ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), as the oldest surviving institution created by the federal government and devoted exclusively to development of one region. The Appalachian Regional Commission had its origins in the 1960 presidential election campaign, and in the primary race between John Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey that preceded it. The growth centre concept, enshrined in both ARC and Economic Development Administration (EDA) legislation but applied in different ways by the two agencies, was described as 'irrelevant,' 'inappropriate,' or 'inapplicable' by the Local Development District staff."The ARC is a good illustration of the maxim "In the United States the regional development authority is called the Senate." Since every state in the Union has two senators, every state has equal power in the Senate. This political power in the Senate goes a long way towards an explanation of why the ARC and the EDA have survived, despite the efforts of presidents Reagan and Bush to kill them.
