71 S T A T. ]
P U B L I C LAW 8 5 - 2 6 2 - S E P T.
2, 1957
587
Public Law 85-262 JOINT RESOLUTION
September 2. 1957 [H. J. Res. 351]
To establish a Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission.
Whereas the year 1959 marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln on February 12, 1809; and Whereas Abraham Lincoln served as the sixteenth President of the United States; and Whereas his life and ideals played an important part in the history of the United States during a critical period of its history; and Whereas his spoken and written words and his philosophy of government have continued to have influence in our Government and in our daily way of life; and Whereas the United States observed with appropriate ceremonies the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln in 1909; and Whereas the interest in, and respect for, Abraham Lincoln is demonstrated by over one million eight hundred and fifty thousand people from all parts of the Nation visiting the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, District of Columbia, during the year 1956, making it the most visited memorial in the world; and Whereas it is appropriate that his ideals and accomplishmonts be reemphasized and be given wider public knowledge on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his birth; and AVhereas it is incumbent upon us as a nation to provide for the proper observance of the birth of this great man who has continued to be a force in our history: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That (a) in order to provide Lincoln sesqui•
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- c e n t e nnial Com-
lor appropriate and nationwide observances and the coordination or mission. ceremonies, there is hereby established a commission to be known as the Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission, hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Commission", which shall be composed of twenty-eight members, as follows: (1) The President of the United States, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be ex officio members of the Commission; (2) Six Members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate; (3) Six Members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (4) Twelve members to be appointed by the President of the United States; and (5) One member from the Department of the Interior who shall be the Director of the National P a r k Service or his representative. (b) The Director of the National Park Service shall call the first meeting for the purpose of electing a Chairman. The Commission, at its discretion, may appoint honorary members, and may establish an Advisory Council to assist it in its work. (c) Appointments provided for in this section, with the exception of honorary members, shall be made within ninety days from the date of enactment of this resolution. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. SEC. 2. I t shall be the duty of the Commission to prepare an overall Program, program to include specific plans for commemorating the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. In preparing its plans and programs, the Commission shall give due consideration to any similar and related plans advanced by State, civic, patriotic,
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