Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Conable, Mr. Deewinski, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Harris, Mr. Pickle, Mr. Rodino, Mrs. Spellman, and Mr. Udall, we could finance the most interesting and enlightening history of the forming of the government of the greatest nation in the world, and far more citizens of the United States of America would know much more about their country and would hold it in higher esteem than ever before. Further, it would also have a beneficial effect on the rest of the world.

We would request from Congress $300,000 a year, and another $600,000 a year if we raised $1,200,000 to match it. Our theory is that the $300,000 and $600,000 is the money part of the citizens' (taxpayers') contribution, and the $1,200,000 would be the Free Enterprise contribution, and we expect considerably more. We have approached three large companies because we wanted to test our money-raising phase of the program before we went too far. We do not want to go any further with the fund raising until we have some idea of what Congress will do. At this time, I prefer not to disclose the name, but one company states:

"Your plans are of much interest to us, and we wish you well.
"Since visiting with you, we've given additional thought to the
question of how you might proceed with your plans. We believe
the most productive strategy would be to seek the involvement
of top business leadership in the project, both as members of
the planning group and as fund raisers. One way to enlist this
kind of help is to arrange a luncheon sponsored by several of
the prominent political leaders already associated with your
effort, and let them tell the story directly to the business
leaders attending.

"I hope this suggestion is helpful. Please let me know if we
can assist you in any way as your plans progress."

Another company stated in last year's annual report that they have been doing very well and still would like to keep it up, but that companies of their size should pay more attention to the social well being of the people if not for any other reason than to stay alive. I don't mind giving the name of this company, because that statement was printed in their annual report. We called on them and they stated they would be interested in our proposal but did not care to take the lead. It was Time, Inc.

From a third company, we got a long letter back telling us all they were already doing in the public interest. However, I feel rather sure that they could be persuaded to help with our project.

Our plan for financing from the private sector is to get, if possible,. some twenty to twenty-five of the largest companies together, each putting a million dollars in a trust which they themselves would manage, give the Citizens' Commission 7% of the earnings, and leave the rest of the earnings in the trust to build up capital, which in turn would increase our 72% return. Then, in the year 2000, when the Citizens' Commission would be dissolved, they could take all their trust fund back.

We hope this concept will receive favorable action in this session of Congress, because time is running out. Our proposal will not interfere with any of the bills under consideration that I know of. Further, this is not pride of authorship, but we believe most sincerely that it is important to our Nation to recognize that without a past, you have no future.

88-295 0-82--7

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE FRED SCHWENGEL
PRESIDENT, U. S. CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

TO: Members of the Judiciary Committee
RE: Bicentennial of the Constitution

I come to you as a historian and as President of the U. S. Capitol Historical Society with deep convictions about the importance of history as we prepare for citizenship. Commemorations and centennials furnish landmarks and opportunities to reflect on the past. No nation has a more thrilling story to tell than the Americans that is the result of the formation of our government under an instrument called the Constitution, beginning with "We The People" as we reflect on those early hard beginnings and the progress that we have made since that time and the record of achievement not only for its own people but for the peoples of the world.

A great English jurist, statesman, and scholar, Gladstone, once said about the Constitution; "The most wonderful work ever struck at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.

It is my conviction Mr. Chairman that we ought to now form a national commission of some sort to help coordinate programs and to direct studies and researches that will eliminate duplicates and to insure that the best talents are applied in every area where research and study is needed.

Ever since I have been in Congress I have been identified with commemorations and centennials. Twice I was the author of a bill to commemorate the 100th anniversary and reenactment of the first and second inaugural of Abraham Lincoln. Then I initiated and authored legislation to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The highlight of that was the joint session of congress where Carl Sandburg made that very fabulous statement about this great American who many dubbed the greatest of all Americans.

I was chairman and vice chairman of the joint committee that commemorated the 100th anniversary of the War Between the States.

I was so very much involved and interested in the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. In all of these instances Mr. Chairman I have not only enhanced the knowledge of the magnificent history made in those thrilling times, but have encouraged a growing interest in history.

We have responded to the challenge of Carl Sandburg who once said "Whenever a people or an institution forgets its early hard beginnings it is beginning to decay."

Mr. Chairman, I am not aware of the details of the bill before the congress on this question. When there is a bill I would be glad to read it and give my suggestions and/or answer questions about it.

Let me just suggest that whatever commission is formed, it will involve some of the most knowledgeable people in American history.

We will call on the talents of historical organizations that we plan to use and work closely with. There are some 5,000 local and state historical societies in America today.

Finally, let me say that I urge the adoption of some kind of legislation that can give national status in preparation and direction in the celebration of this most significent event; not only in the history of our country but possibly in the history of mankind.

Senator HATCH. Our final witness this morning will be Mr. Boris Feinman, the founder and chairman of Convention II, the organization which did such an outstanding job of putting together this morning's program.

Convention II has performed fine service for this country in exposing countless numbers of young Americans to the constitutional processes of our Nation with a variety of educational programs.

As a member of the founder's committee of Convention II, I am particularly pleased to have Mr. Feinman with us this morning. I want to personally congratulate you and compliment you on the generous work you have done through the years-work that really is of inestimable value to our young people and to many others as well.

We will be happy to take your testimony at this time.

STATEMENT OF BORIS FEINMAN, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, CONVENTION II

Mr. FEINMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for those nice words. May I say thank you very much to Steve for the work he has done with us from the beginning in bringing us to your attention way back.

I would like to pick up for a moment on something that Senator Mathias said. He talked about a higher spirit or a higher power involved in these things. The last two paragraphs of my testimony, which I will condense, read:

Finally, and it seems more than mere coincidence:

Fourscore and seven years into the 20th century we shall be celebrating the 200th birthday of the Constitution of the United States.

I think there was a higher power involved in all of this. Abraham Lincoln started it, and we are right in his trail now.

Senator HATCH. I think so too. I am a little more vociferous about it than Senator Mathias, but I believe that he acknowledges too that it may well have been an inspired document.

Mr. FEINMAN. I wish I had enough time to discuss everything that I want to put on the table. I would show you more of that type of thing.

Senator HATCH. We will keep the record open, so that you may submit it.

Mr. FEINMAN. It is already submitted, but let me just review: At last year's birthday party for the Constitution, we proclaimed that the time from then until 1987 should be known as a time for citizenship education. In line with that, I recommend that your committee create a Bicentennial Commission with dispatch, since 1987 is almost too close upon us.

In any event, if senatorial business should delay it, I recommend that your committee, Mr. Chairman, continue the process of holding regular hearings on business of your own on the birthday of the Constitution as you are doing today as an ongoing focus on the Constitution.

We at Convention II, if it will serve any purpose, will offer to maintain these annual birthday breakfasts as a focal point for anybody engaged in bicentennial affairs and stand ready to do whatever is necessary to carry that out.

I would like to introduce myself to you as a politician, speaking from that background and that point of view, as to the specifics of your Commission operation.

As a practical partisan political operator, I bring this view to you: The Commission offers an opportunity for ridding America of a cancerous disease which imperils our democracy. That disease is the low and everdiminishing participation of the electorate in the selection processes of our Government.

There is no cure on the horizon; but an epic and all-encompassing affair of a bicentennial, if constructed for that purpose, just might turn us back to involvement, voting, and love for service. My written testimony includes views of public figures as to the gravity of the situation. I would like to epitomize it by quoting from the commencement address by Yale's President, Bartlett Giamatti.

He said:

What concerns me most today is the way we have disconnected ideas from power in America and created for ourselves thoughtful citizens who disdain politics and politicians when more than ever we need to value what politics and politicians can do and when more than ever we need to recognize that the call to public life is one of the highest callings a society can make.

That is the cancerous disease imperiling our society-thoughtful citizens who disdain politics and politicians.

What is the root cause of that disease? I suggest that Lori Greendorfer, a student at Bronx High School of Science in New York, has the answer. She said, when referring to the small turnout at the polls by her fellow 18-year-olds: "They are not educated about politics."

I agree; they are not. What is worse is that neither are their parents.

Politics is not taught in the schools. That which is taught is not taught early enough, it is not taught joyously enough, and it is not ranked highly enough.

The situation is critical. Only an event of the magnitude of the bicentennial can provide a white hot light of focus on that issue as being critical.

Therefore, I ask your committee to make the core theme of the bicentennial the uplifting of the cause of citizenship education and the attainment of increased participation by the electorate in the

political process. I ask you to charge the commission to attain those goals.

If you set a high goal of stimulating toward a cure for dangerous apathy, we will find a cure. If you set a great expectation of success where no one has yet achieved success, we will live up to that expectation.

On a related point, there is a crucial need to insure that the public does not perceive the bicentennial as primarily scholarly, academic, legal, bureaucratic, and therefore remote.

To avoid that perception, I recommend the inclusion of two specific groups in the highest level consultee groups listed in S. 477. I recommend the inclusion of the media and the political parties— the media, of course, to insure that their absence does not plague the entire bicentennial operation with silence or minor attention, and the inclusion_of_the_political parties because, as Justice Learned Hand said, "The Constitution is the best political document ever made and why exclude the politicians from the celebration of their best effort.'

I have thoughts on the international values of our American Constitution. I have not included them in my written testimony. However, it occurs to me that that is as important as the domestic values. The great themes of the American revolution kindled fires of inspiration through our people and throughout the world. The flames need fanning domestically. How fare they now around the world?

I dug up just yesterday the words of Charles Malik, Ambassador from Lebanon, at a commencement speech in North Carolina at Campbell University in 1980. He had this to say:

In the global war of ideas, what kind of spiritual message does America offer to the rest of the world. In Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and Latin America, who is reading Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, Shakespeare, Dante, Jefferson, and Rousseau? But who is reading Marx, Lenin, Ho Chi Minh, and Herbert Marcuse?

As a matter of simple honor and pride, do you accept that your ideological meaning to the world is comparatively nil? In your relations to others, you seem to rely more on force than on ideas, more on goods and money than on spiritual attitudes which fill the mind and grip the soul.

I think Ambassador Malik laid it on a bit thick. America is conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Yet we do shy away from articulating spiritual attitudes which fill the mind and grip the soul. We do not make enough out of the fact that the American Constitution is one of the greatest inventions in the history of man. Under it, America has, in the family of nations, lived in unparalleled commitment to freedom, liberty, and respect for human differences.

The continuation of this realization should be a charge to the commission also.

I think, Mr. Chairman, this adequately summarizes my testimony, all of which has been handed in for the record.

Senator HATCH. We will include your full testimony in the record as though fully delivered.

We want to again compliment you for the excellent work you have done in helping young people and others throughout our society to have a greater awareness of and appreciation for the Constitution as well.

Mr. FEINMAN. I thank you, sir.