Some
could ask, why would the National Museum of American History exhibit
photographs of the Nixon administration images that stir memories
of hearings and Watergate at this moment not so far removed
from the impeachment of President Clinton. Our purpose is neither
to embarrass anyone nor prolong the current debates. More than
two years ago, the Museum decided that the coinciding of the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the Nixon resignation and the acquisition of the
Nixon-era photographs of Fred J. Maroon provided an opportunity
to examine the role of photojournalism in a difficult, yet important,
period of American political history. History museums interpret
difficult, unpleasant, or controversial episodes, not out of any
desire to criticize, be unpatriotic, or cause pain, but out of
a responsibility to convey a fuller, more complex history. By
examining incidents ripe with complexities and ambiguities, museums
hope to stimulate greater understanding of the historical forces
and choices that have shaped America.
Lonnie
Bunch
Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs
National Museum of American History
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