The FDR Memorial Wheelchair Controversy and a Taking Part' Workshop Experience

摘要

At the long awaited dedication of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in 1996 several prominent individuals who had championed the needs and rights of disabled people for American citizens cornered President Clinton-some say nearly pinned him to one of Lawrence Halprin's monumental stone walls-and demanded that he see to it that the fact that President Roosevelt was paralyzed and could not walk be publicly acknowledged and celebrated as part of his extraordinary life and achievement. For them, what they perceived as a continuing silence on this topic was tantamount to a deception, and unforgivable. Clinton, by nature a conciliatory and genuinely empathetic personality acceded to their request on the spot, and assured them that he would take care of it. At the first session of Congress on January 7th of 1997 through congressional allies of the President a joint resolution was introduced and passed with the following language: