[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 186 (Monday, November 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2221-E2222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NIXON LIBRARY REMAINS OPEN--A MODEL FOR OTHERS

                                 ______


                              HON. JAY KIM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 20, 1995

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, following the expiration of the short-term 
continuing appropriations resolution on November 13, all but one of the 
Presidential libraries were forced to close. Only the Richard Nixon 
Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda, CA, continued full operations 
during the budget crisis. In fact, the library offered free admission 
and gift shop discounts to those Federal employees who were furloughed. 
This was possible because, unlike all the other Presidential libraries, 
the Nixon Library is the first and only Presidential museum to be 
operated without Federal funding. The museum is supported through 
admissions, gift shop revenue and private donations.
  I recognize and appreciate the important educational value of 
Presidential libraries. Each year, over a million Americans re-live or 
experience for the first time their own history by visiting a 
Presidential museum. The libraries also serve as an archive of 
information and other historical resources for scholars.
  But, there is a price to pay for this. The operation of these nine 
Presidential libraries costs the taxpayer $24.5 million per year. In 
order to achieve the goal of a balanced budget within 7 years, 
Government spending will have to be cut. The recent budget crisis, as 
highlighted by the closure of the Federal Government for a week, 
underscores the difficult choices that need to be made in the process. 
Every federally funded program must be carefully evaluated and 
prioritized, including the Presidential libraries. While the percentage 
of funding these libraries receive may be relatively small in 
comparison to the overall $1 trillion-plus Federal budget, every dollar 
still counts nonetheless.
  The Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace does not cost the taxpayer a 
penny to operate. Yet, it provides the same historical experience and 
other services as the federally-funded libraries. It was planned this 
way deliberately by the fiscally conservative late President. I am 
proud to represent Yorba Linda and the Nixon Library in Congress and I 
have personally visited the library on a number of occasions. Without 
prejudice, I must say that its displays rank as some of the best of any 
Presidential library. In part, I believe that is because the library 
understands that to attract the public and obtain private financial 
support, it must present quality, dynamic programming. It must compete 
for the public's attention and business because it does not rely on a 
continuous Federal subsidy like the other libraries do. I invite my 
colleagues to come to Yorba Linda and see the success of the Nixon 
Library for themselves.

[[Page E 2222]]

  Thus, as part of the ongoing effort to trim the size and cost of 
Government, the National Archives, which oversees the Presidential 
libraries, and the Congress ought to carefully analyze the highly 
successful Nixon Library and determine whether the other Presidential 
libraries could follow this model and be privatized. I think this is an 
idea that's long overdue.

                          ____________________