LETTER TO THE READER FROM ROBERT M. HUTCHINS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000200040010-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 20, 2004
• Sequence Number: 10
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2004/10/13: CIA-RD 8P 8-A 5R '62% A10 ; `4v" s"_( $v*%4
Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions
THE FUND FOR THE REPUBLIC, INC.
Box 4546, Santa Barbara, California 93103
Office of the President
Robert M. Hutchins
We would like to send to you, with the compliments of the Center for
the Study of Democratic Institutions, the Charter Issue of a unique new pub-
lication -- The Center Magazine. At the same time, we will reserve a
membership ~.n the Center in your name -- subject to your decision after
you see the magazine.
You probably already know something about the Center, and so can
anticipate what The Center Magazine will be like. At the Center, distin-
guished guests li- Arno Toynbee, Pierre Mendes-France, Stuart Chase,
Senator J. William Fulbright, Fred W. Friendly, Jacques Barzun and U
Thant and staff members like Bishop James A. Pike, Linus Pauling,
Stringfellow Barr and Rexford G. Tugwell meet and conduct dialogues in
which are examined the major institutions of the 20th Century in the light
of their impact on democracy. They discuss the great questions of the day --
such as war and peace, church and state, automation and human values.
As you can imagine, these discussions are lively, the observations and con-
clusions arresting and thought-provoking.
A number of these discussions -- printed and circulated as "occasional
papers" or presented in book form -- have had a profound effect upon the
thought of many opinion-makers and have led to major policy decisions in our
country. For instance, one consultant to the Center, Michael Harrington, is
the author of "The Other America" -- which is credited with convincing Presi-
dent Kennedy he should begin the poverty program. The Center also was a
leader in focusing attention on the impact of automation. Its booklet, "Cyberna-
tion: The Silent Conquest," stirred discussion throughout the United States and
resulted in the appointment of a Presidential commission on the subject. The
Center continues to identify other equally important issues and cast fresh light
on them.
As an indication of what you may expect in future issues of The Center
Magazine, recent "occasional papers" issued by the Center included Linus
Pauling on Science and Peace; John Wilkinson, Gerald Sykes, Dennis Gabor,
Theodore Roszak and others on Technology and Human Values; Benjamin
Graham on The Flexible Work Year, and Bernard Weissbourd on Segregation,
Subsidies and Megalopolis.
Reports on these dialogues now are published in The Center Magazine,
under the editorship of John Cogley, who returned recently tot the Center staff
after serving as an editor of The New York Times. I think you will find the new
magazine stimulating and enjoyable reading. But more than that, I invite you to
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participate in these dialogues, yourself, through The Center Magazine. A
major section of each issue is set aside for correspon ec~ nce from mem-
bers; not merely the kind of correspondence which flatters or denounces, but
the kind which extends, deepens, corrects and amplifies the dialogues re-
ported each month.
We hope The Center Magazine will offer a new medium of exchange for
men and women who are concerned about the great social, political and -cul-
tural problems of our time: requirements for world peace, human control of
technology, civilizing of the urban environment, race relations, mass culture,
mass media and the quality of American education.
What will you find in each bimonthly issue? There are reports of dis-
cussions by guests and staff members. Some discussions are published in
full. Others are a distillation of the central argument as presented by the
participants. Each issue also reports an interview with one of the Center's
guests. There are articles by staff members on aspects of large issues.
There are reviews of major books on subjects and problems close to the
Center's own interests. And there is an opportunity for readers to add their
own views.
It is the Center's conviction that if men and women who are leaders of
contemporary thought are brought together to discuss the basic issues of the
day within the ideal environment of the Center, we may expect a clearer un-
derstanding of the issues and of ourselves. The Center Magazine makes the
discussions available to a wider audience of t oughtful men and women who
would like to sit in on these dialogues.
The Center Ma azineazine is available only to Center members, who may
also receive without additional cost all Center publications and reports, in-
cluding at least five "Occasional Papers". You are invited to join our
membership.
Membership is welcome in categories from $10 to $1, 000 or more a
year. The cost of the Center's publications program averages more than $10
per member. Contributions in higher categories make $10. 00 memberships
possible. Therefore, when members make contributions in categories greater
than $10 a year it is then possible for the Center to widen its circles of discus-
sion more effectively.
In the interests of widening those circles of discussion, we would like
to offer to you a Charter Issue membership at $10 a year.
After you see the Charter Issue you can decide. The Center will mail
to you this first issue in a format suitable for a permanent place in your
library, without cost or obligation.
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At the same time, we will reserve for you a one-year $10 membership --
subject to your decision after examining the Charter Issue. With that issue
we will send to you a statement for your $10 tax-deductible contribution. At
that time, you either may make the $10 contribution payment if you wish to
continue, or simply write "cancel" across the statement and return it -- in
which case your reservation will be cancelled and that will be the end of the
matter.
I hope that we may count you as a member for the year ahead. But in
any case, please accept our invitation to examine a Charter Issue copy of
The Center Magazine. I believe you will find it both interesting and
stimulating.
Sincerely yours,
Robert M. Hutchins
Pre sident
B/RMH
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