Executive Order 11145

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Executive Order 11145 (1964)
by President of the United States

Providing for A Curator of The White House and Establishing A Committee for the Preservation of The White House586378

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See the Notes section for a list of Executive Orders affected by or related to the issuance of this Executive Order.

Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson Saturday, March 7, 1964

Federal Register page & date: 29 FR 3189, Tuesday, March 10, 1964

586378Executive Order 11145 — Providing for A Curator of The White House and Establishing A Committee for the Preservation of The White House5863781964President of the United States

Whereas the White House, as the home of the highest elective officer of the United States

− symbolizes the American ideal of responsible self-government

− is emblematic of our democracy and our national purpose

− has been intimately associated with the personal and social life of the Presidents of the United States and many of their official acts

− occupies a particular place in the heart of every American citizen, and

Whereas certain historic rooms and entranceways in the White House

− possess great human interest and historic significance

− traditionally have been open to visitors

− have provided pleasure and patriotic inspiration to millions of our citizens

− have come to be regarded as a public museum and the proud possession of all Americans, and

Whereas the Congress by law (Act of September 22, 1961), (75 Stat. 586) has authorized the care and preservation of the historic and artistic contents of the White House and has given the President certain responsibilities with regard thereto:

Now, Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1.

(a)	There shall be in the White House a Curator of the White House. The Curator shall assist in the preservation and protection of the articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects used or displayed in the principal corridor on the ground floor and the principal public rooms on the first floor of the White House, and in such other areas in the White House as the President may designate.
(b)	The Curator shall report to the President and shall make recommendations with respect to the articles, fixtures, and objects to be declared by the President, under section 2 of the Act of September 22, 1961, to be of historic or artistic interest.

Sec. 2.

There is hereby established the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Committee’’. The Committee shall be composed of the Director of the National Park Service, the Curator of the White House, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, the Director of the National Gallery of Art, the Chief Usher of the White House, and seven other members to be appointed by the President. The Director of the National Park Service shall serve as Chairman of the Committee and shall designate an employee of that Service to act as Executive Secretary of the Committee. Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation.

Sec. 3.

(a)	The Committee shall report to the President and shall advise the Director of the National Park Service with respect to the discharge of his responsiblity under the Act of September 22, 1961 for the preservation adn the interpretation of the museum character of the principal corridor on the ground floor and the principal public rooms on the first floor of the White House. Among other things, the Committee shall make recommendations as to the articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects which shall be used or displayed in the aforesaid areas of the White House and as to the decor and arrangements therein best suited to enhance the historic and artistic values of the White House and of such articles, fixtures, and objects.
(b)	The Committee shall cooperate with the White House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization heretofore formed under the laws of the District of Columbia.
(c)	The Committee is authorized to invite individuals who are distinguished or interested in the fine arts to attend its meetings or otherwise to assist in carrying out its functions.

Sec. 4.

Consonant with law, each Federal department and agency represented on the Committee shall furnish necessary assistance to the Committee in accordance with section 214 of the Act of May 3, 1945, 59 Stat. 134 (31 U.S.C. 691). The Department of the Interior shall furnish necessary administrative services for the Committee.