Some Parting Thoughts and Shots from Capitol Hill

Bruce Craig

Visit the National Coalition for History.

My wife Pat and I are both looking forward to our new lives on Prince Edward Island, Canada. There, in addition to helping to run our “Harbour Lights” bed and breakfast operation (and soon to be launched artist’s and writer’s retreat) that overlooks Northlake harbor, I will be commuting a couple days a week to the provincial capitol, Charlottetown, where I will be teaching on a part-time basis. I also will be working with members of the University of Prince Edward Island history department in creating what may well develop into one of the few undergraduate programs in public historical studies in North America. I also hope to devote considerable time and energy to several writing projects, including a biography of accused Soviet spy Alger Hiss—a project that for far too many years has languished in the form of various piles of papers on my desk, closet, and floor.

I am very pleased that the history coalition has hired Lee White to succeed me. Lee comes to the NCH with a law degree, a recent master’s degree in history from George Mason University, and considerable experience in working on Capitol Hill. During our several week transition, I have come to realize that Lee has a passion for history—perhaps the single most important qualification for the director of the National Coalition for History to possess.

With the Congress now firmly in the hands of the Democratic Party for the first time in twelve years, the history coalition has both new opportunities and new challenges in advancing the cause of history and archives. Some may think that now that the Democrats control Congress, history advocacy will all of a sudden become easier. Frankly, I doubt it. In fact, history advocacy faces considerable obstacles.

During my seven years at the helm of the NCH, the Congress and the White House have both been controlled by Republicans. The truth is, throughout these years Congress and the White House have been generally supportive of history—though clearly the Bush administration’s particular interest has been in advancing what is termed “traditional” American history. To that end, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) was able to enact legislation creating his presidential and congressional academies to benefit outstanding students and teachers of American history. With Bruce Cole as steward of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the endowment has been implementing its We the People initiative, which has brought renewed vitality to history as a vital segment of the broader humanities community. In the Department of Education, Senator Robert C. Byrd’s Teaching American History grants initiative (in excess of a half billion dollars has been devoted to this program now) has been competently managed by administration officials, and their efforts have done much to boost the teaching of history in our elementary and secondary schools.

Of course, not everything has gone as well as I had hoped with the Republicans in power. For example, year after year the White House Office of Management and Budget has ignored the requests of the Archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein, and zeroed out all funding for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). As a consequence, every year the NCH, the Association for Documentary Editing, a few other member organizations, and the National Humanities Alliance visit scores of congressional offices in order to convince members that some level of funding needs to go to this small but important NARA program office. Now that Byrd will once again be master of the Senate Appropriations Committee, we have a powerful friend on our side.

Another disappointment with the congressional Republican leadership is what they have done (or perhaps more properly not done) with the Higher Education Act. For several years now a proposal introduced by Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) titled Higher Education for Freedom Act (S. 1209) held the promise of generating a large pool of new funds to support the study and teaching of history at the postsecondary level. But Gregg’s proposal, along with the Higher Education Act in general, was relegated to a back burner by the Republican majority. Just weeks ago, Congress passed its third extension of the act, and we have yet to see reauthorization hearings in Congress to discuss the important issues that need to be addressed.

And then there is the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act—the centerpiece of the Bush administration’s education program. Ever since its inception, it has been a thorn in the side of history educators. Perhaps the NCLB legislation has made some progress in improving some students’ reading, math, and science skills, but it has certainly done nothing to improve (in fact, it has harmed) the teaching of history in America’s public schools. But now, with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) slotted to become chair of the Senate committee responsible for formulating the nation’s education policy, we have an opportunity to open some new doors that could ultimately lead to innovations in how history is funded and taught, from elementary school through college.

In retrospect, twenty-five years on Capitol Hill has reinforced in my mind a great truism—no matter what party is in the majority, life on Capitol Hill goes on. Arthur Schlesinger Jr. points out in his book Cycles of American History (1986) that power in Congress and the White House swings like a pendulum between the Republicans and Democrats. How true it is! Members come, members go, and there are always new eager young staffers waiting in the wings aching to fill in behind retiring pros.

My departure from the National Coalition for History  brings this aspect of my public history career to a close. It has been a memorable and satisfying experience, but frankly I am ready to be settling into what I hope will be a less hectic but equally rewarding experience.