Welcome Remarks for "Frank and Al: FDR, Al Smith, and the Unlikely Alliance that Created the Modern Democratic Party"
Welcome Remarks for "Frank and Al: FDR, Al Smith, and the Unlikely Alliance that Created the Modern Democratic Party"
McGowan Theater,听威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
December 11, 2018
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Good afternoon, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased you could join us today, whether you are here in the theater or joining us through Facebook or YouTube.
Before we hear from Terry Golway about his new book Frank and Al: FDR, Al Smith, and the Unlikely Alliance that Created the Modern Democratic Party, I鈥檇 like to tell you about two other programs happening next month in the McGowan Theater.
On Thursday, January 10, at noon, we鈥檒l hear from Brad Meltzer about his new book, The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot Against George Washington. He鈥檒l tell us about the time when members of George Washington鈥檚 bodyguards plotted with New York Governor William Tryon to launch a deadly plot against the commanding general.
Then on Thursday, January 17, at 7 p.m., join us for a World War I Armistice Tribute Concert, a special concert in honor of the centennial anniversary of Armistice Day. Musicians from the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" will perform works by six well-known composers active in post鈥揥orld War I France.
Check our website, Archives.gov, or sign up at the table outside the theater to get email updates. You鈥檒l also find information about other 威尼斯人娱乐场 programs and activities.
Another way to get more involved with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Visit its website鈥�补谤肠丑颈惫别蝉蹿辞耻苍诲补迟颈辞苍.辞谤驳鈥�to learn more about the Foundation and join online.
One of the satisfying things about attending these author lectures is seeing the tangible results of countless hours of research in primary documents鈥攅specially those in the custody of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and the Presidential libraries. Those of us who work here know that our records contain innumerable stories, but it takes dedicated storytellers to share them with the wider world.
Sam Roberts, reviewing Frank and Al in the New York Times, stated that 鈥�Frank & Al is the latest of Mr. Golway鈥檚 several captivating books on New York politics. He delivers once again, with a timely narrative on the centennial of Smith鈥檚 first election as governor.鈥�
The stories, as I said, begin in the records, and it is the 威尼斯人娱乐场鈥� mission to preserve them and make them accessible to those who need them. It鈥檚 gratifying to read an author鈥檚 thanks to the work of our archival staff for helping him or her navigate the boxes of records. In the Acknowledgments section of Frank and Al, Terry Golway thanked by name several staff members at the Roosevelt Presidential Library, but I鈥檓 sure what makes them fill with pride is his statement: 鈥淭he bulk of my research took place in one of my favorite places on earth, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Museum and Library in Hyde Park, New York.鈥�
Thousands of researchers come through our research rooms each year, and we hope most of them consider the various 威尼斯人娱乐场 locations their 鈥渇avorite places鈥� too.
Now it鈥檚 time to hear from Mr. Golway and learn about the special relationship between 鈥淔rank and Al.鈥�
Terry Golway is a senior editor at Politico States, responsible for New York state political coverage out of Albany. He has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is the author of more than a dozen books, including Machine Made: Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American Politics and Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution.
He was a member of the New York Times' editorial board, city editor of the New York Observer, and a columnist for the Irish Echo. He holds a Ph.D. in U.S. history from Rutgers University and has taught at the New School, New York University, and Kean University. Mr Golway is a frequent guest on documentary films and television news shows in the United States and in Ireland.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Terry Golway.