105. Editorial Note
In his February 2, 1966, special message to Congress proposing an international education and health program, President Lyndon Johnson urged Congress to pass his proposed International Education Act because “Education lies at the heart of every nation’s hopes and purposes. It must be at the heart of our international relations.” (Public Papers: Johnson, 1966, Book I, page 128) On August 17, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Charles Frankel testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Education of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare in support of the President’s proposed International Education Act. Frankel enumerated several reasons why the proposed legislation was important: “It offers a better chance to American citizens to acquire the education they need to cope with the facts of international life. It strengthens the American capacity to develop, to conduct, and to man informed and farsighted policies in international affairs. It takes steps that are essential if our Nation is to join with other nations in a more intensive effort to educate the people of the world in habits of mutual understanding and forbearance. Finally, it is important because it makes a frontal attack on a fundamental issue in the relation between Government and the universities, and attempts to deal with this issue from a long-term rather than a short-term point of view.”
Frankel stressed the importance to Americans on having an international affairs perspective in their education, but he noted that beyond [Page 316] this, the proposed legislation and its emphasis on education as part of U.S. foreign policy was also vital: “In the developing nations, little can be accomplished without the advancement of education. In the more prosperous industrial nations, education is the keystone on which depends these nations’ power to keep up with the accelerating pace of change. In our own country, as we have discovered, we must turn to education again and again as an indispensable element in the solution of pressing social problems. In short, the role of educational systems in 20th-century societies is immense. Working together, rather than against each other, these educational systems have as much power as any human agency to build an international structure of peace in diversity. The legislation that is before you proposes that we in this country prepare ourselves to do our part in such an effort at international education cooperation. And it proposes that we begin here at home by educating ourselves better about the needs and aspirations of others.” Frankel continued: “In sum, from the standpoint of foreign policy, I endorse this proposed legislation because it lays the foundation for an international effort that gives proper attention to the crucial role that education plays in realizing the promise of our time and offsetting its perils.” (International Education Act: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Education of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, United States Senate, 88th Congress, 2nd Session on S. 2874 and H.R. 14643, August 17, 19, and September 19, 1966, pages 208–212) On October 21, 1966, Congress passed the International Education Act and the President signed it into law on October 29. See Document 111.