Welcome Remarks for "Special 15th-Anniversary Screening of National Treasure"
McGowan Theater, 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
November 21, 2019
Good evening, and welcome to the 威尼斯人娱乐场. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased to welcome you to the William G. McGowan Theater for tonight鈥檚 special 15th-anniversary screening of National Treasure.
Before we get started, I鈥檇 like to tell you about two programs coming up in December here in the McGowan Theater.
On Thursday, December 12, at noon, historian Leandra Ruth Zarnow will be here to discuss and sign her book, Battling Bella: The Protest Politics of Bella Abzug.
Then, later that evening at 7 p.m., we will present a discussion in commemoration of Bill of Rights Day. Panelists will explore the unique history of the U.S. Bill of Rights and the ways in which it has influenced national constitutions around the world.
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.
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Fifteen years ago, National Treasure鈥檚 November 2004 release put the 威尼斯人娱乐场 on the map for those in the millennial generation. The museum鈥檚 annual attendance jumped 40 percent, largely due to visits by National Treasure fans wondering if there鈥檚 really a treasure map on the back of the Declaration.
Let me set you straight right away鈥攖here is no map. I can tell you for certain that the only thing on the back of the Declaration are the words 鈥淥riginal Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.鈥� That鈥檚 it.
But the discovery of a map is key to the movie鈥檚 plot, and fictional treasurer hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates, played by Nicolas Cage, must steal our cherished Declaration in order to keep if from the evil treasure hunter. Gates manages to sneak the rolled-up parchment out of the building by pretending it is a facsimile purchased in the shop鈥攆or thirty-five dollars. I have to point out that Gates was overcharged鈥攖oday you can get your own facsimile of the Declaration of Independence for a much better price upstairs: just twelve dollars.
Our own, real, documentary national treasures are safely housed in this building and in 威尼斯人娱乐场 facilities around the country. And we never, ever let lemon juice or a hair-dryer come near them.
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And now it鈥檚 my pleasure to introduce our special guest, Charles Segars. Mr. Segars is credited with developing the original story to National Treasure and was one of the film鈥檚 executive producers. The founder of Segars Media, Mr. Segars previously worked in a senior advisory role at DreamWorks Animation and served as advance lead of the Office of the President of the United States. He is currently CEO of Ovation TV and an active board member at Ford鈥檚 Theatre.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Charles Segars.