House members press Smithsonian witnesses on portrayal of the nation's founding

Members of the House Administration Committee pressed witnesses on whether Smithsonian exhibits present a complete account of the nation's founding or selectively emphasize particular themes.

A committee member asked whether the truth of the past can be "reframed" by highlighting one aspect and not the whole story. "Is it possible to reshape or as the word that we've heard here, reframe, the truth of our past by only highlighting 1 aspect or displaying 1 aspect of it and not the entirety?" the committee member asked. Mr. Gonzales replied, "Yes. It is. And I believe that's what the leadership of the Smithsonian is doing, and they're telling us they're doing it." The exchange framed the committee's concern that museum leadership may be emphasizing some narratives at the expense of others.

The committee member, who identified himself as a historian and author, said museum visitors often do not see elements he considers central to the founding story. He cited the Declaration of Independence and the 250th anniversary observances as moments when particular lines and themes have been emphasized, and said other parts of the founding-era record  including references to religious language and to early condemnations of slavery in Jefferson's draft  are not being shown prominently.

The hearing did not include a formal response from Smithsonian leadership in this excerpt; Dr. Harding, a witness asked later in the sequence, described museum practice and counts of objects and labels but did not directly concede or deny the selective-curation allegation in the segments provided.