National Archives and Records Service film-vault fire at Suitland, Md. : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 19 and 21, 1979 (1979)

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45 Ms. GiSH. They realize that power and they do it with film. Mr. Preyer. Films must have had a lot to do with that. Our film at the Air and Space Museum, I think, has some of that effect. It shows what a beautiful country we have. I think it does help in that regard. It fastens that bond. Ms. GiSH. Yes, it is a great power. Mr. Preyer. Well, we are grateful to you for the pleasure you have given us in your films throughout your great career. We appreciate all you are doing. Mv. Stevens. We look forward, as we say in North Carolina, that "You will both keep on keeping on." [Laughter.] Tliank you very much for being with us. Our next witness is Dr. James B. Rhoads, Archivist of the United States. Because of the shortness of time, I w^ould like to ask you to summarize the highlights of your testimony and your statement. I also notice that some of your remarks go to the issue of general records pi-eservation at the Archives. As you know, next Monday the subcommittee will be hearing from the General Accounting Office on its findings about the preservation efforts at the Archives. We will have an opportunity at that time to explore that particular aspect of these hearings in more detail. Today, we should perhaps confine our testimony to the Suitland fire and the safety programs at the Archives. I note what Mr. Stevens said about how agencies have done remarkable work over the years in attempting its preservation work. He basically said what you needed was more financial support. He put you in the proper trajectory there. We are glad to have you at this time. You may proceed. STATEMENT OF DR. JAMES B. RHOADS, ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES; ACCOMPANIED BY JOHN J. LANDERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE; JAMES W. MOORE, DIRECTOR, AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES; AND WILLIAM MURPHY, CHIEF, MOTION PICTURE AND SOUND RECORDING BRANCH, AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE Dr. Rhoads. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a pleasure for me to be here, Mr. Chairman. I am grateful to Mr. Stevens or having launched us on that kind of a trajectory. As you say, Mr. Stevens and Miss Gish are a hard act to follow. I will be happy to touch on some of the highlights of my prepared statement. First of all, I should introduce the gentlemen who are accompanying me. To my right is Mr. John Landers, Executive Director of the National Archives and Records Service. To my left is Mr. James Moore, Director of the Audiovisual Archives Division in the National Archives, and on his left is William Murphy, who is the Chief of the Motion Picture and Sound Recording Branch.