[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[February 21, 1992]
[Pages 290-291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter Accepting the Resignation of John E. Frohnmayer as Chairman of 
the National Endowment for the Arts

February 21, 1992
Dear John:
    I received your letter of resignation today and, with sincere thanks 
and appreciation for your service, I accept your resignation effective 
May 1.
    I recall your coming to talk to me about

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this on October 24. At that time you told me you wanted to step aside. I 
told you then that I certainly understood your reasons for desiring to 
return to private life.
    Your job is one of the most difficult in government. You have worked 
hard for freedom of expression; and yet, at times, as you have ruled 
against certain grants that you felt were beyond the bounds of common 
decency, you have been criticized.
    I thank you for the integrity and commitment that you have brought 
to the National Endowment for the Arts.
    No two people can agree in every instance on every grant or indeed 
on what is good art; in fact some of the art funded by the NEA does not 
have my enthusiastic approval. I expect some did not have yours, but 
this should not obscure the overall work of the NEA nor your 
contribution to it.
    I thank you and wish you and your family well for a very bright 
future.
    Sincerely,

                                                             George Bush

                    
Mr. President:
    Last October I told you of my desire to return to private life. 
Accordingly, I submit my resignation effective May 1, 1992.
    I have appreciated the opportunity to serve you and the arts; you 
know how much your personal support has meant to me during these 
difficult times. You and your administration have accomplished a great 
deal and I'm sure the best is yet to come.
    Sincerely,

                                                      John E. Frohnmayer

                    Note: These letters were made available by the 
                        Office of the Press Secretary on February 21 but 
                        were not issued as White House press releases.