Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-01
ART AND ARTISTS
The Architectural Future Of Washington Seen
At Stake in Outcome of FDR Memorial Dispute
ART AND ARTISTS
By FRANK GETLEIN
Star Art Critic

The controversial memorial
to Franklin Delano Roose-
welt is now under considera-
ton by the appropriate
House Of Representatives
committee. After the design
was selected by a distin-
guished jury, it was con-
demned by the Fine Arts
Commission and has been
more or less gleefully at
tackled by most American
newspapers, including The
Star.
What follows is a dissent
from the majority press view
and an argument for support
of the design as selected.
This is undertaken both from
a general belief that any
controversy worthy Of the
name ought to have two
sides, and from q specific
belief that the press has been
short-sighted, unfair and
just plain wrong in editorial
comment on the proposed
memorial.
Far-Reaching Issue
The case for the winning
design falls naturally into
two parts, one of which is
unrelated to the actual de-
sign. This first and very i'm
portant consideration is
based solely on the system
used to encourage the pro-
duction of excellent designs
and to select the best avail
able Of the designs submitted.
This consideration is impor-
tant in relation to the me-
mortal to F.D.R. 1t is even
more important in the i'm
mediate architectural future
Of Washington.
Whether we like it or not,
we are in a period of steady
expansion Of the Federal
Government and therefore of
the Federal facilities within
the Federal city. Almost all
departments of the Govern
ment have new building
programs in hand, in plan
or, at the very least, in the
minds eye of someone fairly
near the top.
The Broad Picture
In recent weeks there has
been announced the purpose
of the Government to reha-
bilitate the north side of
Pennsylvania venue, to
make that broad thorough
fare in appearance what it
has always been in fact, the
Main street of the Republic,
linking the National Legisla-
ture with the Chief Magis-
trate of the Nation.
With such projects upon
us, it is imperative that the
best possible architectural
talent be sought and used
for these purposes Of the
Government. To be frank, it
has been a very long time
since Americas outstanding
talents in art and architec-
ture have been normally en-
ployed by the Government.
Our best architectural eff
forts, like our best artistic
efforts, have been made in
the service Of private indus
try, some churches and other
private institutions, and
many private dwelling places.
Government has been con-
tent with mediocrity.
Exemplary System
The system devised for Sc
Letting an F.D.R. Memorial
has been an exemplary one
from the point Of view of
getting the best available tall
ent involved in the task.
In 1855 Congress estab-
lished the F.D.R. Memorial
Commission. consisting of
four Senators. four Repre-
sentatives and four public
members. The commission
was headed by Judge Francis
Biddle, of Washington, who
was Roosevelt's Attorney
General from 1941 to 1915.
The commission appointed
an Advisory Committee of
professionals, comprising four
architects, two critics and a
landscape architect. Chair
man was Pietro Belluschi,
Dean of the School Of Archi-
lecture and Planning, Massa-
chusetts Institute of Tech
nology. The advisory COM
mittee recommended, the
commission agreed and Con-
gress approved an open COM
petition as the means to
stimulate the best thinking
for a memorial on the agreed
upon site, West Potomac
Park, the peninsula bounded
by Independence Ave. S.W.,
the river and the Tidal Basin.
Highly Qualified Advisors
AS professional adviser, to
direct the competition, the
two bodies retained Edmund