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The Nominating Committee of the Board of Regents (consisting of Anne L. Armstrong, Samuel C. Johnson, and I. Michael Heyman) met with Secretary Adams in Denver on July 31, 1991. In a lengthy preliminary conversation, the Secretary provided the Committee with useful perspectives on the status of the Smithsonian and the prospects for its future. Against this background the Committee was better able to understand the context in which nominations of new citizen Regents might be made over the next several years. As noted at the last Regents' meeting, before the end of 1992 there will be, in all likelihood, four appointments to be made (vice Messrs. McHenry, Bowen, Acheson and Mrs. Armstrong. 

The Committee reaffirmed its belief that (1) the Board will be stregthened with the addition of women and minority members -- especially those who are Hispanic; (2) the Board will be similarly strengthened by the addition of "world class" individuals who have associated with well corporate, financial/investment, ro Federal activities; and (3) the Board will be well served if all future invitations to serve on the Board are explicitly for a single, six-year term and do not imply a length of service beyond six years without a deliberate, rigorous process by which the Nominating Committee and the Board can determine that the individual will be able to continue service of the highest order. The Committee also agree that it would make only one recommendation for nominations at the fall Regents' meeting (vice Dr. Bowen) with the understanding that one or more recommendations will be made at the winter meeting (since the qualifications of New York State residents had only recently been made possible with the unanticipated expiration of McHenry's term, and two other vacancies are not slated to develop until the fall of 1992). 

After encountering a broad range of candidates, most of whom remain strong possibilities deserving further consideration, the Committee was unanimous in recommending to the Board the nomination of Hanna Holborn Gray, who is currently President of the University of Chicago. Mrs. Gray's reputation precedes her in many respects. She is widely regarded as a Renaissance historian, as a professor of history, and as an outstanding president of one of the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning. A copy of her resume follows. From her recent conversation with the Secretary, it is known that Mrs. Gray will serve as a Regent with great interest and enthusiasm. 

The following motion is suggested: 
VOTED that the Board of Regents nominates Hanna H. Gray for a statutory term as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution effective March 13, 1992, and requests its Congressional members to introduce and support legislation to that effect.