109. Letter From the Chairman of the United States Advisory Commission on International Educational and Cultural Affairs (Babbidge) to President Johnson1

Dear Mr. President:

At the meeting of the Advisory Commission which ended this morning, the members requested me to express to you their continuing concern and deep distress about the budget level of the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange programs.

The Commission is of course cognizant of the tremendous demands on the Federal budget made by the war in Vietnam. Nevertheless, there are hidden non-monetary costs in this war which we cannot ignore without jeopardizing the understanding abroad of our national values. [Page 341] The purpose of the educational and cultural exchange programs is to keep open and reinforce the channels through which this understanding must flow, and to safeguard the historic friendships which this nation has built up over the years. Members of the Commission who have recently traveled—in all parts of the world—emphasize that it is precisely because of the war in Vietnam that our efforts to create a balanced view of the totality of American civilization and culture should be redoubled. Such understanding, members of the Commission are persuaded, cannot be achieved by programs directed solely towards “selling” specific aspects of foreign policy. It must derive ultimately from a profound appreciation of the American value system and our commitment to the goals which you so eloquently expressed last September in your Smithsonian address.2 To abandon or even reduce our traditional efforts in this field would cause disappointment, indeed consternation, among the leadership elites around the world.

It is a truism to point out that the mere maintenance of present program levels represents an actual cut in program effectiveness. A fortiori, a decrease in the program level would be a regrettable and costly form of economy which we cannot afford, especially in this period of tension. We fervently hope, therefore, that these views be considered when the budget for FY–68 is prepared for presentation to the Congress, and trust you understand that our sense of urgency stems from our obligations under P.L. 87–256.3

Sincerely yours,

Homer D. Babbidge, Jr.
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Files, Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Subject Files, 1965–1966, Lot 69D260, Entry UD UP 175, 1966 EDX 8 United States Advisory Commission on International & Cultural Affairs. No classification marking. Babbidge sent a copy of the letter to Rusk under a September 23 covering memorandum, in which he noted it was a “self-explanatory letter” and added that the Commission members hoped that the Department, in preparing its budget for submission to BOB, would “give full consideration to the views expressed to the President.” (Ibid.) Frankel sent the letter and the covering memorandum to Cater under an October 4 memorandum, indicating that Babbidge’s letter should be called to Cater’s attention. (Ibid.)
  2. See Document 60.
  3. The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.