1

Preface

Congress, in Public Law 90-100, found the traffic in obscenity and pornography to be "a matter of national concern." The Federal Government was deemed to have a "responsibility to investigate the gravity of this situation and to determine whether such materials are harmful to the public, and particularly to minors, and whether more effective methods should be devised to control the transmission of such materials." To this end, the Congress established an advisory commission whose purpose was "after a thorough study which shall include a study of the causal relationship of such materials to antisocial behavior, to recommend advisable, appropriate, effective, and constitutional means to deal effectively with such traffic in obscenity and pornography."

Congress assigned four specific tasks:

"(1) with the aid of leading constitutional law authorities, to analyze the laws pertaining to the control of obscenity and pornography; and to evaluate and recommend definitions of obscenity and pornography;

"(2) to ascertain the methods employed in the distribution of obscene and pornographic materials and to explore the nature and volume of traffic in such materials;

"(3) to study the effect of obscenity and pornography upon the public, and particularly minors, and its relationship to crime and other antisocial behavior; and

"(4)

to recommend such legislative, administrative, or other advisable and appropriate action as the Commission deems necessary to regulate effectively the flow of such traffic, without in any way interfering with constitutional rights."

Public Law 90-100 became law in October, 1967, and the President appointed members to the Commission in January, 1968. Funds were appropriated for

1

Upon the resignation from the Commission of Kenneth B. Keating to accept appointment as Ambassador to India, the President appointed Charles H. Keating, Jr., as his replacement in June, 1969. Commissioner Charles H. Keating, Jr., chose not to participate in the discussions and deliberations which led to the formulation of this Report and its recommendations. His views appear in his separate statement.