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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE

Mr. Brown pointed out that the Board of Regents is asked to recommend approval of the new site plan and that legislation to be submitted to Congress would be limited to authorization of the site and planning.

Mr. Fleming recalled that the Regents had approved the recommendations of the Advisory Board last January.

The Vice President commented that that approval was a commitment to the Fort Washington site but now the question concerned the new site. The Vice President and Senator Anderson concurred that the Congress had the ultimate authority for site determination.

A motion was then introduced by Senator Saltonstall, seconded by the Vice President, and it was

VOTED that the Board of Regents recommends to the Congress its approval of the new site plan and leaves to the Executive Committee the decision as to when to report this decision to the Congress.

Dr. Greenewalt expressed reservations about the merits of an Armed Forces Museum. He fears additional expansion of Smithsonian activities and mentioned the Air Museum, the Hirshhorn Gallery, and the Portrait Gallery. He explained he did not recall the background of the museum although he appreciated the importance of Mr. Brown's advocacy. He said we should not ask Congress to proliferate appropriations for the Smithsonian.
 
Mr. Brown recalled that the Armed Forces Museum had been under discussion for 7 or 8 years; also, that two studies had been made, one under appointments by President Eisenhower and one under the present legislation. It was from these discussions that the concept of a museum park has emerged. Mr. Brown was under the impression that the Board of Regents was therefore quite familiar with the concept and was surprised that