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Moe FonerMoe Foner
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Session:         Page of 592

But still, what's going to happen with NEA?

Q:

The total budget was pegged at what level?

Foner:

The total budget was pegged, like, a million dollars.

Q:

So 350 was --

Foner:

It included, “The union was going to contribute this in staff time” and this kind of thing. We did very well with NEH, and NEH came through with a supplemental grant in the middle of the grant. [laughs] And they came through for another two years after that with 200,000 dollars -- which was unheard of. They never do that.

But the NEA became a problem. We didn't know what to do. David -- I forget his name. David says to me -- oh! The one thing I've got to tell you. We called the meeting of the big rank and file committee, you know, with 400 names. It was pouring all day, it was a terrible downpour -- it was in the summer. I remember everybody in the leadership was in Florida at a board meeting, and I was there. We had seventy-five people, and it was a wonderful meeting. We played the videotape of the planning grant -- they saw it for the first time. There was a discussion of what to do -- what they could do at each hospital - - how they they would work with other members to get the thing going on the theater program, and it was going to start in January -- the theater in the hospital with the Howard Roberts Chorale. Although I didn't have money for it from NEA.

Then in late August David calls says to me -- calls me up, he says -- “Moe, I think we got to put all our eggs in this basket. Moe, you've got to come down tomorrow. I'm bringing together all the program officers” --

Q:

At NEA.

Foner:

At NEA. “I want you to come and I want you to make a pitch on Bread and Roses. Let's see what the different program officers will pick up. Like a bargain -- we're offering it to you.” So I remember I come down. Jack Golodner's there, and all the program directors -- dance, music, art, literature. Everybody's there. David introduces me. He left United, became a vice-president of United Technology. He came out of industry. He was a nice guy, really, but he was very conservative -- but loved what we were doing. David said, “I've called you together because I want rather than to keep parceling this thing out forever, we thought we'd have an opportunity to discuss it in its entirety. I've asked Moe here to give a report.” When I start the report, a woman in





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