Text of the Jan. 29 letter from President Reagan to Senator Orrin G. Hatch, chairman of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, on his decision not to seek abolition of the Education Department:
Dear Orrin,
This will respond to questions raised regarding the Administration’s position on the existence of the Department of Education during your committee’s hearing on the nomination of Dr. William J. Bennett to be Secretary of Education.
As you know I have previously recommended the abolition of the Department of Education. This was because I believed that Federal educational programs could be administered effectively without a cabinet-level agency. While I still feel that this is the best approach, that proposal has received very little support in the Congress. In nominating Dr. Bennett to be Secretary of Education, I have chosen a proven, capable administrator with an unquestioned commitment to excellence in education who will be able to present me with thoughtful, constructive views on ways to improve the Federal role in education. I have no intention of recommending abolition of the Department to the Congress at this time; rather, I have asked Dr. Bennett to advise me on the best ways possible for the Federal government to assist in improving American education.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
