Joint Resolution Signed by Congress
Jimmy Carter's signature began the official process of creating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Washington Post Article "A Vietnam Memorial" (1980-03-22) by Jan Scruggs and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, wrote an opinion piece for The Washington Post on why it is necessary to create a Vietnam Memorial.
Scruggs sought to bring together a nation which had been divided by the war.
Personal Note from Mrs Kielich (1980-11-17) by Kathie Kielich and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
"We would appreciate it if you could bring this to Mrs. Reagan's attention as soon as possible. Sincerely-
Mrs. Kielich
P.S. We're next door!"
Personal note attached to a letter to Mrs. Reagan.
Letter to Mrs.Reagan (1980-11-17) by Jan Scruggs and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Jan Scruggs' letter to Mrs. Reagan to request her to join the National Sponsoring Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
Design Program
The Design Program booklet gave competitors details of the Memorial site, and description of the site where the Vietnam Veterans Memorial would be located.
Inside the first pages of the Design Program.
Description of the Memorial site, vegetation, sub-soil conditions, topography, and other details of the area.
Details of how visitors would view the Memorial on foot.
Left side describes the outside noise of the Mall, and details other places and memorials to visit.
Right side provides aerial views of the proposed location.
Different views from inside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site, in varying seasons.
Varied views looking towards the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site.
Requirements of the Memorial design, and what is required in the Memorial.
How to ship design entries, and how to identify competitors.
Back pages of the Design Program.
Pamphlet to help raise funds for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Memorial was created with all private donations, no government funds.
Inside the pamphlet, which details the purpose behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Fact Sheet
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund released a fact sheet, in 1980, to share their motives with the public. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) would regularly update their fact sheets to keep the public, and all donors, aware of their progress.
Information Sheet
The information sheet updated the public on the status of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Competition and funding behind the Memorial.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Fund Fact Sheet (1981-03) by Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Fund fact sheet so the VVMF could be fully transparent about their use of donations.
Competition Winner Announcement
Three page letter which announced the winner of the design competition. It also described the selection committee which selected the winning contestant, Maya Lin.
The underline was made by a White House official, which gives a glimpse into what the White House found most important about the announcement.
These concept images of the winning design were released to the public after the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation announced the winner.
Backside of the concept image booklet.
The pamphlet announced the winner of the design competition. It also lists the runners-up and the honorable mentions.
11-12-1982 Photo op of unidentified people holding a Vietnam War Memorial Plaque on the White House groundsU.S. National Archives
Group of unidentified people holding a plaque of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial design
Mrs.Reagan Thank You Letter by Nancy Reagan and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Mrs. Reagan's thank you notes to people who donated over $500. Those donors included Henry Kissinger and Martha Stewart.
Statement by Maya Lin on her Winning Design by Maya Lin and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
The statement by Maya Lin is marked up by a White House official, which shows what the White House saw as important aspects of the Memorial.
Maya Lin described why she created the Vietnam Veterans Memorial the way she did.
Critical Letter to Jeffrey John (1981-05-11) by Eric V. Bleicken and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Many people were vocally upset about the winning Memorial design. This is one Vietnam vet who was very unhappy about the design, and he believed the monument would only bring negative connotations of the Vietnam War to future generations.
Much of the criticism towards the design had to do with people feeling the Memorial was an apology, not a celebration.
New York Times Article on Maya Lin (1981-06-11) by Paul Goldberger and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
One of the few positive articles on Maya Lin, which was published in The New York Times.
Some of the glowing description for Maya Lin's design.
"Stop That Monument" by The National Review (1981-09-18) by The National Review and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
The National Review was much more negative about the Memorial. The believed the monument was a disgrace and insult to Vietnam veterans.
The author painted the Memorial as an insult to Vietnam Veterans, and that the Memorial should be thrown into a tidal flat.
Thomas Carhart's Letter to the Fine Arts Commission, Page 1 of 5 (1981-10-13) by Thomas Carhart and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Thomas Carhart wrote to the U.S. Fine Arts Commission stating his issues and problems with the selection process used by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation in choosing a winner.
Thomas Carhart's Letter to the Fine Arts Commission, Page 2 of 5 (1981-10-13) by Thomas Carhart and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
One of the issues Carhart had with the selection process was the fact that no one in the selection committee had served in Vietnam.
Thomas Carhart's Letter to the Fine Arts Commission, Page 3 of 5 (1981-10-13) by Thomas Carhart and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Carhart stated that when he came home from Vietnam he was spat upon, and that this Memorial design fits the narrative of the Vietnam Veteran as the enemy to the American people.
Thomas Carhart's Letter to the Fine Arts Commission, Page 4 of 5 (1981-10-13) by Thomas Carhart and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Carhart felt that the black marble of the memorial was out of place in Washington D.C., and he described the only other black facade memorials in the area. The other black facade memorials were all heroic, and the Vietnam Memorial did not fit that heroic theme.
Thomas Carhart's Letter to the Fine Arts Commission, Page 5 of 5 (1981-10-13) by Thomas Carhart and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Carhart does not want a Vietnam Memorial which feels like an apology. He wants his service to be treated with "grace and dignity."
James Webb resigned from the VVMF after disagreeing with the design of the Memorial, as well as the selection process.
James Webb letter, Page 1 of 2 by James Webb and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
The letter by Webb detailed the changes he sought to be made, which are the reasons behind his resignation.
James Webb letter, Page 2 of 2 by James Webb and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Final two points by Webb.
Members of the House of Representatives sent an additional letter to the White House expressing their disdain for the proposed design of the Memorial.
Signatures of different members of the House of Representatives, who were against the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Critical Letter (1981-11-25) by Frederick R. Daly and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Critical letter to the White House about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Government Record of Daly's Critical Letter (1981-11-25) by Mike Deaver and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Government record of Daly's critical letter
"What is this about"
The Compromise
Ross Perot brokered a compromise to allow the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The compromise added an American flag, a heroic statue, and the inscription to be rewritten.
Letter from the American Legion professing support for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The American Legion argued that controversy for the design did not come about until 1982. As previously seen, disparaging letters came immediately following the public announcement of the design.
Unsell's Strongly Worded Letter (1982-03-23) by Lloyd N. Unsell and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives
Lloyd Unsell was a supporter of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and he wrote a strongly worded letter to a person who disparaged the Memorial's design.
National Salute to Vietnam Veterans
Handwritten rough draft schedule for the National Salute to Vietnam Veterans
Handwritten Rough Draft Schedule of the National Salute to Vietnam Veterans, Page 2 of 2 by Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and Ronald Reagan Presidential LibraryU.S. National Archives