December 27, 1956

Dear Nelson:

Ann and I were extremely touched by your thoughtfulness in sending us the lithograph by Vuillard. Impressionism has always been my favorite art style and the picture's serenity is a fine example of it. It made our holiday particularly cheerful.

Beyond this latest manifestation of your thoughtfulness, it seems to me that this may be an appropriate moment to tell you how much my association with you has meant to me. What has moved me is not only the project itself which is important and exciting and worthwhile, but above all the spirit and dedication with which you have infused it.

This is all the more important to me because I have long been concerned about the pedantry and superficiality which characterize so many aspects of our national life. It is not that we lack clever people -- indeed one could argue that we have a surfeit of them. It is rather that in the absence of a sense of purpose and a commitment to values even the cleverest action lacks direction. Our difficulties abroad have been caused to a large extent by the fact that with all the goodwill in the world we cannot hide the absence of sympathy in the deeper sense. And domestically, among my generation at least, there is a void because the sense of mission which originated in the past cannot find a proper outlet.

It is for these reasons that ours has become the age of the bureaucrat who defines reality by a set of regulations and not an inward commitment. Its chief manifestation is a lack of style and a denial of the possibility of great conception. These tendencies exist in many activities: in art, they produce the pressure of the academy against the genius, in policy they lead to the exaltation of the planning mechanism as against statesmanship and in religion to a substitution of dogma for personal conviction. The exponent of this process is the skilled operator of large organizations, whose skill resides precisely in his ability to manipulate an administrative mechanism without too much concern for the purpose this mechanism might serve.

bumpose this mechanism might serve.

manipulate an administrative mechanism without too much concern for the
of inside organizations, whose skill resides precisely in his ability to
perpetual conviction. The exponent of this process is the skilled operator
against statesmanship and in religion to a substitution of dogma for
demeine, in policy they lead to the exultation of the planning mechanism as
activitreat in art, they produce the blemme of the academy against the
of the hostility of great conception. These tendencies exist in many
ward commitment. Its chief manifestation is a lack of style and a denial
the piousness who defines reality by a set of regulations and not an in-
which originated in the best cannot find a proper outlet.

among my generation at least, there is a void because the sense of mission
cannot hide the spence of ambivalence in the deeper sense. And domestically,
to a large extent by the fact that with all the goodwill in the world we
clearest action lacks direction. Our difficulty arose have been caused
in the spence of a sense of bumpose and a commitment to values even the
indeed one could argue that we have a outlet of them. It is rather that
so many aspects of our national life. It is not that we lack clear people --
been concerned about the bedlam and arbitrariness which characterize
This is all the more important to me because I have long

put aside all the spirit and dedication with which you have infused it,
not only the project itself which is important and exciting and worthwhile,
much my association with you has meant to me. What has moved me is
it seems to me that this may be an appropriate moment to tell you how
Beyond this latest manifestation of your thoughtfulness,

of it. It made my holiday heartily cheerful.
been my favorite art style and the picture's serenity is a true example
in sending me the lithograph by Mutilard. Imbretonism has always
Ann and I were extremely touched by your thoughtfulness

Dear Nelson:

December 23, 1926

December 27, 1956.

A society is fortunate if it possesses some individuals who because they cannot be suspected of any selfish motives, can devote themselves to setting standards of excellence and of commitment. Values can be taught only if somebody embodies them -- this is why national heroes like Lincoln are so important, and why I have always been attracted by the idea of Bill Elliot's "round table", whatever its practicality.

You have often deprecated your role in conversations with me by saying that you have only been asking questions. This is not quite accurate but even if it were, it would not matter. I have heard too many clever answers to be impressed by easy solutions. Questions determine the level of discussion and the conceptual framework of any discourse. It is vitally important that a group of economists like some members of our Subpanel III are jolted out of their materialism by being asked questions about the spiritual basis of their effort. The insistence by you on standards and a sense of direction made Quantico such a rewarding experience; it has also turned the project into one of the most exciting endeavors with which I have ever been associated.

This letter has come a long way from Vuillard. I feel so strongly about it, however, and the really important things in life so rarely get said, that I am sending it on to you.

With kind regards,

Mr. Nelson A. Rockefeller
Room 5600 - 30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York 20, New York.

New York 30, New York.
Room 2600 - 30 RocketelliPlaza
Mr. Nelson V. Rocketelli

Henry V. Klausinger

Sincerely,

With kind regards,

get said, that I am sending it on to you,
strongly about it, however, and the really
important things in life so rarely
This letter has come a long way from
Vulldad. I feel so

I have ever been associated,
also turned the project into one of the most exciting endeavors with which
and a sense of direction made Quantico and a rewarding experience; it has
about the abstraitual part of their effort. The inattentiveness by you on standards
of Submarine III are left out of their materialism by being asked questions
It is a vitally important that a group of economic like some members of
the level of discussion and the conceptual framework of any discussion,
clever answers to be imitated by easy solutions. Questions determine
accurate but even if it were, it would not matter. I have heard too many
by saying that you have only been asking questions. This is not quite

You have often dejected you role in conversations with me

hastiness.

been attracted by the idea of Bill Elliot's "round table," wherever its
national heroes like Lincoln are so important, and why I have always
believe to setting standards of excellence and of commitment.
because they cannot be ascribed to any arbitrary motives, can devote

December 31, 1966.