Prepared Remarks of Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero at panel discussion, 鈥淧olitical Rules of the Road.鈥澨� 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
October 21, 2010
Who is the Archivist?
The Archivist of the United States is the head of our agency, appointed by the President of the United States.
What's an Archivist?
Good evening.
I am David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and welcome to the 威尼斯人娱乐场.
Before we begin tonight鈥檚 program, I鈥檇 like to tell you about two other programs coming up soon here in the McGowan Theater.
On Thursday, October 28, at 7 p.m., we will show John Ford鈥檚 1927 movie, Upstream. It was one of 75 lost American films recently discovered in New Zealand.
The screening is sponsored by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in partnership with the Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film and the Foundation for the 威尼斯人娱乐场. We will also screen a trailer with the only known surviving footage of the 1929 John Ford film, Strong Boy.
On Friday, November 5 at 7 p.m., we will present the Sixth Annual McGowan Forum on Communications.
This year, we will have a special screening of the documentary, Long Distance Warrior: A New Documentary about the Most Famous Entrepreneur You鈥檝e Never Heard Of. This documentary tells the compelling story of William G. McGowan, the man who took on the most powerful monopoly of his time鈥擜T&T鈥攁nd transformed long-distance service from luxury to affordability.
This program is generously supported by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc.
To find out more about these and all of our public programs and exhibits, please refer to our monthly Calendar of Events.听
Copies are in the lobby鈥斺�攁long with a sign-up sheet so you can receive the Calendar by regular mail or e-mail.
You鈥檒l also find in the lobby brochures about other 威尼斯人娱乐场 programs and activities.
Another way to get more involved in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of our Foundation.
The Foundation for the 威尼斯人娱乐场 supports the work of the agency, especially education and outreach programs. Pick up your application for membership in the lobby.
And finally, the next time you鈥檙e at the 威尼斯人娱乐场鈥攊n person or online鈥攕top by the Archives Shop.听 Visit it one floor up or through
Archives.gov.听 You鈥檒l find an assortment of products and publications about the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and its holdings.
Now, on with the program.
Tonight, our topic is 鈥淧olitical Rules of the Road.鈥� Four distinguished former members of Congress have joined us to talk about campaigning for office as well as dealing with constituents and the media during their years in elective office.
I believe the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is the appropriate venue for this program, since we hold the official records of the House of Representatives and Senate.听
These extraordinary collections document the history of Congress from 1789 to the present, showing how representative government has operated and evolved throughout our history.
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Tonight鈥檚 panel will add personal accounts to that official record, telling us their ground-level stories of how government and politics really work during our own tumultuous time.
I want to thank our partners for tonight鈥檚 event, the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida.
Tonight鈥檚 discussion will be moderated by Ken Rudin, political editor for NPR, where he directs campaign coverage for the network.
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Ken has analyzed every congressional race in the nation since 1984.听
From 1983 through 1991, Ken was at ABC News, where he served as deputy political director. He joined NPR in 1991, as its first political editor. He spent three years as managing editor of the Hotline before returning to NPR in 1998.听
Ken . . .