Lehigh students and faculty and other subscribers to the various databases can click directly to full text of many of the items below, and Lehigh people have access to an internal Course Documents file.
March 1 to June 28, 1995
In
Round Four Congressional hearings in both Houses occur, Smithsonian Secretary
Heyman announces the new exhibit, NASM director Harwit resigns at the request
of Secretary Heyman, the Air Force Association keeps pitching, there is
some activity from historians, other museum people are heard from,
an academic conference is held to air the issues, and the new exhibit opens
in late June.
Mar **: The museum community starts to react: "Hovering over the profession,"
Bunch says, "is the specter of scholarly self-censorship. . . . [the
public needs to know that museums are] places where celebration can
often co-exist with controversy. . . . in a time of politics, museums
must be even more politic and political." Young pairs "curatorial freedom"
with "academic freedom."
"Fighting the Good Fight: Museums in an Age of Uncertainty," by Lonnie G. Bunch, Museum News 74 (March/April 1995), 32-38 (Course Documents)"Doing History in Public: Balancing Historical Fact with
Public Meaning," by Barbara Franco, Perspectives: Newsletter of the American Historical Association 33 (May/June 1995): 5-8 (Course Documents)
Mar **: Scholars address such questions as what is the meaning of Hiroshima and"Open to Interpretation: Taking Responsibility for the Enola Gay," by Katharine T. Corbett and Howard S. Miller, Exhibitionist News 14 (Spring 1995): 12-14See also:
"A Modest Proposal: A Bill of Rights for American Museums," by Alfred F. Young, Public Historian 14 (Summer 1992): 67-75 (Course Documents)
Nagasaki? How have historians explained the American resort to atomic
warfare, and how does that decision resonate in American and Japanese
memory?"Hiroshima in History and Memory: A Symposium." Diplomatic History 19.2 (Spring 1995) (see the Michael J. Hogan book)Mar 01: Air Force Magazine publishes its sixth article. The letter notes that "the"Atomic Holocaust, Nazi Holocaust: Some Reflections," by Richard H. Minear, p. 347- 67"Exotic Resonances: Hiroshima in American Memory," by Paul Boyer, p. 297- 318
"History, Collective Memory, and the Decision to Use the Bomb," by J. Samuel Walker, p. 319- 28
"Japan's Delayed Surrender: A Reinterpretation," by Herbert P. Bix, p. 197- 226
"New Approaches, Old Interpretations, and Prospective Reconfigurations," by Melvyn P. Leffler, p. 172-96
"The Bombed: Hiroshimas and Nagasakis in Japanese Memory," by John W. Dower, p. 275- 96
"The Quest for a Peace Culture: The A-bomb Survivors' Long Struggle and the New Movement for Redressing Foreign Victims of Japan's War," by Seiitsu Tachibana, p. 329- 46
"Understanding the Atomic Bomb and the Japanese Surrender: Missed Opportunities, Little-known near Disasters, and Modern Memory," by Barton J. Bernstein, p. 227-74
disgusting and frightening aspect of this matter is that the pseudo-
intellectuals who perpetrated the fraud are still in positions of authority."
Mar 01: Other veterans' groups register their reactions, noting a "clear breach of"Political Exhibit Crashes at the Smithsonian," by John T. Correll, Air Force Magazine, 03/95, 12 (Lexis-Nexis: Magazines)
http://www.afa.org/enolagay/07-07.html"Smithsonian Cancels Enola Gay Exhibit: AFA Praises Congressional Allies," Air Force Magazine, 03/95, 82
"The Enola Gay Fiasco," by Col. Herbert F. Egender, Air Force Magazine, 03/95, 7 Letter
faith" by the "Institution of Political Correctness," and that "nothing should
overshadow the contributions of veterans.""Nothing Should Overshadow the Contributions of Veterans," by William M. Detweiler, American Legion, March 1995, 8"The Enola Gay -- Mission Aborted," by Charles D. Cooper, Retired Officer, 03/95, 4
"Proudly Display the Enola Gay," by Herbert Molloy Mason, Jr., VFW, March 1995, 20-23
Mar 02: Congressman Solomon: "It is tragic that a museum funded by public dollars
dare revise our history and distort the facts surrounding the use of atomic
bombs."Mar 08: A non-profit group floats the idea of returning the Enola Gay to a living"Smithsonian Slaps Our Heroes in the Face," by Gerald Solomon, 104th Congress, 1st Session, 141 Cong Rec E 493 (Lexis-Nexis: Congressional)
history museum at a restored Wendover Field, Utah.Mar 10: House Committee on Appropriations hearings: Secretary Heyman
announces a "hard look" at the goals of the "nation's museum"; "there were
mistakes made in the development of" the Enola Gay exhibit; "The
Smithsonian is the mirror in which we, as Americans, see our history and
culture from the past, in the present, and towards the future."Mar 13: This story -- with the sub-heading "Newt Gingrich and Pals Rewrite the"Testimony March 10, 1995 Michael Heyman Secretary Smithsonian Institution House Appropriations Interior FY96 Interior Appropriations" (Lexis-Nexis: Congressional)"Enola Gay Exhibit to 'Report the Facts,'" by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 03/11/1995, A5 (Dow Jones Interactive: All Publications)
60s" -- puts the Enola Gay controversy in the larger agenda of House
Speaker Gingrich's agenda for America as a "different country" and
intimates political pressure on Heyman.Mar 22: Congressman Sam Johnson writes to Heyman with a list of twenty-eight
questions formulated by the American Legion for upcoming hearings, which,
if answered, "will help put this unfortunate situation to rest."Mar 30: Historians call for national teach-ins and provide a resource packet: "By
acceding to such censorship the Smithsonian became associated with a
transparent attempt at a form of historical cleansing. The fact that archival
documents and artifacts were removed under political pressure is
scandalous."Mar**: Sampling of coverage in March by major media.Historians' Committee for Open Debate on Hiroshima:
http://www.historians.org/directory/committees/hiroshima.html
http://www.historians.org/directory/committees/pr033095.html
http://www.historians.org/directory/committees/1995teach.html"Museum Must Work to Repair Reputation," by Marianne Means, Knoxville News-Sentinel, 03/05/95, A16Letters, Time, 03/06/95
"Revenge of the Squares," by Fred Barnes, New Republic, 03/13/95, 23
"War and Remembrance," Oakland Tribune, 03/13/95, A12
"The Right to Infiltrate," by Thomas Sowell, Forbes, March 13, 1995: 74 (Infotrac) (Proquest)
Apr 01: Air Force Magazine publishes its seventh article: "Rocked by cancellation of
memberships and subscriptions as well as by the drying up of corporate
funding sources, the Smithsonian commissioned a poll . . . to determine how
badly it had been hurt by the Enola Gay controversy." Merfeld says that the
arguments by a small number of scholars for the proposed exhibit makes "as
much sense as a small band of neo-Nazis balancing the bulk of world opinion
on the Holocaust."Apr 04: "With all of the recent discussion about Enola Gay and some academic types"Smithsonian Continues the Cleanup," by John T. Correll, Air Force Magazine, 04/95, 16 (Lexis-Nexis: Magazines)
http://www.afa.org/enolagay/07-10.html"Backlash to the Backlash," Lt. Col. Homer J. Merfeld, Air Force Magazine, 04/95, 6 Letter
trying to rewrite history," a Congressman tells the story of a "great patriot"
veteran from his district.Apr 10: Heyman denies negotiation with Gingrich: "I came to the decision to"In Honor of Hayne W. Dominick," by Bob Goodlatte, 104th Congress, 1st Session, 141 Cong Rec E 768 (Lexis-Nexis: Congressional)
scale [the exhibit] back independently."Apr 11: Congress and American Legion keep the pressure on."Correspondence," by I. Michael Heyman, New Republic, April 10, 1995, 4 (Course Documents)
Apr 19: One piece of the Smithsonian salvage operation suggested by Heyman was"Congressman Keeps Asking about Enola Gay Exhibit," by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 04/11/1995
an academic conference: "Presenting History: Museums in a Democratic
Society," sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and the University of
Michigan at the University.
Apr 21: Reviews the several areas of scholarly debate among and by historians."Museums in ID Crisis after 'Enola Gay,'" by Stephen Cain, Ann Arbor News, 04/16/95, C1"Smithsonian Sifts Debris of Enola Gay Plan," by Eugene L. Meyer, Washington Post 04/20/95, D01 (Lexis-Nexis: Newspapers)
"Official: Enola Gay Response Unexpected," by Julie M. Klein, Philadelphia Inquirer, 04/20/95, A7
"Exhibit Debate Looks for Understanding," by John Niyo, Ann Arbor News, 04/20/95, C1
"Historians Meet Uncertainly over What History Is All About," by Julie M. Klein, Philadelphia Inquirer, 04/24/95, D1
Apr**: Sampling of coverage in April by major media."50 Years Later, the debate rage over Hiroshima," by Karen J. Winkler, Chronicle of Higher Education, April 21, 1995: A10 (Proquest)"The Enola Gay and the Politics of Representation," by Lane Fenrich, Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars 27. 2 (April-June 1995) (Course Documents)"The Enola Gay: A Silent Exhibit," Claudio G. Segre, San Francisco Examiner, 04/04/95, A17
"Enola Gay Reception Canceled," by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 04/07/95, A4
May 01: Air Force Magazine publishes its eighth article: "World War II does not call
for neutral interpretation. There was a right and wrong side. The right side
won. That is what we remember this anniversary year -- no conciliatory
adjustments are required" [to Japan].May 02: NASM Director Martin Harwit resigns: "There is no choice but to resign: the"Japan's Struggle With History," by John T. Correll, Air Force Magazine, 05/95, 5 (Lexis-Nexis: Magazines)
http://www.afa.org/enolagay/07-12.html"VFW Honors AFA for Work on Enola Gay," Air Force Magazine, 05/95, 152
"Air Force Magazine Revisionism," MSgt. Merle C. Olmstead, Air Force Magazine, 05/95, 8 Letter
Museum's welfare and future are too important.""Official Resigns Over Exhibit of Enola Gay," New York Times, 05/02/95, A19 (Lexis-Nexis: Newspapers)"Air and Space Museum Chief Resigns," by Eugene L. Meyer, Washington Post, 05/03/95, A12
"Aide Quits over Enola Gay," New York Times, 05/03/95, A19
"Air and Space Museum Chief Resigns in Enola Gay's Wake," by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 05/03/95, A3
"Head of the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum Resigns," by Mike Feinsilber, Oakland Tribune, 05/03/95
"Asides: Enola Gay Finale," Wall Street Journal, 05/03/95, A14
"Museum Head Stepping Down over Enola Gay," by Andrea Stone, USA Today, 05/03/95. 4A (Lexis-Nexis: Newspapers)
"Resignation Right," San Antonio Express-News, 05/04/95
"Casualty of War Exhibit," Knoxville News-Sentinel, 05/05/95, A16
"Smithsonian: After the Shouting," Washington Post, 05/07/95, C6
"Mr. Harwit Bails Out," Washington Times, 05/08/95
"The Enola Gay's Final Casualty," U. S. News & World Report, 05/15/95, 18
May 09: Heyman denies rumors "that conservative Republicans are wielding undue
influence over museum exhibits," cancels an exhibit dealing with Vietnam,
and welcomes the appointment of Enola Gay critic Senator Sam Johnson as
a member of the Board of Regents.May 11,18: Senate Committee on Rules and Administration hearings."Smithsonian Boss Scoffs at Rumors GOP Rules Exhibits," Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 05/09/95, A6Hearings before the Committee on Rules and Administration, United States Senate, 104th Congress, First Session, on The Smithsonian Institution Management Guidelines for the Future. May 11 and 18, 1995. Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1995. (Course Documents)May **: Sampling of coverage in May by major media supporting the museum andMay 11:
Opening Statements by Senators Stevens and Ford (1-4)Testimonies:
Charles Sweeney, Enola Gay crew member (4-13)
Charles Cooper, Retired Officers Association (13-17)
Herman Harrington, American Legion (17-27)
R. E. Smith, Air Force Association (28-31)
Bob Manhan, Veterans of Foreign Wars (31-34)Question period (35-40)
May 18:
Opening Statements by Senators Stevens, Ford, and Warner (41-44, 51)Testimonies:
Senator Samuel Johnson (44-46)
Prof. Edward Linenthal (46-67)
Michael Heyman, Smithsonian Secretary (67-72)
Thomas Crouch, National Air and Space Museum (72-78)
Maxine Singer, Committee on the Future of the Smithsonian (102-7)Question period (78-101)
Closing comments (107-10)
Appendices:
Martin Harwit, National Air and Space Museum (111-15)
Evan Baker, Navy League (116-19)
Louis Coatney (120-23)
Victor Fic, Asian Defense Journal (124-31)
Historians' Committee for Open Debate on Hiroshima (132-53)
Jack Merritt, Association of the U. S. Army (154-56)
Letter of Smithsonian Secretary Heyman to Senator Samuel Johnson (161-81)
Letter of Smithsonian Secretary Heyman to Senator Jesse Helms (182-86)**************************************
"Smithsonian Under Siege on Hill," by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 05/12/95, A10"Senator Warns Smithsonian on Controversy," Jacqueline Trescott, Washington Post, 05/19/95, D6
"Historic View: Past Truths with a Present Spin," Andrea Stone, USA Today, 05/19/95, 4A
"Senators Assail Enola Gay Exhibit," by Michael E. Ruane, Philadelphia inquirer, 05/19/95
"Smithsonian Apologizes for 'historically inaccurate' display," Japan Times, 05/20/95, 5
Historian testifies: "The A-Bomb Controversy at the National Air and Space Museum," by Edward Linenthal, Historian 57.4 (1995): 686-94 (Course Documents)
AFA report: "AFA Testifies on Enola Gay," Air Force Magazine, July 1995, 90 (Lexis-Nexis: Magazines)
http://www.afa.org/enolagay/07-15.html
the historians.May **: Sampling of coverage in May by major media supporting the exhibit critics."Museums: Altered States," by Carla Koehl and Lucy Howard, Newsweek, 05/01/95, 6"History as a Lightning Rod," by Michael Kammen, Organization of American Historians Newsletter, May 1995, 1,6 [Kammen was president of OAH then] (Course Documents)
"Hiroshima's New Fallout," World Press Review, May 1995: 30-31 (Infotrac)
"[Forgetting the Bomb:] The Assault on History," by Martin J. Sherwin, Nation, May 15, 1995: 692-94 (Infotrac) (Proquest)
http://www.historians.org/directory/committees/sherwinop.html"Hiroshima: No Moral Justification," Wall Street Journal, 05/22/95, 13 Letters
"[Guest Opinion:] Misconceived Patriotism," by Barton J. Bernstein, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 51 (May/June 1995), 4 (Course Documents)
May 23: The Congressman submits an editorial from an Omaha newspaper praising"The Biggest Decision: Why We Had to Drop the Atomic Bomb," by Robert James Maddox, American Heritage, May/June 1995, 70-77 (Course Documents)"How the Legion Held Sway on Enola Gay," American Legion, May 1995, 34-36, 66
"History Upheld," American Legion, May 1995, 16-18
"A Letter on the Enola Gay Controversy," by Martin Trow, Public Affairs Report, 05/95
the National Archives for its World War II display in which there is reference
to a "citizen's committee" that said the Smithsonian should not become a
"home for congratulation: "Good history," the paper says, "isn't
cheerleading. But neither does it consist of condemning earlier generations
because they didn't live up to the politically correct standards of the present.""History Properly Displayed," by Doug Bereuter, 104th Congress, 1st Session, 141 Cong Rec E 1099 (Lexis-Nexis: Congressional)
Jun 01: Air Force Magazine publishes its ninth article.Jun 16: Describes some of the effects of the Heyman decision, including"Air and Space Museum Director Resigns," by John T. Corrrell, Air Force Magazine, 06/95, 13 (Lexis-Nexis: Magazines)
http://www.afa.org/enolagay/07-14.html
self-censorship, head-rolling, and the approval of "Fourth of July
historiography": "The argument that has temporarily won the day is clear and
explicit: tax supported institutions . . . have no business endorsing criticism of
our national experience. Their mission is to praise, exalt, beautify, and
glorify all that America has been and has done. This is precisely what we
criticize and ridicule when espoused by other nations and other cultures: we
would be better off practicing what we preach."Jun 21: "Paint-tossing is the only sign of dissent during a week of sneak previews" of"How a Genuine Democracy Should Celebrate Its Past," by John W. Dower, Chronicle of Higher Education, June 16, 1995: B1 (Proquest)
the new exhibit.Jun 21: An exhibit at American University will display some of the artifacts intended"Enola Gay Exhibit Splattered with Red Paint before Opening," by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 06/21/95, A6
for the Smithsonian exhibit.Jun**: Sampling of coverage in June by major media."2 Exhibits to Mark A-Bombings," by Eugene L. Meyer, Washington Post, 06/21/95, D1Jun 28: The "new" Enola Gay exhibit opens, and Heyman says the planned exhibit"Enola Gay -- Continuing Fallout," Col. Charles D. Cooper, Retired Officer, 06/95, 4"Just Blame That Blame-America Crowd," by Jim Wright, Dallas Morning News, 06/05/95
"provoked intense criticism from World War II veterans and others, who
stated that it portrayed the United States as the aggressor and the Japanese
as victims and reflected unfavorably on the valor and courage of American
veterans. . . . The museum changed its plan substantially, but the criticism
persisted and led to my decision to replace that exhibition with a simpler
one."Heyman's opening remarks:
http://www.norwich.net/~pstrany/ocw/atomic/heyman.htm"Feud Continues to Rage on 'Enola Gay' Exhibit," by Charles J. Lewis, Times Union, 06/27/95, A5
"Enola Gay Exhibit Opens without an Agenda," Arthur Hirsch, Baltimore Sun, 06/28/95, 1D
"Enola Gay Exhibit Opens without Debate," by Michael E. Ruane, Philadelphia Inquirer, 06/28/95, A2
"Smithsonian Opens Enola Gay Exhibit," by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, 06/28/95, 1
"Enola Gay Exhibit; Plane and Simple," Joel Achenbach, Washington Post, 06/28/95, A01 (Lexis-Nexis: Newspapers)
"Enola Gay Exhibit Opens to Protest," Lonnae O'Neal Parker, Washington Post, 06/29/95, C03 (Lexis-Nexis: Newspapers)
"Japanese Media Decry Enola Gay Exhibit," by T. R. Reid, Washington Post, 06/29/95, 32
"Enola Gay exhibit at Smithsonian draws crowds"
http://detnews.com/menu/stories/12800.htm