Welcome Remarks for The Credibility of the Fourth Estate, Past and Present
McGowan Theater, 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
October 23, 2019
Good afternoon, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased you could join us for this evening鈥檚 program, whether you are here in the theater or joining us through Facebook or YouTube.
We are presenting this program in partnership with the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and the Democracy Fund, and we thank them for their support
Before we begin our discussion of 鈥淭he Credibility of the Fourth Estate, Past and Present,鈥� I鈥檇 like to tell you about two other programs coming up soon in the McGowan Theater.
On Saturday, October 26 at 7 p.m., we will show the documentary film Summoned: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare. Perkins鈥攖he first woman to serve in a Presidential cabinet鈥攚as President Franklin Roosevelt鈥檚 Secretary of Labor and the driving force behind Social Security, the 40-hour work week, the eight鈥恏our day, minimum wage, and unemployment compensation.
And on Tuesday, October 29, at 7 p.m., we welcome Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who will tell us about her new book, Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back. In 1978 Speier survived a deadly attack in Jonestown, Guyana, and later became a vocal proponent for human rights.
To keep informed about events throughout the year, 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. Check out their 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 them and join online.
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A desire for a free and active press was evident at the very beginning of our national government. After receiving word from James Madison of the new Constitution for the United States, Thomas Jefferson replied: 鈥淭his constitution forms a basis which is good, but not perfect. I hope the states will annex to it a bill of rights securing those which are essential against the federal government; particularly trial by jury, habeas corpus, freedom of religion, freedom of the press. . . .鈥�
And from those earliest days, there has also been tension between those who govern and those who report on them. The Records of Rights exhibit upstairs in the Rubenstein Gallery documents a number of instances鈥攃ongressional legislation and Supreme Court cases鈥攖hat bear on the First Amendment to the Constitution, both restricting or defending freedom of speech and the press.
We prize our First Amendment rights and regard them as part of what defines us as Americans. I return to Jefferson鈥檚 words, but 35 years after his comments to Madison. In a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, Jefferson listed several conditions that 鈥渨ill go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive. But the only security of all is in a free press.鈥�
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Now it is my pleasure to welcome Martin Frost to the stage. He is the president of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and served 26 years as a Congressman from the 24th District of Texas, from 1979 to 2005. During that time, he served eight years in the House Democratic Leadership, four years as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and four years as chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Since leaving Congress, he served four years as chair of the National Endowment for Democracy, and he is an adjunct professor in the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Martin Frost.