mayor, what else are you asking them to do that you

think they should do?

Dr. ARNOLD. The other deal was from the proposed parking area

and have a road—Mr. Brown knows, we have discussed it—around

to this other route and also we would like a little spur coming back

here so that it would make the entrance one way in and this other as

an exit up here on the hillside coming back here. Mr. Brown knows

what I am talking ahout. We have discussed this.

Senator BIBLE. Well, let Mr. Brown get with the reporter and point

that out so that we know where we are going.

Dr. ARNOLD. If you like, I have a map which shows this particular

deal.

Senator BIBLE. I think it would be helpful to us, Mayor. We will

incorporate the map that you are offering as part of the record so that

we will have a clearer picture of your request. The map will be made

a part of the record and we will ask counsel to work very closely with

Mr. Brown in indicating what you were pointing to, so that we can

follow it in the printed record as well as in the oral record.

Did you have anything further to add?
311M.-

24 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

Dr. ARNOLD. Yes; I believe the town should have some type of compensation for fire protection for the buildings and the housing that

we will have on this part. It is purely voluntary firefighting equipment. We do have, as I say, excellent equipment and very capable

men on our fire department. It is supported by taxation. The town

and the farmers in the outlying area pay $1 million toward fire protection for their property. So it is a community affair, not strictly

the town.

I don't know whether we will ever be large enough to have a fulltime manned fire department. Some think we are going to come to

that pretty quick. I can't see it financially at this time. If it is

left on a voluntary deal, the money would probably be more appropriate than where you would say we will bring in a firetruck or

apparatus and you furnish the men full time to man this.

Senator BIBLE. The point you are making is that the Federal Government or the National Park Service should compensate West Branch

for services rendered insofar as fire protection is concerned.

Dr. ARNOLD. That is right. However, how they want to deal with

this is beyond what I know. What I mean is that there should be

some

Senator BIBLE. Frankly, I don't know either, but Mr. Brown, do

you have any observations on that? Have you talked about this fire

protection?

Mr. BROWN. Only to the degree to determine that we do have

authority to enter into such arrangements where they are appropriate.

Senator BIBLE. Then there is statutory authority for the National

Park Service to enter into an agreement with West Branch to provide

some type of compensation for fire protection of the buildings within

the historic site?

Mr. BROWN. That is right.

Senator BIBLE. I would think something along that line could be

worked out. That is a matter of administrative consideration.

Dr. ARNOLD. I understand that. I have nothing else to add except

it has been a pleasure to work with Mr. Brown and his group in making these arrangements and plans.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very very much, Mayor. We are delighted to have you here today. I like to have this out in the open and

spread on the record so that West Branch and you, as the governing

head of that community, know exactly what we are doing so that there

is no misunderstanding of what the Federal Government commitments

are and what the Federal Government is prepared to do.

The Senator from Idaho?

Senator JORDAN. I have only one question, perhaps to Mr. Brown,

Mr. Chairman.

Your estimated cost of development of $625,000, did it include the

various matters that the mayor has just discussed here?

Mr. BROWN. The development cost will be about $650,000, as a

matter of fact. The $625,000 figure in Mr. Hartzog's prepared statement is a typographical error and includes the development essentially

as you see it outlined here. It does not include such additional items

as the possibility of this road, this being an item which we felt would

be a planning detail. And the road costs are based on this plan which,

as you see, calls for a four-lane roadway in the middle here to provide
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 25

for a sound workable access so that traffic can move on and off safely

and smoothly.

Conceivably, if we should determine later with the Bureau of Public

Roads that four lanes are required, the 'cost could conceivably move

up a bit. But at the moment our costs are based on the general

development as you see it here.

Most of the other items which Dr. Arnold mentioned are largely

those things which we can work out administratively later and would

not involve extra cost.

There are a couple of items.

Senator JORDAN. I think it would be helpful to the committee if

these matters were explored at an early date so that we could go

before the whole committee.

Senator BIBLE. I was about to suggest that because this committee

does insist on placing a limitation on acquisition costs and we have run

into some problems there. I trust we won't here. We also try to

put a limit or ceiling on the development cost. Now the development

'cost, as shown in the report before us, puts a ceiling of $650,000.

Now that may not be realistic if we have to do additional things

within the area.

If it is not realistic I suggest you give us a realistic figure, whether

it is $675,000 or $700,000, because I would not want our good friends

from Iowa to be coming back here in a year and say the development

cost is not $650,000, but should be $750,000. I plan to keep the record

open 10 days. I trust within that period of 10 days you can come

back with a little sharper figure if it is going to take more than

$650,000. If it is going to take more than that I think you ought to

say so and tell us now.

Mr. ARNOLD. Sir, on that South Downey Hill I think they will find

that will be a fairly costly project because of the storm sewer, in order

to change that to four lanes. We had an estimate of around $30,000

on that 2 years ago on just the South Downey Hill to change it over

to four lanes which the county engineer worked out with the town and

then the State highway commission was involved at the time and they

turned it down because the storm sewer was inadequate.

Senator BIBLE. We will ask them to take a further look at this with

the town people. The record will be kept open for 10 days.

(The information requested follows:)

The estimated cost of development for the national historic site as now

planned is $650,000. Officials of the town of West Branch and the Herbert

Hoover Birthplace Foundation have requested that further consideration be

given to two possible changes in our development plan: (1) Making the relocated

Downey Street a four-lane road rather than a two-lane road, and (2) constructing a park road, possibly one way, from Main Street in the northwestern corner

to Downey Street in the southeastern part of the site. We shall comply with

this request and determine whether these two road proposals are feasible and

desirable. These two changes or additions to our development plan would add

an estimated $110,000 to the development costs, raising the total to $760,000.

Senator BIBLE. May I 'ask you, you are a doctor of what?

Dr. ARNOLD. Veterinary medicine.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Arizona?

Senator FANNIN. Mr. Mayor, have you discussed this completely,

with the people involved in the preparation of this planning regarding the four-lane highway? I notice on the map you gave us it pro-
26 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

vides for demolishing some buildings and for moving others. Is this

all compatible with the general planning which is going forward?

Dr. ARNOLD. We have discussed this as a group. It was discussed

with the council, and the zoning commission and the Commerce Club

and the Heritage Foundation were all invited to this meeting when

these things were discussed.

Senator BIBLE. They were in agreement with the planning board?

Dr. ARNOLD. Yes.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Mayor. Thank you, Mr.

Brown.

Dr. ARNOLD. Thank you.

Senator BIBLE. Our next witness is Mr. D. Orr, chairman of the

Zoning Commission, West Branch.

STATEMENT OF D. ORR, CHAIRMAN. ZONING COMMISSION, WEST

BRANCH, IOWA

Mr. ORR. Mi. Chairman and members of the subcommittee,,I will

read the statement here that we have prepared for the record.

The West Branch, Iowa, Planning and Zoning Commission resolves

that we are in agreement with the master plan as submitted by the

National Park Service dated April 1965, for the development of the

National Historic Site in West Branch in recognition of the late

President Herbert Hoover.

-We further resolve that we will make every effort to help relocate

all parties affected by the extension of the present. park boundaries by

rezoning and annexation of additional lands, if necessary.

Senator BIBLE. At that point, Mr. Orr, and maybe I should have

asked the mayor, how many families will be dislocated as a result of

the creation of this historic site.

Mr. ORR. I think there are 27.

Senator BIBLE. The plan is to take them from the park area, the

historic site area, and relocate them elsewhere in the community ?

Mr. ORR. There is a new plan that I have not had a chance to go'

over very thoroughly but this is one part that we should be in agreement with the Department of the Interior on. We have not discussed

it thoroughly. Some of these houses on the latest plan will be placed

in the park area, I imagine for tenancy. We imagined that these.

houses would be, if they were purchased, rebuilt outside the park area

and we would lose the taxable value of the houses.

Now if they are going to be placed in the park area this makes

considerable tax difference to a town the size of West Branch. There

are also some businesses involved.

I think also that in this 10-day period we should go over with the

Department of the Interior the possibility of an additional interchange on Interstate 80. This would solve a lot of our problems.

In the first place, we don't have too much area where we can relocate

commercially. Going back to how we were established, in 1955 someone planned to build a soft drink building immediately across the

street from the birthplace on South Downey 'Street, so we immediately

established a planning and zoning commission and we have tried

in the past to zone this area so that it does not detract from the park,

but we are limited as to area.
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 27

We have the interstate now south of us, the park actually taking out

about one-fourth of the town, more than that in area, and our prime

commercial area would be the area toward the interstate. This would

also possibly solve this road problem of South Downey Street Hill if

we could get another interchange.

Senator BIBLE. Again I suggest that you take that up with the Park

Service people in the next 10 days. We want to resolve as much of that

as we can before we report the bill out.

Mr. ORR. We feel that this site is for the Nation, and the West

Branch community should cooperate to the fullest extent and we will

cooperate but we do have limited funds and limited taxable value and

we ask that the Park Service keep this in mind in their development

and also keep in mind that we want to take as little out of taxable

value as possible and still develop this site.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Mr. Orr. Are there questions?

The Senator from Idaho.

Senator JORDAN. Mr. Orr, it is quite possible that with a lot of people

pulling off Highway 80 to go through this site there will be some economic advantage to the area and the town. Don't you expect to get a

little spurt in the town growth and the need to set up more commercial

houses that go with this kind of development?

Don't you think you will have a growth by reason of this site?

Mr. ORR. We will, if we can annex some additional land either to

the east of the existing town now or the west. We are limited either

way. Actually we can't go too much on the west because we do have

the park area. So if we went to the east—but what I am thinking of

also is coming right down through the park with the only truck route

in town that the additional interchange would solve.

Senator JORDAN. Our experience has been that wherever we get that

many people stopping over, the local community benefits tremendously

from that tourist patronage. I really believe you will get quite a

growth there if you have room for it. You have room on two sides at

least, to the north and east, as the map indicates.

Mr. ORR. Well, the north is not too compatible to build on either.

We have some low-lying areas that would not be suitable.

Senator JORDAN. Thank you.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Arizona.

Senator FANNIN. Mr. Orr, where does the truck travel go through

at the present time?

Mr. ORR. The truck travel would come right down the existing

South Downey Street. We would like to see an additional interchange

east so that we could bring trucks in there and would bring our town

over to the east a little bit and do away with as much commercial development as possible near the park site.

Senator FANNIN. Thank you.

Senator BIBLE. I think the point you make there is a good one.

Of course we can leave that with the legislative committee. We can

foresee the future to the extent of drafting all of the bypasses and

roads. We run into this constantly. I am sure the Park Service

people will tell you that. As the population growth changes and as

population trends change and the development of the community

changes maybe you will need a road somewhere else. I don't know.
28 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

Mr. ORR. But I do believe the Park Service should take this into

consideration when they are determining their fund that they do need.

Senator BIBLE. I agree with that. I certainly commend you for

appearing here today and giving us your views. We want to resolve

many of these problems now rather than at a later date. Thank you

very much, Mr. Orr.

Mr. ORR. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator BIBLE. Our next witness is Paul Hillman, president of the

West Branch Commercial Club.

STATEMENT OF PAUL HILLMAN, PRESIDENT, WEST BRANCH

COMMERCIAL CLUB

Mr. HILLMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the sub -

committee.

On February 17 the West Branch Commercial Club wrote a letter to

Secretary of Interior Udall in which we endorsed a national historic

site providing the following-, considerations were made:

1. No extensive purchasing of land north and east of the present

park.

2. Provide a picnic area and children's playground.

3. Provide for a camping area.

4. Build or allow adequate tourist facilities.

Mr. Chester Brown, Chief of the Division of National Park System Studies, acknowledged this letter stating that our suggestions

would be taken into consideration. We are sure they were, but the

members of the board expressed some disappointment after the plan

was presented.

West Branch has two automobile dealers; one business has been in

the family for 54 years. Both are involved in the proposed plans. It

will require 23,500 square feet of land area and approximately 8,100

square feet of building area to relocate each of these two businesses.

Neither the city nor the Commercial Club has funds available to

aid in doing this. If these two automobile franchises are lost, it is

doubtful that General Motors or the Ford Motor Co. will allow any

dealer to start up.

The Greater Iowa Corp. is in the process of building a service

station and plan a motel and restaurant at the same location. The

including of this commercial development in the park will reduce the

limited facilities we have for providing services to the tourists.

Mr. Edwards, who operates a well-drilling service, is 66 years old

and probably will retire if the proposed park is approved. He has

been in business for 46 years.

The proposed plan is quite elaborate and includes a great deal of

city property. We are sure that much thought and long-range planning by well trained men went into the composition of the various

proposals. We hope it will be an asset to the community, but because the town funds are already hard pressed from our rapid growth,

the cost must come from Federal funds entirely.
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 29

On June 1 a meeting of the governing board of the West Branch

Commercial Club was held and the following resolution passed:

The West Branch Commercial Club endorses the original plan set forth by

the National Park Service with the following reservations:

The commercial developments in existence and proposed be allowed to remain

or to be adequately compensated for relocation and encouraged to undergo the.

work of rebuilding and establishing in a new location.

Whatever plan is adopted shall include all cost of road building with no

expense to the city.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much. How many commercial

establishments do you have within the proposed national historic

site? You mentioned two automobile dealers, is that correct?

Mr. HILLMAN. Yes. There are five businesses altogether.

Senator BIBLE. I will ask Mr. Brown if he won't comment on this

point. We deal with this problem rather constantly in the creation

of seashores we have had it with Cape Cod, in Fire Island and

almost all of them. What provision will be made for the automobile

dealers? What do you do with them?

Mr. BROWN. I think our position on this is that they will be ac- quired at fair market value, of course, and we would hope, recognizing the town's interest, that this will certainly not lose them to the

town, that they will be able to relocate and I would assume that fair

market value would take into account the severance problems and

so forth that might be involved here.

Senator BIBLE. What are you going to permit to continue on the

historic site, if anything?

Mr. BROWN. Incidentally the two automobile dealers are here and

here. One point that was brought up by Mr. Hillman and by the

previous speaker, Mr. Orr, was the matter of the 27 residents which

are scattered, two or three here and the rest down here.

This would be on the basis that, except where they would have to

move because of the actual construction of the highway, for instance,

this could be what might be called a phasing out process with a number of these staying with life tenancy values and so forth.

Senator BIBLE. That does not appear to be written into the law.

Of course we did follow that technique at Cape Cod and which we

nicknamed as the Cape Cod formula; that is, to permit life tenancies

and sometimes longer in cases of people who are actually living there.

Is that what you are proposing here?

Mr. BROWN. We were of the understanding that the provisions of

the laws which allowed for the acquisition of partial interest would

be all the authority we would need on this.

We certainly see eye to eye with the community on the desirability

of doing this in places. We also recognize—from the standpoint of

adjustment between the town's interests and the long-range objectives

of the national historic site—that certain of the residences through

here have "period" characteristics. It would be desirable to retain

these where possible as a part of the setting, leaving the birthplace cottage in the context of the fringes of the small town where Mr. Hoover

was born and spent his early years. If and when we acquire some of

these residential properties, if they are representative of that period,
30 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

some might be relocated to appropriate positions in relation to the

birthplace. If they could stay where they are, they might remain

there.

We would acquire other houses by negotiation and where we did not

need them for construction purposes their acquisition could be phased

over many years with life tenancy agreements and so forth. Out of

the 27, for a rough estimate, for instance, it looks as though 6 to 8

might be needed for construction purposes.

My guess is that out of the 27 perhaps 10, maybe a dozen, are of

the period type which would either be retained where they are or

would be located desirably, working with the town and the foundation

and so forth, in places that would be appropriate to maintain the type

of setting in which we and the foundation and the town are all interested.

Mr. HILLMAN. Would you point out the Greater Iowa holdings and

the filling station?

Mr. BROWN. The Greater Iowa holdings are this block of land here.

The filling station itself, which is under construction right now, would

be approximately here.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I think this is another

phase which should be explored in the next 10 days. If I happened

to have a home in this particular area and this is the only home I

have in the world, I would be a little concerned about being relocated.

Quite often we have permitted people to stay on there for life tenancy.

Maybe something can be worked out. I suggest something be done

along that line. Are there any questions?

Senator FANNIN. I would like to inquire about the property you

spoke about where the service station is. That is all included in the

amount of money involved. Is that going to create additional problems?

Mr. HILLMAN. I think the figure is a little low, probably, because

Greater Iowa and the Ford Motor Co., where the picnic area is, is quite

an extensive area.

I have talked to these people. I don't know what the fair market

value is. I think it is more than you probably expect to pay for it.

Senator FANNIN. I assume we are talking about a service station

that serves the general public, is that right?

Mr. HILLMAN. That is right.

Senator FANNIN. They have many benefits that will be acquired?

Mr. HILLMAN. They will be moved out.

Senator FANNIN. If they are relocated in a comparable position,

and I assume with the amount of property available that could be

done, it would be agreeable?

Mr. HILLMAN. Yes.

Senator BIBLE. Are there further questions? Thank you very

much, Mr. Hillman.

Mr. HILLMAN. Thank you.

Senator BIBLE. The next witness is William Wagner, architect for

West Branch Historical Foundation.

Proceed, Mr. Wagner.
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 31

STATEMENT OF WILLIAM WAGNER, ARCHITECT FOR WEST BRANCH

HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

Mr. WAGNER. My name is William Wagner. My profession is

architecture. On the 18th of June, here in Washington at our National Convention, the American Institute of Architects will confer

upon me the honor of fellow in the American Institute of Architects.

This fellowship is being given in the field of education, because of

my work in the preservation of historic buildings.

When in my further remarks I refer to we, I will include the feelings,

and thinking, of the several groups which I represent and of which

Jam apart; namely:

Architect for the West Branch Heritage Foundation. I've been

with this group from its inception and worked with it throughout its

restoration of Main Street and other projects.

Architect for the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation. I've

worked with this group for 10 years and have worked on all their

restorations in the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation Park, ineluding the design of the overlook area the final resting place for

Herbert Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry 

area,

Trustee in the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation.

Chairman of the Committee on Preservation of Historic Buildings

for the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

My interest in West Branch is to see its heritage preserved for all

in the future to see. Also to help it grow, and progress so as to be

-able to cope with the future. The birthplace is equal to any other

historic site in our United States. The simple little white cottage

with its well-kept yard and all the little homes across the street or

down the street, exemplify Herbert Hoover. He believed in the simple unpretentious way of living.

Mr. Hoover was born in a small village. At that time West Branch

was one of thousands of small Iowa towns. Today hundreds have lost

their identity as a town and have become ghost towns; some have

grown and some have been incorporated into other towns. West

Branch has changed little, but what little change has taken place can,

if desired, be restored back to its original appearance. Actually much

restoration is in progress. The restoration of Main Street has been

going on for a year and is nearly completed. Many of the homes

adjacent to the birthplace are of the same period as the birthplace.

'These can be, and probably will be, restored in the near future to their

or i n al appearance.

Mr. Hoover was proud of his West Branch heritage. When he returned to visit his birthplace he was pleased to see it remain basically

unchanged. His birthplace was in a rather crowded section of the

oldest part of town. He was born into a way of life that can best be

-explained by the preservation of old West Branch. To us in Iowa,

this was a way of life in the 1880's

'

as was Williamsburg a century

earlier. Somehow, the architectural junk that usually springs up all

around most of our historic places is absent. The citizens can be

thanked and praised that there are no ice cream parlors, root beer

stands, hamburger joints, or cheap trinket shops up and down Downey

Street.
32 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

In 1935, a "move" was started—mainly, the restoration of the Herbert Hoover birthplace. Since that day much has happened. The park

grew to about 30 acres, and his father's blacksmith-carpenter shop was:

reconstructed. The presidential library was started and two additions.

added before it was finished. The Quaker meetinghouse, where hereceived his Quaker training as a child, was moved and restoration

started. All this pleased him so much that he said, "I can never thank

my friends in Iowa enough for what they have done for me."

Mr. Hoover selected the site upon which he wanted his library built..

Upon investigation of the soil conditions prior to designating the

footings, it was found that if the building were to remain, it would,

be necessary to use pilings of considerable length. This would add

to the cost many thousands of dollars. My architectural firm strongly urged that the library building be moved south and on higher

ground. Mr. Hoover settled the site location by saying, "Nothing inJ

my life must be higher than by birthplace." For those of you who

are not familiar with the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Park, the birthplace, blacksmith shop, ISIS (the thank-you statute from Belgium) ,.

the Quaker meetinghouse, the main park entrance with its stone piers.

and white wooden gate, and the library are all on the same flat-bottom

land of the Wapsinonoc Creek. We feel that the proposed area of approximately 200 acres, which is here being considered as a national historic site, will be one of the most unique sites in the United States.

It will be the only national historic site to contain the birthplace of a

President, his first church, his library museum, and his final resting

place.

We have had several visits with National Park Service and during

these visits we recognized that they and we shared like feelings on

the most important point—the preservation of the simple dignity

around the birthplace. We also recognized that the structure of the.

National Park Service was such that they could accomplish more than

we or anyone else, and that they could plan for the future and carry

out these plans, as no one else could. We have realized that the picture around the birthplace could change almost overnight from good

to bad. While working with the National Park Service on the preliminary plans we recognized that they were including in their plans

details to keep forever the simple neighborhood around the birthplace.

In their plans they are working out details that will help and allow

West Branch to meet the future. We wish to compliment the Park

Service on their very fine plan and we also urge that this proposed

plan be adopted.

After it is adopted, we know there will be much more work to do.

We want to work with the Park Service and any other Government

agency as is appropriate, because this project is greater than any one

of us. An authority whom most of us know has said, "The birthplace

of Herbert Hoover is one of the most dramatic pieces of historic architecture in the United States."

Thank you for this opportunity to tell you of our feelings and our

hopes for the development of the Herbert Hoover National Historic

Site.

Senator BIBLE. Thank you very much, Mr. Wagner. I think you

have colorfully told your story. I do hope that we can preserve this in,

a way that ex-President Hoover would like. I think that should be our
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 33

,objective. The Park Service realizes that is the objective and we

certainly point to that goal.

Are there any questions? Thank you very much, Mr. Wagner. Our

next witness is Mr. Spencer Smith.

STATEMENT OF SPENCER SMITH, SECRETARY, CITIZENS'

COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman, I am secretary of the Citizens' Committee on Natural Resources. Certainly, we do hope that the national

historic site can be established. I must confess to you here that I am

here also in a personal capacity. I was born and bred and educated

in the State of Iowa, and I recall in 1939 as a very fledgling sophomore

student several of us went to the Iowa Historical Society in the hope

that this area might be preserved. I think it is nothing more than a

miracle, as indicated by the previous witness, that this area has not been

overrun commercially with the kind of establishment that would essentially detract from this area. Also, the thing that impresses me

about the Park Service plan for it is its wonderful simplicity. I can't

think of any man in public life more than Mr. Hoover who urged

simplicity in those things and certainly in his own life.

He did not like ornamentation, "frills," as he used to comment. I

think this would be a tribute to him. I know that there will be the

usual problems with which the committee is so familiar which they

are not encountering for the first time in a plan of development.

But it is our hope that this can be established. I think it is long

overdue. At the present time the area is such that you do not have the

usual problems that are often involved when you seek to preserve a

site of this importance.

I have been there many times. I can assure this committee that it

is an area where the architectural and surrounding environment, both

physical and otherwise, seems certain to enhance the overall prospect

of establishing this as a national historic site.

I recall in 1939 when several of us urged this on the State at that

time, upon the community, and again in 1941—February, if my

memory serves me right—and again in 1948. So to me this is something of a millenium. I certainly want to pay tribute to the Iowa

Historical Society, which has done an enormously fine job on this, and

the community, itself, and the Iowa delegation.

I might add there are more Smiths in Iowa than perhaps anywhere

else I can think of and even the most ardent Democrats of the clan

have long supported the possibility of seeing this addition to the

historical society.

Senator BIBLE. This is a fine endorsement. I have no questions.

The Senator from Idaho?

Senator JORDAN. It is not often that the chairman gets so articulate

a witness as Mr. Smith. It is a splendid statement.

Senator BIBLE. The Senator from Arizona?

Senator FANNIN. No questions.

Senator BIBLE. If there are no further witnesses, the record will be

kept open for 10 days, until June 17. We will stand in adjournment.

(Whereupon, at 12:15 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned.)
34 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

(Under authority previously granted the following statement was

ordered printed in the hearing record:)

STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN B. ANDERSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

Gentlemen, there can be little question that Herbert Hoover was one of our.

country's greatest Presidents and that his memory should be properly enshrined

in some sort of historic setting.

However, after perusing H.R. 8111 and S. 810 and the related testimony, I

have serious reservations about the plan to turn this area over to the Department

of the Interior.

As you are well aware, the beautiful 29-acre park, which now includes Hoover's

birthplace and burial site, is being operated by the General Services Administration. And, according to the testimony of Allan Hoover, the late President's son

and the president of the Hoover Birthplace Foundation, "The GSA is doing

a magnificent job of organizing the presidential library, caring for the grounds,

directing visitors, and maintaining security."

The main reservations of Allan Hoover regarding the future GSA administration of the grounds are that GSA cannot acquire additional land, nor can it

participate with the community of West Branch in new problems which will arise,

over the birthplace site.

It seems to me that the question we should all be asking ourselves is, "Is the,

acquisition of an additional 200 acres of land at the cost of $1 million necessary?"

It is obvious from the testimony that the GSA is not equipped to handle such

a large tract of land, and that only the National Park Service is capable of this

service.

But it is also obvious from the testimony that the Department of the Interiorhas no development plans for the additional 200 acres. In my own personal talks

with Chester Brown, the chief of the national park system study, this point

was confirmed. Of the 200 acres, only 45 are actually designated for scenic easement. The necessity for the rest of the land has not been made evident in the

testimony.

Ostensibly it is to protect the surrounding areas from unsightly commercial development. And yet, according to the testimony of William Wagner, the professional architect for the West Branch Heritage Foundation and the Herbert

Hoover Birthplace Foundation:

"Somehow, the architectural junk that usually springs up all around most

of our historic places is absent. The citizens can be thanked that there are no

ice cream parlors, rootbeer stands, hamburger joints, or cheap trinket shops up,

and down Downey Street."

Mr. Hartzog, Director of the National Park Service, in his Senate testimony,

took a somewhat divergent view when he stated that a certain amount of the

area has been set aside for developments, but that the "developments there, we

believe, are incompatible with the maintenance of the scene."

The land Mr. Hartzog is referring to is a 90-acre tract owned by the Greater

Iowa Development Corp. Contrary to Mr. Hartzog's views, the development corporation has informed me that the architectural styling will be in the early

American tradition and includes site improvements which are already being

built and which will be in keeping with and enhance the attractiveness of the

entire area.

The purpose behind the development is to provide visitors to the Hoover

site with complete automobile service, food, and lodging. Facilities such as

these are not uncommon along our Nation's interstate highways, and they are

usually smartly styled and landscaped in accordance with the suroundings. Such

a facility is sorely needed at West Branch to accommodate the tourist traffic. I

might add, in talking with Mr. Hartzog just today, I learned that the development is already nearly built.

But under the Department of the Interior's plan, all land from the present park

up to Interstate 80 will be part of the new site. And, as it has already been

pointed out, there are no actual development plans by the Department of the

Interior for this area.

I would submit that the purchase of an additional 200 acres of land is unnecessary—that it is simply acquisition for the sake of acquisition. Without

such a sizable tract, it would be difficult to justify the need for National Park

Service supervision. And yet even National Park Service has no plans for
HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT 35

the additional land other than to protect the surrounding countryside from cheap

commercialization.

The statements of people from the West Branch area are a testimony to their

success in keeping this undesirable development out. And my own communication with Greater Iowa Development Corp. leads me to believe the above-mentioned facilities are in keeping with the surroundings and are necessary.

It is one thing to want to restrict unsightly development, but it is yet another

to stifle the efforts of responsible private enterprise. The Department of the

Interior seems to be working on the premise that all commercial development

Is bad. It is my own feeling that responsible development by private enterprise

has made a major contribution to the growth of our country in the past, and

that it will continue to do so. This is the cornerstone of this great land of

ours. I hope and pray the day will not come when the Federal Government will

yell "wolf" every time a new commercial venture is undertaken. For in attempting to remedy such a remote danger, the very flock may be killed off in

the process.

All this is not to say there is not a possibility of undesirable development

around the Hoover site. But the question we must ask ourselves is, "Is it

necessary for the Federal Government to buy up land every time this problem

may present itself?" My answer would be an emphatic "No."

In the hearings before the House subcommittee, Congressman Rivers asked

Mr. Brown of the National Park Service if the West Branch City Council was

empowered to do some zoning along the boundary line of the present park.

Mr. Brown replied, "That is right, and they are very interested in this, as

a matter of fact."

It is therefore inconceivable to me that Federal intervention for the preservation of this area is really necessary. All of the testimony of the West Branch

officials confirms their own sincere desire to preserve the area. We must ask

ourselves, "Are we encouraging local initiative, support, and pride by taking over

the surrounding lands, or are we stifling it?"

I'm afraid the answer would have to be the latter. The Government takeover

of 200 surrounding acres is an unwarranted vote of "no confidence" in the community's abilities to handle this problem.

We must also look at this problem in light of the immediate and long-range

ramifications of Federal expansion. According to the Senate testimony the

acquisition of an additional 20 acres of land would mean the dislocation of 27

families and 5 businesses. In a town of 1,400 this is a serious and major undertaking simply to put some land to rest to prevent some remote contingency. As

one witness pointed out, the expansion will also reduce the amount of taxable

land in a community which is already short on funds. It will also limit their

own rate and direction of growth. A proper balance between preservation and

growth must be achieved, and this cannot be done if the Federal Government is

In control of needed acres.

In light of the above facts, I not only fail to see the need for an additional 200

acres of land, I see the acquisition as being a detriment to the local residents, the

local government, the local businesses and those concerned with responsible

growth and development through private enterprise.

I would also question the need to place the park under two separate administrations when it is now being run quite effectively by one. The National

Archives of the GSA is currently spending $60,000 annually for operation of the

park. Under the new proposal, the Hoover site would be operating on two

budgets with GSA retaining supervision of the library, and NPS administering

the grounds at a cost of $95,000 annually. I am aware this is the present arrangement at Hyde Park, but the differences must be noted.

Hyde Park is in a more densely populated tourist area and the intensity of the

visitor flow necessitates more supervision. Although the Hoover site does receive a lot of visitors, the figures given for 1964 are very deceiving since most of

those visitors were a direct result of the death and burial of Hoover that fall.

Hyde Park covers 200 acres while the Hoover site, per se, is a geographically

self-contained 29-acre park. The additional 200 acres would be left in grass or

their natural state and would not be traversed by visitors to the park.

The cost for caring for the library at Hyde Park is well in excess of $200,000

annually while at the Hoover Library it is only $80,000. It is obvious from these

figures that the activities at the Hyde Park Library are considerably greater

and therefore require more of the GSA than at West Branch.
36 HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL MONUMENT

It has been my observation that GSA can continue to effectively and economically administer the Hoover site as it is. This has been borne out in talks I

have had with a high-ranking official of the National Archives and Record

Service.

Although it is true that the GSA cannot acquire additional lands or build new

facilities, it may receive donations. This is the way the land and library were

originally acquired by the Federal Government. The retention of the current

modus operandi would encourage local organizations and foundations to continue

In their efforts and contributions to the site.

There can be no question after reading the testimony that local group,s and

foundations have been actively working on improving the site. The very existence of the Hoover Birthplace Foundation and the West Branch Heritage

Foundation testifies to that fact. Not only does their testimony reflect their

past accomplishments, but it projects their future plans for the area.

Interestingly enough, it was Chester Brown of NPS who testified:

"I think clearly we are working closely with the community and with their

intent on this, and with the concept of the Foundation and the family, who look,

of course, on this birthplace site as not a park setting, so to speak. It was

originally the edge of a small community. We feel, both, it should be retained

that way."

If it is not felt this site should be a "park setting," why turn it over to the

National Park Service? If it is felt that this should be retained as the "edge

of a small community," why not let the small community itself do the retaining?

In my own district we are proud to claim Galena, Ill., a town steeped in

historic tradition. Not only is it the home of General and President Ulysses

S. Grant, but it has contributed eight generals to the Union during the Civil

War. Here is an example of what a community can do to preserve its own

heritage. Galena is not a national park, yet it is the home of a former President.

The community, and a private foundation, and not the Federal Government, have

seen to it that the heritage is preserved through the retention and restoration

of many of the buildings from the Civil War era.

To the south of us here in Washington is the very beautiful community of

Williamsburg, Va., which I had the good fortune and pleasure to visit only last

weekend. There are some who have testified that they envision another Williamsburg at West Branch, Iowa. It is a noble and commendable idea. But let me

remind you that Williamsburg is not run by the Federal Government. It has

been established by a private foundation and operated by an active and enthusiastic citizenry.

Across the Potomac we have still another historic shrine, Mount Vernon, the

home of President Washington. Each year it attracts thousands of visitors.

Is Mount Vernon run by the National Park Service or owned by the Federal

Government? The answer is "No." It, too, is administered by a private

organization.

The United States has produced 36 Presidents and has been built over the years

on a rich heritage of historical events. It is altogether fitting and proper that

we should preserve this heritage and teach a respect for our country's traditions

through the establishment of historic monuments commemorating these accomplishments.

But if our Federal Government were to take over the sole responsibility for

honoring each and every historical event and President through the creation

of appropriately named and located parks and shrines, we would find ourselves

engaged in the greatest national monument building program since the days of

the Pharaohs. I think rather it is for us to encourage local citizens, foundations,

and historical societies to continue to engage in worthy activities of this nature.

More specifically, I would urge your serious reconsideration of committing the

Hoover site to the Department of the Interior.