Welcome Remarks for "Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back"
McGowan Theater, 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
October 29, 2019
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 Congresswoman Jackie Speier, I鈥檇 like to tell you about two forthcoming programs in the McGowan Theater.
Tomorrow night at 7 p.m., we will host 鈥淲omen in Leadership: The Impact of Women on the U.S. Congress.鈥� Guests鈥撯�搃ncluding Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Representative Brenda Lawrence, and Representative Debra Lesko鈥撯�搘ill share their insights. This program is part of our series of events connected to the exhibit Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
And on Friday, November 1, at noon, historian H. W. Brands will tell us about his new book, Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West. A book signing will follow the program.
To keep informed about events throughout the year, check our website, Archives.gov, or sign up at the table outside the theater to receive 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.
November 1978 was a harrowing month for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. In the middle of the month, news broke of an incomprehensible massacre in Guyana. And less than two weeks later, the area reeled from the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in City Hall.
Tonight鈥檚 guest, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, was part of Congressman Leo Ryan鈥檚 delegation to Jonestown, Guyana, which visited the settlement led by Jim Jones to investigate concerns expressed by family members back in California. As they were about to depart, gunmen opened fire. Jackie Speier opens her book with the chilling words, 鈥淚 was dying.鈥�
Her survival on that horrific day, she wrote, guided her 鈥渋nto the life [she] was meant to live.鈥� For the past 40 years she has pursued a life of public service and now serves in the United States Congress.
In these months leading up to the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we remember the women who stood up for their rights and beliefs in order to secure women鈥檚 right to vote. We also honor the women of the present day who continue to speak up for rights and serve the greater public.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier represents California鈥檚 14th Congressional District in the United States Congress.
She serves on the House Armed Services Committee;
Chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee;
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence;
and the Committee on Oversight and Reform, where she serves on the Subcommittees on Environment and Government Operations.
Speier is also co-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, the Congressional Armenian Caucus, the Bipartisan Task Force To End Sexual Violence, and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.
She was named to 狈别飞蝉飞别别办鈥�s list of 150 鈥淔earless Women鈥� in the world and one of the 鈥淧olitico 50鈥� most influential people in American politics for bringing the Me Too reckoning to Congress.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Congresswoman Jackie Speier.