Welcome Remarks for "Give Me Liberty: A History of America鈥檚 Exceptional Idea"
McGowan Theater, 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
November 12, 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 afternoon鈥檚 program, whether you are here in the theater or joining us through Facebook or YouTube.
Before we hear from Richard Brookhiser about his new book, Give Me Liberty: A History of America's Exceptional Idea, I鈥檇 like to tell you about two other programs coming up next week here in the McGowan Theater.
On Thursday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m., we will host a Veteran鈥檚 Day Tribute: World War II Soldier Photographers from the U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo Collection at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. The authors of a new book called Aftershock: The Human Toll of War, will join historians for a discussion of these less well known images of the war鈥檚 end.
And on Thursday, November 21, at 6:30 p.m., we鈥檒l mark the 15th anniversary of the movie National Treasure with a special screening here in the McGowan Theater and fun activities related to the film and the Declaration. Come dressed as your favorite National Treasure character, and you might win a prize!
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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In his introduction to Give Me Liberty, Richard Brookhiser declares: 鈥淭his book focuses . . . on thirteen documents, from 1619 to 1987, that represent snapshots from the album of our long marriage to liberty鈥濃�攄ocuments that 鈥渄efine America as the country that it is, different from all others.鈥�
Of the 13 documents, I鈥檓 pleased to note, the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and its Presidential Libraries have five: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Monroe Doctrine, Franklin Roosevelt鈥檚 鈥淎rsenal of Democracy鈥� Fireside Chat, and Ronald Reagan鈥檚 鈥淭ear Down This Wall鈥� speech in Berlin.
Whenever I walk through our museum, I鈥檓 struck by the respect鈥攁nd even awe鈥攚ith which so many of our visitors approach the cases that contain the original Declaration and Constitution. When visitors stop to examine other landmark documents in other parts of the museum, they often do more than glance at a display鈥攖hey feel a connection to our shared past.
The 威尼斯人娱乐场 motto Littera Scripta Manet, 鈥渢he written word endures,鈥� appears on a bronze medallion in front of the Rubenstein Gallery, one floor above us. The written word endures not just because the 威尼斯人娱乐场 keeps the documents in protective containers in secure storage spaces. The words endure because they tell us who we are as a nation鈥攖oday as well as centuries ago.
Let鈥檚 turn now to Richard Brookhiser to hear about his selection of enduring documents featured in Give Me Liberty: A History of America鈥檚 Exceptional Idea.
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Richard Brookhiser went to work for National Review after graduating from Yale and has stayed ever since.
For 20 years he wrote a column for the New York Observer and has also written for a number of magazines including The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan, Commentary, and Vanity Fair.
After writing about modern politicians, he turned to past political figures and became a historian of the founding period. He curated 鈥淎lexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America,鈥� an exhibition at the New-York Historical Society; wrote and hosted two films that aired on PBS: Rediscovering George Washington and Rediscovering Alexander Hamilton; and is the author of John Marshall: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court. He is currently a columnist for American History and has been awarded the National Medal of the Humanities and a Guggenheim fellowship.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Richard Brookhiser.