Kennedy Center Renamed to Include Donald Trump, Sparks Congressional Review Debate

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was renamed on Thursday to The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. By Friday morning, physical signs on the building were being altered. This action has prompted assertions from some lawmakers that legal changes to the center's name require Congressional approval.While the institution is widely associated with President Kennedy, its conceptualization and development involved three American presidents.## Historical Development### The Eisenhower AdministrationIn 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower initiated efforts to establish a national cultural center in Washington, D.C., referring to it as an "artistic mecca." He subsequently formed a commission to develop what was then known as the National Cultural Center. Three years later, in 1958, Congress passed legislation authorizing the construction of the venue. The stated objectives included presenting classical and contemporary music, opera, drama, dance, and poetry from the United States and international sources. Additionally, Congress mandated the center to offer public programs, including educational initiatives and specific programs for children and older adults.### The Kennedy AdministrationDuring the Kennedy administration, a fundraiser for the center in November 1962 featured notable figures such as conductor Leonard Bernstein, comedian Danny Kaye, poet Robert Frost, and singers Marian Anderson and Harry Belafonte. Performers also included ballerina Maria Tallchief, pianist Van Cliburn, and young musicians Yo-Yo Ma (then 7 years old) and Yeou-Cheng Ma (then 11 years old). Leonard Bernstein introduced the Ma siblings by highlighting their status as new immigrants to the United States.At the event, President Kennedy delivered a statement emphasizing the role of art in a democratic society: "As a great democratic society, we have a special responsibility to the arts — for art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color. The mere accumulation of wealth and power is available to the dictator and the democrat alike; what freedom alone can bring is the liberation of the human mind and spirit which finds its greatest flowering in the free society."President Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, were recognized for their advocacy for the arts at the White House. Kennedy considered the free expression of creativity a crucial component of soft power, particularly during the Cold War, integrating it into a broader national pursuit of excellence encompassing science, technology, and education, in contrast to the Soviet Union. The center, envisioned by Eisenhower, ultimately opened in 1971 and was designated a "living memorial" to Kennedy by Congress after his assassination.### The Johnson AdministrationPhilip Kennicott, art and architecture critic for The Washington Post, stated that the foundational ideas for the Kennedy Center achieved their most complete expression under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson's Great Society initiatives integrated the arts with other fundamental societal needs, promoting popular access and participation. Kennicott noted that while Kennedy established the intellectual framework for the arts as essential to American culture, Johnson significantly expanded this into broader public accessibility.## Operational PhilosophySince its opening, the Kennedy Center has maintained a balance between serving as a major arts institution and a publicly accessible venue. The structure is located on the banks of the Potomac River, featuring a grand design with red and gold interior elements. Despite its grand scale, it offers public access without a ticket, including free concerts, aiming to foster a sense of collective ownership among the public.## Precedent for Name ChangesKennicott projected that any controversies surrounding the new name would likely subside within a few years, drawing a parallel to the renaming of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in 1998. He observed that over time, such name changes typically become an integrated part of public vocabulary, with initial objections fading across generations.