Judge Lewis's Masterly Public Relations Campaign

Over a decade had elapsed since George Nitzche first broached the idea of a national park in Philadelphia. Since the seminal meeting in the Architects Building, judge Lewis, using as his vehicle first the Independence Hall Association and then the Shrines Commission, had conducted a masterly public relations campaign, skillfully coordinated a successful lobbying effort, and supervised research and planning. He had garnered support from federal, state, and local government, from the Philadelphia newspapers, and from a host of civic and patriotic organizations. He had overseen production of a document impressive for both its bulk and its rhetoric. Now, after all the years of effort, the question of whether there would be a national park in Philadelphia rested with the federal government.