Kennedy Center’s Chairman to Resign

Ralph P. Davidson announced Wednesday that he will resign as chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts when his contract expires in February, 1991, because of differences with the center’s board of trustees.

Davidson, a former Time Inc. executive, took command of the national arts center less than two years ago. He is reported to have drawn complaints from the Kennedy Center board of trustees for being a poor manager and the focus of personality clashes.

The 45-member board accepted Davidson’s advance notice of his departure with praise for his “dedication to the center and his many management and programming initiatives.” A search committee was appointed to find a successor.