Congressional approval of an impressive Federal Pavilion to be erected at the Fair was expressed emphatically on July 23, when both the Senate and the House voted an appropriation of $17,000,000 for construction and operation of the governmental exhibit. The appropriations bill was sent to President Kennedy immediately and the chief executive signed it on July 26.

Robert Moses, president of the Fair, welcomed the news as "an announcement of great significance not only for the expected 70 million Fair visitors but also, and more especially, for our nation."

Concepts of the Federal Pavilion and its proposed theme "Challenge to Greatness" give promise of an exceptionally fine exhibit that will take maximum advantage of the Fair's great potential for promoting international good-will and peace through understanding.

Planned by a citizens' advisory committee established by Secretary of Commerce, Luther H. Hodges, the Federal Pavilion will encompass three sections:

1. AN INTRODUCTORY AREA - to welcome viewers and highlight the purpose of the Pavilion.

2. A SPECIAL EVENTS AREA - to emphasize the relationship of the individual citizen to local, state and national governments through examples of historical events of special significance to the American heritage.

Space will also be set aside in this area to show arts and crafts illustrating native skills of the American people.

3. A MAIN EXHIBIT AREA - with displays devoted to progress down to the present and looking to the future in the fields of public affairs, economics, science, education, health and the arts.

As described by President Kennedy in his March 13 message to the House of Representatives the "Challenge to Greatness" theme of the Federal Pavilion "will enable us to present to the world not a boastful picture of our unparalleled progress but a picture of democracy -- its opportunities, its problems, its inspirations and its freedoms."

The Fair's executive committee greeted the official green light from Congress as the signal to give every priority and maximum cooperation to the Commission responsible for erecting a pavilion of American democracy in time for Fair Opening Day, April 22, 1964.

In accordance with the legislation passed, the Fair is now awaiting appointment of a Federal Commissioner who will be named to plan the exhibit on the 196,349 sq. ft. site reserved by the United States.

The 68 foreign nations and the domestic, industrial and commercial community of America who have already announced participation may now look with confidence to the host nation as a distinguished fellow exhibitor.

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News machines, a space satellite, and other dramatic elements to portray the nation's most important challenges;

15-minute ride through 130 enveloping motion picture screens; and

Computer-oriented library providing facts and information about the exhibit.

Commissioner Winston, appointed by President John F. Kennedy to develop and administer the U.S. participation in the World's Fair, is an inveterate fair-goer. He served in official capacities in the 1959 Moscow Fair and trade fairs in Poznan, Zagreb, Vienna, and Paris.

Commissioner Winston explained the exhibition will concentrate on portraying the national spirit and character.

Quoting from the report of the citizens' advisory committee that selected the exhibit's theme, Commissioner Winston said the displays will invite interest: "...Not in our achievements but in the spirit which leads to them ... (in) helping visitors to see and understand our challenges, our responsibilities, our dedication, and provide a more accurate and meaningful excursion into the character of a nation that serves as a model for freedom and bears the burden of proof that a democratic system succeeds."

Visitors, entering the raised Pavilion from its enclosed garden court, will read these lines from a poem by Archibald MacLeish:

"The American Journey has not yet ended.

America is never accomplished.

America is always to build."

From the entrance foyer, visitors will proceed to a hall and view a 9-minute film titled, "The Voyage to America." The film tells the story of the nation's immigrant origins, and portrays dramatically why succeeding waves of immigrants were drawn to our shores.

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Next, in two large halls, visitors will see exhibits depicting some of the major challenges before the U.S. today, as interpreted by the designers.

Some of these challenges -- including Democracy, growth, learning, the arts, special concerns such as automation and urban renewal, the sciences, and equal rights -- embrace domestic problems within our own boarders.

Others pertain to international relations, including the Free World, developing nations, UN, arms control, population explosion, the world community, and space.

Commissioner Winston said each of these challenges is explained in a dramatic, often unique, three-dimensional manner. For example, a weather satellite station monitors signals from Tiros in orbit.

There are also teaching machines, news machines, a coal-digging machine located in this section to help dramatize the nation's challenges, Commissioner noted.

After touring the "challenges" section, Commissioner Winston said visitors will move to the Pavilion's upper floor for a 15-minute ride. Here visitors will travel on 12 moving grandstands on an excursion through the great sights and sounds of American history. During the "ride" the visitor will be enveloped by filmed images and become the object of stereophonic effects -- all deigned to make him "an actual participant in the nation's history-making events," Commissioner Winston said.

"We believe the ride will be an inspirational experience for each visitor," the Commissioner said. "It will bring into sharp focus what it means to be a U.S. citizen; the great advantages and, of course, the great responsibilities."

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Visitors may also visit the pavilion's 10,000-square-foot library where literature and other printed materials will be available. The library, sponsored by the American Library Association, will be staffed with experienced librarians, aided by an electronic computer for retrieving facts and data on every subject covered in the entire "Challenge to Greatness" exhibition.

Commissioner Winston said work on the Pavilion is on schedule. "It will be ready to receive the first visitors on April 22 when the fair opens."

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"This film journey will surround viewers with a sound-and-picture adventure that will leave them enlightened, entertained, and impressed with this nation's historical background and future challenge," Commissioner Winston said.

The presentation, under the direction of Commissioner Winston, is being produced by Cinerama, Inc., at the film-maker's Redwood, Calif. studios.

Camera crews have ranged the U.S. for unusual and historic sequences to be incorporated into the final footage. Museums and government agencies also have contributed suggestions and ideas to authenticate the story-line.

"'American Journey' is intended to be a total experience, and a startling adventure at every turn," Commissioner Winston said. "We fully expect that audiences will take this journey four or five times and enjoy a new experience each time."

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Arrangements are being made with Virgil Thompson, well known American composer and conductor, to compose original music for the film. Mr. Thompson who is a former New York City newspaper music critic has created musical scores for the films "Louisiana Story" and "The River."

The 200-seat theater will be used for selected performances of American dramas, musicals, and various types of recitals.

On the Mall a special events program will be initiated "to present the quality, creativity and vitality of grass-roots America," according to Commissioner Winston. Included will be forums utilizing outstanding talent, amateur and professional folk musicians, concert artists, choral groups, ballet, jazz combinations, symphony orchestras, and string quartets.

"Our goal is to present at the U. S. Pavilion some of the nation's outstanding talent in programs that will express the American spirit, which, of course, is the underlying theme of the Pavilion," Commissioner Winston declared.

Norman K. Winston, Commissioner

Nathan Ostroff, Deputy Commissioner

Philip B. George, Assistant Commissioner for Design and Exhibits

Samuel Kingsley, Assistant Commissioner for Administration

Address:

United States Commission to the 1964-5 New York World's Fair 609 West 49th Street New York 20, New York (LT 1-6610)    Room 5896 U.S. Department of Commerce Washington 25, D.C.