Several weeks ago, when the news that the RWers were going to introduce legislation to remove FDR from the dime and replace with Reagan, several of us brought the history of FDR and his support for the polio effort through the March of Dimes to your attention. A request to contact both Congress and the March of Dimes to give support was made.
While I think the March of Dimes was caught off guard ininitially, I just received an email from them that they are mobilizing to stop this.
Please check out this request for help and do what you can. The good news is that the USATODAY poll was overwhelmingly in favor of keeping FDR when I last checked. But we all know that that hasn't stopped the Martyr Reagan movement before. Thanks for your help
http://www.marchofdimes.com/aboutus/855_10592.asp?BrCs=153&BrCg=7701249&BrRc=677656405&BrCv=639832328Message from the March of Dimes follows:
Help Us Keep FDR on the Dime!
There is currently an effort in Congress to remove March of Dimes founder President Franklin D. Roosevelt from the dime. The March of Dimes strongly opposes this effort and urges you to contact your Member of Congress and vote in the USA Today poll to keep FDR on the dime.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-12-05-reagan-dime_x.htm
The profile of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was placed on the dime in 1946 to memorialize his 4 term Presidency, his fight to find a vaccine to prevent polio, and the volunteer movement epitomized by the March of Dimes. The coin is symbolic of the struggle to end polio through the "March of Dimes" campaign and the worldwide eradication of polio is expected in 2005. The FDR dime is a vehicle through which to explain what the volunteer spirit in America means, it would be tragic to lose that.
Please call or write your Representative and ask that he or she oppose any effort to remove FDR from the dime. Your Representative can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121 or visit the U.S. House of Representatives Web site to obtain the address for your Representative.