The politics of federal support for education is discussed, with attention to education policy formation and current themes and future directions for education policy that may flow from legislative history. The analysis is based on personal experiences as a U.S. Representative for over two decades and as president of America's largest private university. During the years between 1959 and 1980 there were intense struggles over the scope and direction of federal support for education. Consideration is given to how specific pieces of education legislation were developed and factors and forces that animate the legislative process in the U.S. political system. Themes that have emerged from the recent debate on education are addressed, along with major features of the political and economic climate that will determine whether and how these themes are translated into concrete action proposals. A philosophical analysis covers the relationship between education and democracy. The question of education for citizenship is addressed at a time when there are signs of the failure of United States citizens to understand the languages and cultures of other peoples of the world and even how the U.S. system of government works. (SW)