Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-18
BY ORR KELLY
star Staff Writer

One day a little more than
q year ago, the phone rang in
the New York office of Roger
Lacey Stevens, a man who
hates nothing so much as the
task of raising money.
On the other end of the line
was Frederick Dutton, a PreSi-
Dental aide, calling from the
White House with a request:
raise SIS million for a National
Cultural Center in Washington.
Il knew a little bit about it, :"
Mr.. Stevens said in an inter-
view Friday, on one of his fire.
quent flying trips to Washing
ton. Most important, I knew
the thing hadn't gotten off the
ground. I told him I'd think it
over and call him back"
Despite Mr.. Stevens aver
sion to raising money, he has
been engaged almost constantly
In money raising of one sort
or another during all of his
adult years. He once put to-
gether syndicate which pur-
chased the Empire State Build
ing. Each year, he raises about
q million dollars for his Broad
way and off-Broadway theatre
cal enterprises. The amount of
real estate he sold before he
was 40 (he's now 52) is ex-
ceeded only by the Cars sale
Of Alaska and Napoleon's sale
Of the Louisiana Territory.
Deadline NearS
When Mr.. Stevens checked,
he found that Congress had
authorized the National Gull
tural Center in 1858, had pro-
vided a site on the edge Of the
Potomac and had set a five
year deadline for raising the
necessary money.
When the call came from
the White House, three of the
five years were gone and only
q tiny fraction of the needed
amount had been raised.
When I reported back to the
President" Mr.. Stevens said,
II had two major suggestions.
One was that repertory facili-
ties be eliminated. They more
than doubled the cost of the
Center and I didn't think they
were needed now in Wash
ington. That cut the cost back
to $50 million. The second sug-
gestion was a nationwide
closed-circuit telecast - to give
me something to hang my hat ;
on"
The President agreed and
named Mr.. Stevens chairman ]
Of the Center's Board of Trus-
tees.
Complex Production
For years." Mr.. Stevens said,
there had been talk about a
National Cultural Center-but
nothing had happened. Before
I can talk to the people who
can make substantial gifts for
the Center, I need something
to demonstrate that the people
of Washington-and people in
other parts of the country
really want a Center here"
The telecast on Thursday,
November 90, will originate at
the District National Guard
Armory and in New York, Chi
cago, Los Angeles and Augusta,
Ga. Taking part will be Presi-
dent and Mrs. Kennedy, former
and Mrs. Eisenhower
and the broadeSt array of tai
ent ever put together in a
single show. Technically, it will ,
be the most complex produc-
ton in the history of televi-
sion.
Mr.. Stevens hopes the tele-
cast itself, which will be seen
in some so cities, will give him
a solid talking point when he
potential contribu-
tors.
Fortunately" he said with a
chuckle, there are not many
people hiding around with
money that I don't know about.
There's no one in this country
I can't get in to see with my
contacts"
No Easy Task
Despite his experience and his
contacts, however, he does not
underestimate the difficulties
of raising $50 million for a Ma
Gional Cultural Center.
tits always hard to raise
money" he said, "and God I
knows it's much harder for the {
humanities - especially for the
performing arts. But If you call
enough people, something will
happen. I believe that, just as
there is always the right actor
for the part, there is always
the right person to put up the !