Gentlemen,

What a lot of people don't realize is that the "Cause" interpretation was placed in the visitor's centers as a result of efforts by Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. To get the NPS to do it, he leveraged their budget and made it to where it had to be put in or else. I know a number of people across the nation that work in the NPS and they were not happy about it but it.

In other words, it was dictated to the NPS and not something they generated themselves.

If I remember correctly, he toured a number of the parks to ensure they were up to his standard.

It wasn't too long after this that Congressman Jackson and his wife were arrested and made a plea deal for fraud, conspiracy, making false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, and criminal forfeiture - having used about $750,000 in campaign money for over 3000 personal purchases. He spent time in Federal prison and I believe his wife is there now.

Respectfully,

Gerald D. Hodge, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)
M.A. Military History - Civil War Concentration
Research - Preservation
Historian: 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
http://39thgavolinfrgt.homestead.com/39thHomepage.html
Athens, Tennessee