QUICK TAKES - Aug. 8, 2009
The Senate gave its approval Friday to President Obama’s choices to head the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Rocco Landesman, 62, the colorful head of Broadway’s Jujamcyn Theaters, was seen by many as a strange but welcome selection to head the troubled NEA, which has been reeling from years of budget cuts and accusations of irrelevancy. Landesman has had a hand in producing such high-profile shows as Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” and Mel Brooks’ “The Producers.”
Jim Leach, 66, a former Republican congressman from Iowa, is expected to assume his new position atop the humanities endowment in a few days.
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David Ng
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