From

The Office of Representative Ralph W. Gwinn
27th Congressional District, New York

Old House Office Building

Washington, De Ce

Monday, June 13, 19h)9

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE?

 

Representative Ralph W. Gwinn of the 27th Congressional District, New
York, ranking minority member of the House Subcommittee on Education, today made
public a letter from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, president of Columbia Uni~
versity, New York. President Eisenhower's letter expresses his views in opposi-
tion to certain proposed Federal aid-to~education legislation. A ccpy of the
letter is attached. The House Subcommittee on Education concluded hearings on
Federal aid legislation last week. Jn placing President Eisenhower's letter in
the Committee's record of hearings today, Congressman Gwinn had this comment
to makes

"More and more educatoi's have begun to voice the fear that Federal
subsidies to the States for general school purposes will mean eventual federal~
ization of our public education systems. :

‘Now we have heard from the president of one of the great educational
institutions in the world, Columbia University. Moreover, the value of General
Eisenhower's statement is enhanced by the vast knowledge he has derived from
a successful and honorable career in the service of his country. He knows
government as few people do. He recognises its values as well as its dangers.
Also, having fought the good fight against tyranny, General Eisenhower knows
how precious freedom is to mankind,

"T believe every American will be stirred by President Eisenhower's
letter as T have been, I trust it will give every teacher, every educator,
every school board member and every parent a renewed sense of the responsi-
bility each bears toward making our American education system strong and keep-
ing it free."