University of Virginia Library

Corporation Problems Explained

In a series of speeches
delivered at the University of
California last month, John W.
Macy Jr., former CPB president,
explained some problems the
corporation had run into.
When Congress and President
Johnson had first acted on the
program in 1967, long range
financing was needed to shield
the new broadcast media from
future tampering
through annual
appropriations. This feature of
the commission's enactment
bill had to be dropped however
to ensure Congressional
passage.

At the time of its
conception, much debate
focused on the need for
adequate insulation from
potential interference from its
sponsor. It was hoped that
proper insulation could be
achieved, not only through
long term funding, but also by
creating a governing board
made up of non-political
business leaders with varied
backgrounds.