A research project used a Cornell University library search, online computer catalogs, the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database back to 1967, government publications, and Dissertation Abstracts International for the Social Sciences for the past 30 years to investigate the Federal Government's role in working to solve adult illiteracy problems. The search found that for more than 2 decades, the Federal Government has taken a measure of responsibility for adult education, its principal effort being the Adult Education Act through which Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs are offered. The government's ABE program began in 1964 under the Economic Opportunity Act. Another program, Right to Read, began operating in 1971, but was declared a failure 6 years after it began. The Adult Literacy Initiative was established in the Reagan Administration to encourage volunteer programs of literacy tutoring and to make literacy a national priority. Funding for adult literacy programs has grown steadily, but still falls short of meeting the need. The literature also suggests that although volunteer efforts have been very helpful, a trained professional force of literacy educators is needed. The study concluded that an effort coordinated and "energized" by the Federal Government would stand a greater chance of success than the small and fragmented programs that now exist. (77 references) (KC)