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January 21, 2000/7 Shevat 5760, Vol. 52, No.20
Lerman quits post at museum
MICHAEL SHAPIRO
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - After 22 years of helping to lead the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum through its successes and controversies, Miles Lerman has decided that it is time for him to scale back his role at the institution.
Lerman told President Clinton last week that he plans to step down as chairman of the museum's council, a title he has held for the past six years. He was a driving force behind the museum's creation since 1978, when he was appointed by President Carter to a commission tasked with studying how to remember Holocaust victims.
In an interview last week, Lerman said he would stay on as chairman until the president selects a successor from one of the council's 55 members. He also said he would remain on the council's executive committee.
While the museum has enjoyed a great deal of success during Lerman's tenure, there also have been a number of well-publicized controversies that have tarnished the institution's reputation. Lerman insisted that criticism from these episodes did not play into his decision to step down. Other members of the council said he was not forced out.
Lerman said he began discussing with his family the possibility of stepping down three years ago, and feels now is the right time for a change.
"Transition is healthy for any organization," he said.
During the interview, Lerman, who is nearly 80 but only admitted to being "older than 51," excitedly listed what he describes as the museum's "fabulous accomplishments." Since the museum opened its doors 6 1/2 years ago, nearly 14 million people have visited the museum, which has become almost a required stop for most tourists in Washington.
"This museum is more than just a museum," Lerman said. "We are a moral platform."
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