A museum director who refuses to hand over a piece of his collection to the Trump administration and is forced to resign: that’s what happened in recent days in Kansas, where Todd Arrington, a historian by profession and director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home refused to go along with requests that came from the administration (although it is unclear who made the request to him) and paid for his refusal with his job. This is what sources familiar with the matter told CBS News , according to the U.S. broadcaster.
The museum is based in Abilene, Kansas, Dwight Eisenhower’s hometown: the institution headed by Arrington includes a library, a museum, and the house where Eisenhower spent his childhood and youth, from 1898 to 1911. The Trump administration had asked the director to give up a sword that belonged to Eisenhower to make a gift to King Charles III of England during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the United Kingdom. Arrington reportedly refused on the grounds that the object is the property of the American people: however, he was willing to find an alternative gift. Eventually King Charles was given a replica of the weapon, but State Department officials reportedly insisted, and in the end the director would therefore be faced with an aut aut aut: resignation or dismissal. Arrington himself later confirmed to CBS News the incident, stating that he had never spoken to anyone from the White House, but only to officials in the State Department’s Donations Office and some colleagues in the National Archives.
Arrington, however, did not specify who relayed theaut aut aut to him. The broadcaster also heard from four central administration officials involved in the visit, who were unaware that the library director had left his post and said the White House had no role in his departure. According to the New York Times, Arrington’s departure may also be related to discussions about plans to build a new education center at the Eisenhower Library.
Currently, Arrington is seeking reinstatement. “I’m very sad and upset, and frankly devastated,” he said in an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper, “and I’ve been trying to contact the leadership of the National Archives to basically say that I will do whatever it takes to turn things around. I will personally apologize to anyone who feels an apology is necessary.”
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| US, museum director refuses to hand over collection piece to Trump: forced to resign |
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