In mid-February, our Foundation received a kind letter from Dr. Gábor Vitán, a retired engineer:
“In a bookstore, among the novelties, I came across a beautifully edited book by your Foundation entitled Otto von Habsburg and the Changes of Regime. Turning over the pages of the book, on page 170, I was delighted to discover my own picture, taken at a conference at the University of Economics on 10 March 1990, back then shot on traditional film. I sent the developed paper picture to President Otto von Habsburg. Part of the story of the picture is that within days I received a kind letter of appreciation from the President, acknowledging and thanking me for the photo, and encouraging us to be optimistic. It was at this conference that he made his famous statement: »Europe is in front of us, and behind us is that pitiful Marx!« (pointing with his hand to the statue behind him). I’m glad that the picture didn’t get lost, and here I see it now in print.”
By return of post, we invited Mr Vitán to our collection and showed him how we process the material, how we came across the photograph he had taken, which was indeed published in our latest book. During the conversation, it also turned out that the retired tried to capture as many public events as possible during the period of the change of regime, some of which – with his kind permission – will be digitized for our Foundation’s collection in the near future.
Such feedback is very important to us, as it is the way for personal interest and reminiscence to become part of a shared historical memory, which we receive funding to nurture. We gratefully gave Mr Vitán – in addition to the complimentary copies for our photographer who unexpectedly turned up – the letter he sent to Otto von Habsburg along with the picture. A few lines of this letter reflect the public mood of the time, but also apply to any situation in which many people are in a state of uncertainty due to developments in world politics and public life.
Gábor Vitán writes:
“The attached photo has become very dear to me, the optimistic, cheerful faces of the President and Professor Szentágothai express the hope and encouragement we need right now.”
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