Politics in library project create concerns

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Some supporters of the state's plan to build an Abraham Lincoln library and museum fear Gov. George Ryan is letting politics interfere with the project.

Ryan and his wife, Lura Lynn, have been active supporters of the $115 million library. They have lobbied for government and private money for a project they say will educate and inform people.

But the governor also has vetoed legislation that would have placed the library under the authority of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. That raised questions about just how the library would be administered.

And Ryan has done nothing to quash rumors that he will name his chief of staff to run the library. He said Robert Newtson is "certainly qualified" despite his lack of training as a historian or museum administrator.

Ryan and Newtson refused to answer any questions about the issue Friday.

The uncertainty concerns people like Rodney Davis, co-director of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College.

He was astonished by Ryan's action against the Historic Preservation Agency, which houses the state's vast collection of Lincoln documents and has overseen development of the library. Davis also doubts Newtson has the expertise to oversee the library's collection, exhibits and budgets.

"There's a large question mark in the minds of just about everybody I've talked to," Davis said.

The situation also puzzles former Gov. Jim Edgar, who launched efforts to build the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

"I always envisioned it would be under Historic Preservation and they would bring in someone of national reputation to head it up. I think it's very important, especially to get it started properly, that you have someone with experience running a museum," Edgar said.