Editing Art Linkletter (section)

==Later years==
In the 1960s, Linkletter started a dance school, the Art Linkletter School of Jazz, Tap, and Ballet, in [[Pomona, California|Pomona]] and [[Claremont, California|Claremont]], California.

After three public meetings in 1967, an eight-member Los Angeles City Council committee cleared Linkletter and City Council Member [[Tom Shepard]] of charges that they were linked in a scheme to influence city purchase of the "financially troubled" [[Valley Music Theater]] in [[Woodland Hills, Los Angeles|Woodland Hills]].<ref>Erwin Baker, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55536300/ "Probe Clears Councilman and Linkletter"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', August 5, 1967, page 3.</ref>

In 1988, he appeared as himself on the syndicated sitcom ''[[Small Wonder (TV series)|Small Wonder]]'' in the episode "Come Fly With Me." At one point he was a spokesman for National Home Life, an insurance company.

===Activism===
A [[Republican Party (United States)|registered Republican]] who campaigned for his old friend [[Ronald Reagan]] for [[President of the United States]], Linkletter became a political organizer and a spokesman for the United Seniors Association, now known as [[USA Next]], an alternative to the [[AARP]]. As part of this role, Linkletter was active in campaigning for more stringent restrictions on elderly motorists. He was also a member of the [[President's Council on Service and Civic Participation]] (which ended in November 2008).

In 1978, he wrote the foreword to the bestselling self-help book ''Release Your Brakes!'' by James W. Newman, in which he wrote, "I believe none of us should ever stop growing, learning, changing, and being curious about what's going to happen next. None of us is perfect, so we should be eager to learn more and try to be more effective persons in every part of our lives."

In 2005, at the age of 93, he opened the [[Happiest Homecoming on Earth]] celebrations for the 50th anniversary of [[Disneyland Park (Anaheim)|Disneyland]]. Half a century earlier, he had been the commentator on the opening day celebrations in 1955. For this, he was named a [[Disney Legend]].

===Philanthropy===
Linkletter invested wisely,<ref name="NYTobit"/> enabling his considerable philanthropy. A member of [[Pepperdine University]]'s [[Board of Regents]], Linkletter was also a long-term trustee at [[Springfield College]], where he donated funds to build the swimming center named in his honor, the Art Linkletter Natatorium.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martel |first=Alli |title=Library Services: Building & Grounds Collections: Linkletter Natatorium (RG 131) |url=https://library.springfield.edu/building-and-grounds-collections/linkletter-natatorium |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=library.springfield.edu |language=en}}</ref>

===Awards and honors===
Linkletter received a lifetime achievement [[Daytime Emmy]] award in 2003. He was inducted into the [[National Speakers Association]] Speaker Hall of Fame. He also received honorary degrees from several universities, including his alma mater, San Diego State University; [[Pepperdine University]]; and the [[University of Prince Edward Island]]. For his contribution to television, he was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], located on 1560 Vine Street. Linkletter received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] presented by Awards Council member [[Lowell Thomas]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/}}</ref>