President Johnson establishes National Endowment for the Humanities 50 years ago this hour (Sep 29 1965)

1960s, U.S. Presidents

(Wednesday, September 29, 1965, 9:50-10:25 a.m. EDT) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 today, creating the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.

During the signing ceremony, the president said the measure would create an American Film Institute (click here to watch video of the event).