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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > General Civil War Talk > Time to resign, Dr. Latschar |
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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > General Civil War Talk > Time to resign, Dr. Latschar |
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| Moderated by: javal1 |
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| Time to resign, Dr. Latschar | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21st, 2009 06:45 pm |
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1st Post |
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javal1 Grumpy Geezer 
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From The Hanover Sun, 10/21/09: Time to resign, Dr. Latschar EDITORIAL Posted: 10/21/2009 01:00:00 AM EDT Just last week, the National Trust for Historic Preservation in a press release called Gettysburg Battlefield Superintendent John Latschar "the unstoppable steward of America's most sacred soil." But the Trust's preservation award to Latschar was last week. This week, The Washington Post reported Latschar had viewed more than 3,400 sexually explicit images on his office computer, according to an internal Park Service memo obtained by the newspaper. Although it's important to wait until all the facts are in before reaching conclusions, no one in an official position is denying the story, or offering alternative explanations, including Latschar himself. Se we will take The Washington Post at its word. And according to the Post's memo, Latschar signed a sworn statement that he had viewed the "inappropriate" pictures and knew it was wrong while he was doing so. In the last year, Latschar has been cleared of wrongdoing by government investigators looking into the finances of the visitor center and other park projects. He's been given awards by three national preservation groups. So Latschar might seem unstoppable to both friends and enemies. But these recent revelations might well end his tenure as superintendent, or at least they ought to. We hope Latschar will do the right thing, the honorable thing, and resign so that Gettysburg can put this behind it. If he resigns with dignity, we hope his legacy of strong support for battlefield preservation won't be too tarnished by these allegations of human weakness. John Latschar has always been a divisive figure in Gettysburg. The three members of The Evening Sun editorial board don't agree on many of his plans and policies for the park - the demolition of the National Tower, the cutting of non-historic trees or the decision to charge admission to the new museum, to give a few examples. To some he is a blunt, but effective steward; to others, an arrogant tyrant. But the three of us are agreed Latschar cannot continue as an effective leader for "America's most sacred soil." No doubt there are those for whom this is but the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back - an ironic ending to a legacy they feel deserved condemnation, not celebration, from the beginning. They wonder why the memo - written to higher-ups by an investigator looking into park finances - wasn't part of the final report. They wonder what else is out there that hasn't been leaked to The Washington Post. But we refuse to speculate, or gloat or take pleasure in the public embarrassment of a man we believe has had the best interests of the national battlefield at heart. This is a sad day for Gettysburg. But we believe these allegations, by themselves, constitute sufficient reason for Latschar's tenure to end. The superintendent of the nation's most important Civil War battlefield must command respect. After this, though, Latschar can only be the punch line to a smarmy joke so long as he stays on the job. It's time to get serious, Dr. Latschar, and resign. If you're the man at least some of us think you are, you'll do what's best for history, and for the battlefield.
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