A poetry reading, one of several held around the country, was organized as an alternative to a postponed White House poetry symposium on the works of Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman. The original conference, planned as part of a series of White House literary events showcasing American literature, was reportedly cancelled because of concerns that the event would be used as a political forum. 

Before the readings, Sam Hamill was interviewed by telephone. He refused to attend the White House symposium and started instead website, www.poetsagainstthewar.org, and helped organize the poetry readings. There is also a website www.poetsforthewar.org.