An Act to establish a National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board of the Smithsonian Institution, to authorize expansion of the Smithsonian Institutions facilities for portraying the contributions of the Armed Forces of the United States, and for other purposes
PL 87-186 (H.R.4659), enacted 08/30/1961

414 
PUBLIC LAW 87-186-AUG. 30, 1961 
[75 ST A T . 
August 30, 1961 
[H. R. 4659] 
Public Law 87-186 
AN ACT 
To establish a National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board of the Smith-
sonian Institution, to authorize expansion of the Smithsonian Institution's 
facilities for portraying the contributions of the Armed Forces of the United 
States, and for other purposes. 
National 
Armed 
F o r c e s 
Museum 
Advisory Board. 
E St abli shment. 
R u l e s and reg-
ulations. 
Display of con-
t r i b u t i o H B o f 
Armed Forces. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ That (a) there is 
liereby established in the Smithsonian Institution a National Armed 
Forces Museum Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the 
Board), which shall provide advice and assistance to the Regents 
of the Smithsonian Institution on matters concerned with the 
portrayal of the contributions which the Armed Forces of the United 
States have made to American society and culture. 
(b) The Board shall be composed of eleven members, as follows: 
(1) The Secretary of Defense, wiio shall serve as an ex officio 
member; 
(2) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who shall 
serve as an ex officio member; 
(3) Nine members appointed by the President, (A) three of 
whom shall be appointed from persons recommended by the 
Secretary of Defense to represent the Armed Forces, and (B) 
two of whom shall be appointed from among persons recom-
mended by the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 
Not 
less than two members appointed by the President shall be from 
civilian life. 
(c) Members of the Board appointed by the President shall be 
appointed to serve for a period of six years; except that any member 
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the 
term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for 
the remainder of such term and the terms of office of the members 
first appointed shall expire, as designated by the President at the 
time of appointment, three at the end of two years, three at the end 
of four years, and three at the end of six years. 
(d) Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum and any 
vacancy in the Board shall not affect its power to function. 
(e) The members of the Board shall serve without compensation 
but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as 
members of the Board. 
(f) The Board shall select officers from among its members bien-
nially and shall make such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it deems 
necessary for the furtherance of its business. 
SEC. 2. (a) The Smithsonian Institution shall commemorate and 
display the contributions made by the military forces of the Nation 
toward creating, developing, and maintaining a free, peaceful, and 
independent society and culture in the United States of America. 
The valor and sacrificial service of the men and women of the Armed 
Forces shall be portrayed as an inspiration to the present and future 
generations of America. 
The demands placed upon the full energies 
of our people, the hardships endured, and the sacrifice demanded in 
our constant search for world peace shall be clearly demonstrated. 
The extensive peacetime contributions the Armed Forces have made 
to the advance of human knowledge in science, nuclear energy, polar 
and space exploration, electronics, engineering, aeronautics, and medi-
cine shall be graphically described. 
The Smithsonian Institution 
shall interpret through dramatic display significant current problems 
affecting tfie Nation's security. 
It shall be equipped with a study 
center for scholarly research into the meaning of war, its effect on 
75 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-187-AUG. 30, 1961 
415 
civilization, and the role of the Armed Forces in maintaining a just 
and lasting peace by providing a powerful deterrent to war. 
In 
fulfilling its purposes, the Smithsonian Institution shall collect, 
preserve, and exhibit military objects of historical interest and 
significance. 
(b) The provisions of this Act in no way rescind Public Law 722, 
Seventy-ninth Congress, approved August 12, 1946, which established 
^ jm- ^^T-
the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, or any other 
authority of the Smithsonian Institution. 
SEC. 3. (a) The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution an5"";^und°ingl^"fn 
is authorized and directed, with the advice and assistance of the and near D.C. 
Board, to investigate and survey lands and buildings in and near the 
District of Columbia suitable for the display of military collections. 
The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution shall, after 
consulting with and seeking the advice of the Commission on Fine 
Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the General 
Services Administration, submit recommendations to the Congress 
with respect to the acquisition of lands and buildings for such purpose. 
(b) Buildings acquired pursuant to recommendations made under 
subsection (a) of this section shall be used to house public exhibits and 
study collections that are not appropriate for the military exhibits of 
the Smithsonian Institution on the Mall in the District of Columbia. 
Facilities shall be provided for the display of large military objects 
and for the reconstruction, in an appropriate way, on lands acquired 
pursuant to recommendations made under subsection (a) of this 
section, of exhibits showing the nature of fortifications, trenches, and 
other military and naval facilities characteristic of the American 
colonial period, the War of the Revolution, and subsequent American 
military and naval operations. 
SEC. 4. The heads of executive departments and independent agen- ta^ry^" pac'^'ob-
cies of the Government are authorized to transfer or loan to the jects', etc. b
y GOV-
Smithsonian Institution for its use without charge therefor military, ^'^'"^"* agencies. 
naval, aeronautical, and space objects, equipment and records for 
exhibition, historical, or other appropriate purposes. 
SEC. 5. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
Appropriation. 
Smithsonian Institution such sums as may be necessary for the pur-
poses of this Act. 
Approved August 3 0, 1961. 
Public Law 87-187 
^^ 
ACT 
August 30, 1961 
To simplify the payment of certain miscellaneous judgments and the payment 
[H. R. 6835] 
of certain compromise settlements. 
Courts. 
Judgme 
ampromj 
tlement s. 
62 Stat. 974. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress a^ssembled^ That section 2414 
of title 28 of the United States Code is amended to read: 
compromr"l^ l^t 
"§ 2414. Payment of judgments and compromise settlements 
"Payment of final judgments rendered by a district court against 
the United States shall be made on settlements by the General 
Accounting Office. 
Payment of final judgments rendered by a State or 
foreign court or tribunal against the United States, or against its 
agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States, 
shall be made on settlements by the General Accounting Office after 
certification by the Attorney General that it is in the interest of the 
United States to pay the same.