Welcome Remarks for First: Sandra Day O鈥機onnor, An American Life
McGowan Theater,听威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
April 24, 2019听
Good evening, 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 tonight鈥檚 program, whether you are here in the theater or joining us through Facebook or YouTube.
Before we hear from Evan Thomas about his new book, First: Sandra Day O鈥機onnor, An American Life, I鈥檇 like to let you know about two other programs coming up next week.
On Monday, April 29, at noon, historian Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers will tell us about her new book, They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South. While bridging women鈥檚 history, the history of the South, and African American history, Jones-Rogers鈥檚 book prompts a rethinking of women鈥檚 history and the history of slavery.
And on Tuesday, April 30, at noon, Margaret Sartor and Alex Harris will introduce us to Hugh Mangum, an itinerant photographer who traveled through North Carolina and Virginia in the late 19th century. Their book, Where We Find Ourselves: The Photographs of Hugh Mangum, 1897鈥�1922, reveals an unparalleled view of life in the American South during a turbulent time of history.
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.
* * *
Tonight鈥檚 discussion is part of a series of programs related to our new exhibit opening on May 10鈥�Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote.
Rightfully Hers commemorates the centennial of the 19th Amendment and tells the story of women鈥檚 struggle for voting rights as a critical step toward equal citizenship.
In the exhibit, a series of 鈥渟potlights鈥� will relate the stories of ground-breaking women who played critical roles in the fight for equality鈥攏ot just the vote but in opportunities and fair treatment.
In the second half of the 20th century, Sandra Day O鈥機onnor broke through barriers throughout her career in the law and famously became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
In a review for NPR, Nina Totenberg declares that 鈥淎uthor Evan Thomas breaks new ground with First. . . . It is an unvarnished and psychologically intuitive look at the nation's first female Supreme Court justice, and some of her contradictory characteristics.鈥�
Jeffrey Toobin, writing in the New York Times, calls First 鈥渁 richly detailed picture of her personal and professional life鈥� and a 鈥渇ascinating and revelatory biography.鈥�
* * *
Evan Thomas is one of the most respected historians and journalists writing today. He is the bestselling author of 10 works of nonfiction, including works on John Paul Jones, Dwight Eisenhower, Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Barack Obama. In his 24 years as an editor and writer at Newsweek, he wrote more than a hundred cover stories.
Thomas has won numerous journalism awards, including the National Magazine Award.
Evan Thomas is a fellow of the Society of American Historians and has taught writing at Princeton and Harvard.
听
Michael Beschloss has long been a great friend of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and serves as a Vice President of the Board of Directors of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. He is an award-winning historian, bestselling author, and Emmy winner. He is the NBC News Presidential Historian and a contributor to PBS NewsHour. In addition to his work with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation, he is a trustee of the White House Historical Association and former trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Evan Thomas and Michael Beschloss.
听