The National Endowment for the Humanities has not cancelled
 the National Conversation.

 A number of inquiries have come into the National Endowment
 for the Humanities about whether the National Conversation
 has been "abandoned."  We assume this is in response to the
 Chronicle of Higher Education's inaccurate lead of November
 24, 1995.

 The following facts indicate where the Conversation really
 is:

 1. In March 1996 the NEH National Council will review the
 final round of "special competition" grants.

 2. The endowment-wide National Conversation grant process
 will conitnue at least through 1996.

 3. There will be a spring meeting in Washington, DC, of all
 project leaders from funded grant applicants.  Project
 leaders have met before in Washington, and this has not only
 proven to be valuable but has resulted in the creation of
 the _National COnversation Newsletter_.  This next meeting
 will increase the role in providing informationto all who
 might be interested in starting a conversation on their own.
 To become a clearinghouse of information was always part of
 the original idea, in November 1993.  This form of support
 should insure a long and successful life for the National
 Conversation initiative.

 4. The Chairman of the Endowment will report back to the
 nation later in 1996 on the status of this highly succesful,
 almost three-year-old idea.

 5. If you have further questions, please call
 1-800-NEH-1121, or e-mail xxxxxx@NEH.FFED.US.

          Thank you.