The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

It is my privilege to present to you the 2002 annual report of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

I am very proud of NEH’s achievements in 2002, the first full year of my Chairmanship. This year was marked by reinvigorated core programs, strengthened cooperation with state humanities councils, memorable special events and national honors, and most exciting of all a Presidential unveiling for a bold NEH initiative.

In the Rose Garden on September 17—Constitution Day—you announced the launch of NEH’s We the People. As you pointed out on that auspicious occasion, too many Americans, especially our young people, lack a solid grounding in the intellectual, cultural, and historical foundations of our nation. Now, thanks to your leadership and support, the NEH is helping to restore America’s national memory and equip citizens with the knowledge to safeguard our legacy of freedom.

We the People is a far-reaching, agency-wide initiative. The study and dissemination of knowledge of American history and culture will be cultivated in every NEH division and program. The common standard will be excellence.

Our renewed focus on the lessons of American history and the riches of our culture is an extension of the core mission of the Humanities Endowment. Since 1965, the NEH has served and strengthened our Republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. America must have educated and thoughtful citizens who can fully and intelligently participate in our government.

In short, the NEH exists to foster the wisdom and knowledge essential to our national identity. Projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities help bring the wisdom of the humanities to all Americans. Elementary, secondary, and college and university teachers gather in the summer months to learn at NEH-sponsored seminars and institutes. Archives, libraries, and museums across the nation preserve irreplaceable books, newspapers, and artifacts with NEH support. NEH-funded television and radio documentaries reach millions, and museums and libraries reach more through Endowment-supported exhibitions and educational activities. NEH research grants support fascinating scholarship and editions of the collected papers of presidents, authors, and other important figures. Institutions build their capacity for humanities programming with challenge grants from NEH, which leverage nonfederal dollars and build permanent centers of excellence.

The National Endowment for the Humanities relies on the nation’s fifty-six state and territorial humanities councils to reach every corner of our nation, bringing rich and varied programming that responds to both local needs and broad audiences.

The Humanities Endowment presents special events, such as the annual Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities. In March, Henry Louis Gates Jr. delivered the thirty-first annual Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities. And, in another high point of the year, we were proud to join with you and the First Lady to honor the distinguished recipients of the National Humanities Medal—some of the most important thinkers, scholars, and achievers of our generation.

In 2002, as our nation has engaged in battles in a global war against terror, we have seen how philosophy, religion, political ideology, and views of history all play a role in our world today.These subjects fall within the realm of the humanities, and understanding them has proved essential to the defense of our homeland. The National Endowment for the Humanities plays an important part in ensuring that such knowledge is renewed and passed on.We will continue our efforts to provide this unique and essential service to the people of the United States.