I. Michael Heyman
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, I. Michael Heyman, tried
to focus on the institution's activities and its reservoir of
historical treasures at the February 23 [1995] NPC luncheon, but
he was bombarded by questions concerning the controversy over the
recent Enola Gay exhibit. When asked to express his personal view
over the cancellation of the exhibit, he said, "On the one hand we
should have hung in there, but on the other hand, I'm a former
Marine." Responding to why the media was permitted to set up a
confrontation, and why military historians were not consulted, he
said, "By the time I arrived the process had been formed."
Secretary Heyman stated that the Institute should eschew
controversial exhibitions and the problems with the Enola Gay
exhibit was that care was not taken to do it in a way that would
have avoided collision and emotion. The Secretary estimated that
the Air & Space Museum accommodates about 9 million people per
year. He opposes user fees but believes cuts would force the
Institution to seek other sources of revenue. The National Press
Club Record Volume XLV, No. 8, March 2, 1995.
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