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In 1900, the [[United States Congress]] created the [[McMillan Plan|Senate Park Commission]] (also known as the "McMillan Commission" for its chairman, [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[James McMillan (politician)|James McMillan]] (R-[[Michigan|MI]])) to reconcile competing visions for the development of [[Washington, D.C.]], and especially the [[National Mall]] and nearby areas.<ref>Peterson, p. 77-91.</ref> The commission's plan for development of the city, popularly known as the [[McMillan Plan]], proposed the razing of all residences and other buildings on [[President's Park#Lafayette Park|Lafayette Square]] and building tall, [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] government office buildings with facades of white [[marble]] around the square to house executive branch offices.<ref>Peterson, p. 94.</ref> It also proposed clearing large spaces north and south of the [[National Mall]], realigning some streets, and constructing major new museums and public buildings along the Mall's length.<ref>Bednar, p. 49-51.</ref> The commission also proposed significant expansion of the district's park system, the creation of a system of [[parkway]]s, and extensive renovation and beautification of existing parks.<ref>Davis, p. 137-180.</ref> Over the next few years, the President and Congress established several new agencies to supervise the approval, design, and construction of new buildings in the [[District of Columbia]] to carry out the McMillan Plan: The Commission of Fine Arts in 1910 to review and advise on the design of new structures, the Public Buildings Commission in 1916 to make recommendations regarding the construction of buildings to house federal agencies and offices, and the [[National Capital Planning Commission|National Capital Parks and Planning Commission]] in 1924 to oversee planning for the District.<ref>Cannadine, p. 373-374.</ref>
In 1900, the [[United States Congress]] created the [[McMillan Plan|Senate Park Commission]] (also known as the "McMillan Commission" for its chairman, [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[James McMillan (politician)|James McMillan]] (R-[[Michigan|MI]])) to reconcile competing visions for the development of [[Washington, D.C.]], and especially the [[National Mall]] and nearby areas.<ref>Peterson, p. 77-91.</ref> The commission's plan for development of the city, popularly known as the [[McMillan Plan]], proposed the razing of all residences and other buildings on [[President's Park#Lafayette Park|Lafayette Square]] and building tall, [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] government office buildings with facades of white [[marble]] around the square to house executive branch offices.<ref>Peterson, p. 94.</ref> It also proposed clearing large spaces north and south of the [[National Mall]], realigning some streets, and constructing major new museums and public buildings along the Mall's length.<ref>Bednar, p. 49-51.</ref> The commission also proposed significant expansion of the district's park system, the creation of a system of [[parkway]]s, and extensive renovation and beautification of existing parks.<ref>Davis, p. 137-180.</ref> Over the next few years, the President and Congress established several new agencies to supervise the approval, design, and construction of new buildings in the [[District of Columbia]] to carry out the McMillan Plan: The Commission of Fine Arts in 1910 to review and advise on the design of new structures, the Public Buildings Commission in 1916 to make recommendations regarding the construction of buildings to house federal agencies and offices, and the [[National Capital Planning Commission|National Capital Parks and Planning Commission]] in 1924 to oversee planning for the District.<ref>Cannadine, p. 373-374.</ref>


On January 11, 1909, a committee of the [[American Institute of Architects]] (AIA) asked President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] to establish an independent federal agency to advise the government on architecture, bridges, painting, parks, sculpture, and other artistic works requiring design. Roosevelt wrote back the same day, agreeing to the proposal.<ref>Kohler, ''The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, 1910–1995'', p. 2.</ref> On January 19, 1909, Roosevelt issued [[Executive order|Executive Order]] 1010, establishing a Council of Fine Arts. He requested that the AIA name 30 individuals to the council, and he instructed the [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] to seek the council's advice in matters of architecture, building site selection, landscaping, painting, and sculpture.<ref>Kohler, ''The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, 1910–1995'', p. 2-3.</ref> The Council met only once, on February 9, 1909,<ref>{{cite web|last=Kohler|first=Sue|date=March 20, 2009|title=The Commission of Fine Arts: Implementing the Senate Park Commission's Vision|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/ncr/designing-capital/sec6.html|website=Designing the Nation's Capital: The 1901 Plan for Washington, D.C.|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref><ref>Charles Moore, CFA chairman from 1912 to 1915, puts the date of the meeting at February 10, 1909, but the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' reported on February 10, 1909, that the council had met the previous day.. See: [https://books.google.com/books?id=vWgAAAAAYAAJ&dq=Taft+revoked+Executive+Order+Council+of+Fine+Arts&pg=PA120 Moore, p. 120], accessed 2012-10-13; "Arts Council Meets." ''Washington Post.'' February 10, 1909.</ref> during which it approved the site (suggested by the McMillan Commission) for the [[Lincoln Memorial]].<ref>Partridge and Helrich, p. 313.</ref>
On January 11, 1909, a committee of the [[American Institute of Architects]] (AIA) asked President Theodore Roosevelt to establish an independent federal agency to advise the government on architecture, bridges, painting, parks, sculpture, and other artistic works requiring design. Roosevelt wrote back the same day, agreeing to the proposal.<ref>Kohler, ''The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, 1910–1995'', p. 2.</ref> On January 19, 1909, Roosevelt issued [[Executive order|Executive Order]] 1010, establishing a Council of Fine Arts. He requested that the AIA name 30 individuals to the council, and he instructed the [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] to seek the council's advice in matters of architecture, building site selection, landscaping, painting, and sculpture.<ref>Kohler, ''The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, 1910–1995'', p. 2-3.</ref> The Council met only once, on February 9, 1909,<ref>{{cite web|last=Kohler|first=Sue|date=March 20, 2009|title=The Commission of Fine Arts: Implementing the Senate Park Commission's Vision|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/ncr/designing-capital/sec6.html|website=Designing the Nation's Capital: The 1901 Plan for Washington, D.C.|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref><ref>Charles Moore, CFA chairman from 1912 to 1915, puts the date of the meeting at February 10, 1909, but the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' reported on February 10, 1909, that the council had met the previous day.. See: [https://books.google.com/books?id=vWgAAAAAYAAJ&dq=Taft+revoked+Executive+Order+Council+of+Fine+Arts&pg=PA120 Moore, p. 120], accessed 2012-10-13; "Arts Council Meets." ''Washington Post.'' February 10, 1909.</ref> during which it approved the site (suggested by the McMillan Commission) for the [[Lincoln Memorial]].<ref>Partridge and Helrich, p. 313.</ref>


[[William Howard Taft]] was inaugurated as president in March 1909. Taft revoked Executive Order 1010 on May 21, 1909.<ref>[[s:Executive Order 1074|"Revoking Executive Order of January 19, 1909, Which Appointed the Council of Fine Arts." Executive Order 1074.]] William Howard Taft. May 21, 1909.</ref><ref name="Partridge311">Partridge and Helrich, p. 311.</ref><ref name="Kohler3">Kohler, ''The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, 1910–1995'', p. 3.</ref> There are differing explanations for Taft's actions. Historians Sue Kohler and Christopher Thomas state that Taft supported the idea of a fine arts commission, but wanted it to have a basis in legislation.<ref name="Kohler3" /><ref name="Thomas">Thomas, p. 36.</ref> But a contemporary report in the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' noted that the council was highly controversial, and Congress had passed legislation prohibiting the expenditure of funds for any federal body not established by law. The newspaper said the legislation was intended to defund the Council of Fine Arts.<ref>"Art Council No More." ''Washington Post.'' May 27, 1909.</ref>
[[William Howard Taft]] was inaugurated as president in March 1909. Taft revoked Executive Order 1010 on May 21, 1909.<ref>[[s:Executive Order 1074|"Revoking Executive Order of January 19, 1909, Which Appointed the Council of Fine Arts." Executive Order 1074.]] William Howard Taft. May 21, 1909.</ref><ref name="Partridge311">Partridge and Helrich, p. 311.</ref><ref name="Kohler3">Kohler, ''The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, 1910–1995'', p. 3.</ref> There are differing explanations for Taft's actions. Historians Sue Kohler and Christopher Thomas state that Taft supported the idea of a fine arts commission, but wanted it to have a basis in legislation.<ref name="Kohler3" /><ref name="Thomas">Thomas, p. 36.</ref> But a contemporary report in the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' noted that the council was highly controversial, and Congress had passed legislation prohibiting the expenditure of funds for any federal body not established by law. The newspaper said the legislation was intended to defund the Council of Fine Arts.<ref>"Art Council No More." ''Washington Post.'' May 27, 1909.</ref>
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