davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
The Kennedy Center

1t is hardly surprising that some
congressman, along with other Amer
leans, are feeling that the natural desire
to fix In permanence the name of our
murdered President has overlooked the
bounds Of measured grief and become
national mania. Streets, buildings,
athletic fields, terrain features and even
the State of West Virginia have all been
proposed as instruments of memorial
ization.
In reaction against this flood of re-
naming things, some members of Con-
greSS are expressing reservations about
the single memorial requiring congress
Sional action. This is the dedication of
the National Cultural Center, here in
washington, to Mr.. Kennedy's memory.
The proposal seems to have been
first made in this newspaper, but it oc-
Cured simultaneously to thousands of
Americans. The change is enthusiastic
cally favored by the Center's trustees,
has been formally proposed by the john
son administration and is approved with
enthusiasm by the Kennedy family.
The unique suitability of this mem
orial is as strong today as when first
proposed. The building is as yet un-
built; hence Americans can feel that
they are participating in the process of
memorial, not merely changing a name.
More important is the direct, per-
sonal interest in the Center taken by
PRESIDENT Kennedy and shared by Mrs.
Kennedy. Both worked hard to forward
It's cause. Both looked ahead to the joy
and dignity it would add to the Capital.
Indeed the new mutual respect and I'M
Outstanding between arts and govern
ment which we may anticipate as an
effect OF the Center was one of the great
distinguishing notes of the Kennedy
style in the White House.
Nothing could be more appropriate.
1t would be shameful If Congress did not
bring promptly to reality a memorial
so felicitouS to the spirit of the man. so
desired by those who mourn him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
Budget Struggle

House and Senate confereeS on the
District budget are finding agreement
somewhat difficult, and this is quite
natural. The revised budget passed by
the Senate is some $35 million larger
than the stripped-down version which
the House approved last summer. And it
is highly unusual, to say the least, for
the confereeS Of either house to accept
in conference any bill in which the dis
parity appears so great.
The disparity, however, is not real.
1t is actually the practicable result of
the weird budget procedure which was
forced upon Congress this year by the
Districts fiscal crisis. AS originally ap-
proved by the House, the So-called "a"
budget reflected only the limited re-
venues then available to the city. Since
that time, additional revenues have been
provided, and the Senate bill is a more
accurate reflection of the kind of budget
which the House would have been likely
to have passed If sufficient funds had
been available.
Even though this is the procedure
agreed upon earlier in the year, it will
require, of course, a full explanation in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
Two Thorpes?

Day Thorpe, reviewing Pet
er Quennell's Shakespeare"
in The Sunday Star, Deem
Der 8. is disappointed in the
book because Quennell, zone
Of our soundest histori-
ans notices the anti
StratfordianS only in pass
ing" Mr.. Thorpe clings to
the notion that maybe the
Stratfordian Shakespeare
didn't write all those plays.
Under the spell of Mr..
Thorpe's logic and sense of
historical probability, I have
come to the following conclu-
Sions:
Paradise Lost" and other
major poems normally attri-
buted to John Milton, secre-
tary to Lord Protector Crom-
well, were actually written by
Cromwell himself, who took
advantage of his secretary's
poetic reputation to publish
works which he as Head Pur-
itan would otherwise be
forced to stifle as frivolous.
"The Gettysburg Address"
was written not by the I'M
schooled backwoods lawyer
Abe Lincoln but by Thomas
Jefferson. celebrated man of
letters. Like the anti-Strat-
fordians, I am staggered by
the difficulty" of proving my
assumption, but the burden
of proof that Lincoln wrote
"The Gettysburg Address"
rests with the Lincolnians,
since no one during Lincoln's
lifetime ever denied that JEFF
ferson wrote it.
Day Thorpe's review Of
Shakespeare" was actually
written by another Day
Thorpe, whom I shall call
Thorpe. 2, a man who until
last month had lived all his
life on a crocodile-infested
mudflat off New Guinea,
reading the complete works of
the dedicated anti-Stratford-
ian j. Thomas Looney. Thorpe
2 was thus relatively ignorant
Of the rather more responsible
works of Elizabethan drama
tic history and Shakespeare
an criticism (by Alfred Har-
bage. Hardin Craig, Mar
Ghetto Chute, Louis B.
Wright, r. C. Churchill,
Frank Wadsworth, ct all
Mr.. Thorpe l will no doubt
deny or ignore this hypothe-
sis of dual ThorpeS, but in
ternal evidence from the re-
view nonetheleSs strongly sug-
geStS its probability.
william Teunis
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
THURSDAY, DECEMBER u, 1868

the House. In the meantime, we hope
that the House conferees, under the able
leadership of Representative hatcher of
Kentucky, do not feel constrained to
insist upon lesser amount than the
District requires. The principal items
repeatedly at issue involve additional
school teachers and urgently-needed
welfare workers. These expenditures are
clearly in the areas of greatest need.
1t would be tragic for the city if they
were to be lost.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
Honored AGENTS

Secretary of the Treasury
Douglas Dillon is to be con-
graduated for presenting to
Secret Service Agents Clin-
ton ]. Hill and Rufus w.
Youngblood the Exceptional
Service Award for valor and
outstanding bravery. Their
heroic efforts in Dallas to
protect President Kennedy
and our new President Lyn-
don B. Johnson is a tribute
to the dedication and cour-
age of these men as well as
their co-agents in the Secret
Service. They are truly
among the "unsung heroes"
of our public service who de-
serve recognition for this
Selfless devotion to their jobs
and their duty.
The National Civil Service
League deplores the cynicism
and sensationalism behind
attacks on these dedicated
public employees. Their at
tacks can but discourage
good people now in Govern
ment service as well as those
who might be considering
such a career.
The National Civil Service
League is proud that we have
twice honored Secret Service
agents James j. Rowley in
1868 and U. E. Baughman in
1955-through our Career
Service Awards to outstand-
ing career civil servants who
have made significant con-
tributionS to the Nation
through their Government
careers. Presidents Eisenhow-
er, Kennedy, and johnson
have joined us in honoring
these and other exceptional
Federal employees, as did
Treasury Secretary Dillon
and many other public Off
Gals, national leaders, civil
servants and the press.
Jean ]. Couturier.
National Civil Service
League, New York City
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
Press and President

President Johnson is puzzling over
the press conference problem. The
word seems to be that he leans toward
frequent, informal, unteleviSed sessions
with the regular White House reporters,
and infrequent televiSed conversations"
with one or two news broadcaSters
He has a right to arrange this sort of
thing to suit himself And despite the
inevitable bleatS that will be heard
about the peoples right to know" his
reported plan makes sense.
Since Woodrow Wilson'S admin
istration, the presidential press con-
ference has been a valuable instrument
of communication between the Chief
Executive and the electorate. Each
President has adapted the institution
to his own style; no real problem arose
until televiSion invited the mass audi
ence to attend the session in person.
President Eisenhower felt the TV cam
era could not be excluded. The sort
of large, open, free style televiSion
performance which resulted was some
thing President Kennedy excelled at
and enjoyed-and the audience enjoyed
1t with him. But If Mr.. Johnson prefers
another procedure, he should feel free
to adopt it.
The primary object of these con-
ferences, of course, is to convey to
the public information on the conduct
of their Government - secondarily to
convey to the President the publics
concerns. The sessions in recent years
often have fallen short of both objec-
tives. On occasion, they have seemed
more show biz than anything else, with
reporters hamming it up like retired
actors. There is no reason to presume
that a change will be a change for
the worse.
1t does seem likely, however, that
President Johnson will find it is not
quite practical to eliminate the large
scale televiSed conferences entirely. If
he decides to hold them from time to
time, he may want to consider having
written questions submitted in advance.
One of the Sillier current myths is that
some magic merit is involved in I'M
rehearsed answers to random questions.
1t just isn't so.
Written questions could easily be
screened by correspondents commit
tee to eliminate Implications and point
less parochial issues. They could be
arranged in logical order. The PreSi-
dent could give considered answers,
using notes, charts or any other devices
that would assist him. Why notP
The object is to develop news. Such
a conference might get more news
out Of the President than could be
extracted by a whole room full of
Sarah McClendons operating under the
previous ground rules. It would be
interesting to see.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
BobbIe

In his article on December
z, under a Rome dateline,
Constantine Brown writes:
g.. 1t was Chamberlain who
prevented France from inter-
fering with Hitler's occupa-
ton of the Rhineland. ="
Hitler's occupation of the
Rhineland took place in
March, 1886, when Stanley
Baldwin was Prime Minister
of Great Britain and Neville
Chamberlain was Chancellor
Of the Exchequer. Mr.. Cham
berlain did not become Prime
Minister until May, 1887, the
year following the occupation
of the Rhineland.
While I do not hold any
brief for the policies of Mr..
Chamberlain, perhaps Mr..
Brown could check his his
tory more carefully in future.
Jack TAFT.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
Three Acres Rejected

1t was announced that
three acres Of ground in Ar
lington Cemetery was being
set aside for the use of the
Kennedy family.
A spokesman for the De-
partment Of Defense ex-
planned that the greater part
OF the three acres in question
was not adaptable for regu-
lar burial plots. I do not con-
slider this a true statement.
Such a decision may result
IN many veterans losing their
right to be buried in Airing
ton Cemetery; a right that
we are just as much entitled
to as our late President.
Limited space now exists
IN this cemetery. Those in
authority studying the mat
ter have even suggested TAX
ing over Fort Myer.
I am sure that President
Kennedy would not desire
three acres of badly needed
ground in a military GENET
cry to be immortalized.
Veteran of Three Wars.
Editors Note: Defense De-
pdrtment Officials, tDho made
the decision that three acres
1Oould be reSerUed as a memo
rial area, tDere notified By
Mrs. Kennedy this IDdS not
in line tDith her wishes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
THE ENAMELED WISHBONE

THE ENAMELED WISHBONE
AND OTHER TOUCH
STONES, by Robert Hender-
son. 215 PIP. macmillan Co.,
$4.95.)
The world Of Robert Hen
derson's outwardly nostalgia
little essays, first appear
ances to the contrary, is in
tensely modern. Not that it is
pervaded by anxiety and
alienation. Far from it.
Though from time to time this
world is seen through a gen.
tie, slightly melancholy haze,
it is basically a cheerful and
optimistic place.
No, what are modern are
the flexible nature of Subjec-
tive time and the perception
Of our surroundings as a pSy-
chologically relativiStic place
where each individual is the
center of his own, perfectly
valid, egocentric universe.
All these centerS are not
isolated even though each is
unique. For Mr.. Henderson is
perfectly willing to use your
coordinate system, or mine,
or his, though naturally he
prefers the last.
Essays Not Deep
It may sound very deep.
Perhaps the underlying psy-
Geological feelings is, though
it makes more sense than
does common sense.
One way or the other, the
essays themselves are not
deep and they are not sup
posed to be. They are simply
unambitiouS pieces that have
been printed in the New
Yorker over the last 10 years.
They are written with the
unobtrusive perfection and
colloquial elegance that char
acterizes so much of that
magazine.
The anti-New Yorker group
will tell you that much Of
what appears there is like the
paper it is printed on. The
gloss is so high that one can
not see past the reflections to
the reality, and when the
living sweat of human fingers
attacks the gloss, the sub
stance beneath withers and
turns out to have been no
substance all along.
Sometimes they are right;
Sometimes-pe h apps more
often-one suspects they are
merely jealous.
But even the most hostile
will have to exempt Mr.. Hen
derSon from the attack. He
makes no pretense and SO
there are no pretenses to
assault.
There is simply, a marvel
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
What Voice Said

The Star on Dec. 6 pub
liShed a letter from w. Brown
Morton. Jr., who asserted
that USIA's Voice of America
broadcast to the world that
President Kennedy had
been shot by a Southern con-
sentative extremist" This
is not true.
In its effort to tell the
world quickly and authorita-
lively the news of the shoot
ing Of President Kennedy.
the Voice Of America broke
into its normal programming
as soon as the first reports
were received from Dallas.
One line, which read Dallas
OF recent months has been
the scene of extreme right
wing movements, was in
cluded in a single newscast
in English which went on
the air at 2 pm. EST. With
in minutes it had been seen
by a senior news editor and
was Immediately cancelled
because of the implication it
left. This line was not used
again in English nor was it
used in any of the 81 foreign
language broadcasts of the
Voice Of America.
The purpose Of VOA over
the succeeding five days Of
around-the-clock broadcast
ing was first to report the
news and second to reassure
overseas listeners that al
though the President was
dead the presidency contin-
ues. The programs stressed
the continuity Of both gov
eminent and policy; they
depicted the new President
as a man in whose leadership
the Free World can have
confidence; they underlined
the solidarity of the Free
World in this moment of ma
tional tragedy.
Herb McGushin
Deputy Director, Office of
Public Information, US.
Information Agency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
The Vice Presidency

America must keep abreast
OF the bullying decades by
extending the principle Of
instant succession to the vice
presidency. Perhaps the only
conSoling feature Of the
haunting horror Of the past
fortnight has been the super
lative preparation with which
our former Vice President
stepped forward to strong
leadership.
There Is no earthly reason
for our ever being without
a Vice PreSident-except the
Constitution, which should
be amended accordingly. The
titanic task of directing the
affairs of the worlds fore
most democracy becomes
more heavily complex. There
fore, we need now and hence
forth a Vice President whose
constitutionally defined re-
sponSibilities make him truly
a part of the executive
branch. (Why should not the
Senate elect its presiding
officer as does the House?)
My proposal in substance
is that it be stipulated by law
that the incapacity of an in
cumbent or the vacancy of
the office shall cause the
immediate accession of the
Speaker Of the House to the
vice presidency; that powers
and responsibilities be as
signed which are consistent
with the times and appropri-
ate to the position.
Our Nation should abhor
even an official vacuum,
especially this one.
]. w. Haywood, Jr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
Buses to ArIinuton

I hold no brief for the
D. c. Transit system. But I,
for one, wish to extend to
o. Roy Chalk, Transit presi-
dent. appreciation Of his
public service in providing
free transportation between
the White House and Presi-
dent Kennedy'S grave in
Arlington Cemetery. 1t in
dicates that Mr.. Chalk, in
spite of his devotion to
money-making, must have a
heart, perhaps even a con-
viction for what American
private enterprise may do in
the name of freedom. May
not this act of Mr.. Chalk
fall in line with the late
Presidents inaugural appeal,
ASK what you can do for
your country?"
That two bus companies
and some taxi drivers are
taking steps on technical
grounds to stop Mr.. Chalk's
free public service for the
remainder of the official
mourning period Of 80 days,
starting on November %,
seems to indicate a rather
sad state for these directors
in that they appear to be so
conditioned to money-mak-
ing, If that explains their
legal action, that they are
blind to what appears to be
an act of generosity. Why do
not these DIRECTORS withdraw
their complaint and cooper
ate with Mr.. Chalk in per-
forming this distinctly pub
lie service? No doubt it is
helping many to pay their
respects to the late Presi-
dent, who otherwise would
not be able to do so in this
manner.
Julian Fahy.
Two other bus lines, one
Of the sightseeing variety,
have protested the running
OF free D. c. Transit buses
to our late Presidents grave.
This is a generous and timely
gesture by Mr.. Chalk. To
protest such service is a dog
in-the-manger attitude.
Ernest w. Grove.
\ 4
My family had been want
ing to visit President Ken
nedys grave but, we feared
Gas probably many others
did that traffic congestion
in and around Arlington
Cemetery was too much fol
US to attempt. We noticed
an article in the The Star
that D. c. Transit was pro-
viding free bus service from
the White House to the ceme-
terry and return, until De-
cember %. On December Z
we decided to take this Won
derful opportunity to visit
the grave site of our late
President and to also visit
the White House.
The Transit Co. should be
commended for this public
service and not condemned
Robert L. McEwen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used If
letters carry iDriterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
tiers are subject to condenSd-
ton. Those not used tDiH be
returned only tDhen accom-
panied BY self addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12
A BOOK FOR TODAY
Today, Formerly Tomorrow
By DONALD MINTZ

GUS feeling for each ones
unique present, conditioned by
each ones unique past and
future.
SIN the Rome to which you
can travel by means of, say,
the Cristoforo Colombo and a
train. it is very hot in sum-
mer," he writes. "The streets
are filled with cars and scoot-
ers more crazed than any
thing Twelfth avenue ever
saw. The Tiber is down to a
creek. On a side street, a
restaurant, fronting on a
streetcar track and accessible
through a curtain of beads,
advertiSes 'PizZa Atomica.'
There were many cele-
brated sights repetitiously
verifying postcards. But the
Medici popeS were in their
tombS. CatulluS was no
where.
Went to Forum
81 went for a walk on the
second evening. One should
look where one is going in
Rome, but l must have had
my head down, for l found
myself regarding a sewer lid.
On it, embracing the ages,
were letters 'SPQR'-Senatus
PopuluSque Romanus. And
there l was, in an instant,
playing old games. The moon
had risen. The square
faced soldier with his austere
device suddenly seemed to
stand beside me in the Roman
dusk. Attended like a centu-
rion, / went to the Forum,
which l thought l might have
skipped in the hot 10th
century afternoon. II Was
busy. Mark Antony was MAX
ing a speech in blank verse.
Cato the Elder was saving
that Carthage must be de-
stroyed. Geese were cracking.
high on the next hill. Plinv
the younger was writing a
letter in elegant Latin. Hora-
thus came by, chin up, headed
for the river. l had a feeling
that the Medici popes were
stirring"
None Of this comes directly
from history. It comes from
fragments of knowledge and
images stored in Mr.. Hender-
sons mind since his school
days. ut was no trouble at
ALL" he writes, ''now that /
had gone back to Chicago, to
imagine that l was in Rome"
To-day, formerly tomor-
row." says Mr.. Henderson at
one point. The grammatical
and factual contexts hardly
matter. For the essential
truth is in the three words
themselves.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-12

41lpOE leu 4EOA4 Tic OubcAuC.
Most experts agree that
these technical difficulties
present No insuperable prob
lem for the negotiators In
Brussels. What has made the
problem practically insupera-
bic is the very large political
significance which the Com
mon Market itself has as
sumed in the course Of the
past year.
Since Chancellor Adenauer
has left the scene. the con-
frontation between Gen. de
Gaulle and Chancellor Err
hard boilS down to q very
simple and very large differ
ence.
Gen. de Gaulle believes
that Europe must achieve its
status as a world power
largely at the expense Of the
United States and what he
considers American DONNA
ton" of the area since the
war. Mr.. Erhard believes it
can and should be done In
cooperation and collabora-
ton with the United States
with a minimum of antagon-
ism and friction.
In spite of the widening
political rift within the COM
munity over this difference,
the Common Market coun-
tries agreed formally to fix
their agricultural schedules
by the end Of this year. So
far as the French are con-
cerned, Mr.. Erhard's visit
here last month amounted to
a reimbursement of this I'M
dertaking.
Now many experts think
that an agreement before the
December 81 deadline will be
almost impossible.
Grow More Adamant
The French, for their part,
are more adamant about the
deadline than ever. 1t Is evi-
dent that they are prepared
to bring the absolute maxi
mum pressure to bear on this
issue. Official spokesman are
issuing direct hints about the
consequences Of failure. with
out saying specifically that
the Common Market will be
wrecked if the Germans con-
tinue to drag their feet.
Gen. de Gaulle himself has
contributed to the sense Of
drama by announcing a press
conference for the "first two
weeks of January" No one
forgetS the bombshell thrown
last January IA. But the
General is also keeping his
own counsel. One remark at
tributed to him: 1.-THE Com
mon Market is like a hoop. 1t
must move forward or it will
fall"
A war Of nerves or a crisis
that could shake the western
alliance to its foundations?
The answer depends on the
will and the willfulness Of
two stubborn men with diff
fering concepts Of the future
and knowledge Of what is at
stake.