I first was young corporal wayne johnson, 22 years old, citizen of the british west indies. My second was corporal manual rivera, citizen of mexico. My third, Staff Sergeant remy lebrune, of canada. Lawful permanent residents served at higher rates than itive born americans and first years in the fleet brought that home to me in human terms because the person i relied on most to teach a young infantry lieutenant his skills were all noncitizens in my first few years in the marine force. And many times i would attend swearing ceremonies when soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast n, swarthy oath of allegiance taken by all who wish to become u. S. Citizens. Here is what that says. I will read it to you. I hereby declare on oath that i absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all fidelity to any foreign prince, state or sovereignty of whom were of which i have heretofore been a subject or citizen, that i will support and defend the constitution and laws of the United States of america against all enemies foreign and domestic, that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, i will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law, that i will perform noncompetitive service when required by the law. That i will perform work of National Importance under civilian direction when required by the law and i take this obligation freely without any reservation or purpose of evasion, so help a god. I have seen veterans of many battles take this oath with tears in their eyes, tears some nativeborn americans who take freedoms for granted have difficulty understanding or empathizing with. I remember on board the ship one take in the South China Sea one day in the South China Sea, we spotted a boat with refugees. They can only see the bow of the ship coming straight onto them and through binoculars we could see the fear and apprehension on their faces as they stared at us. As we turned to come alongside to render aid, those on board saw the american flag. Cheering and waving, hugging each other, they thought this young lieutenant and his they taught this young lieutenant what americans of the ship american citizenship meant to others. I was having lunch in washington, dc with a very sophisticated foreign ambassador years later. He educated me about post world war ii america, a country that made the single most self sacrificial pledge in world history. He said after world war ii you could have told europe twice in 25 years you have dragged us into one of your wars. We are through, we are turning to asia and africa, latin america for markets. You deal with the soviet army. He said instead you pledged 100 million dead americans and a nuclear war to protect democracy in europe. That is what he thought represented americas citizenship as they looked at the world along the lines of what krion was talking about earlier. It took me a while to figure out why so many looked to america for reassurance in troubled times. They educated me on what responsibilities are in perfect countries citizens have carried out in the past. Looking back what all did i learn from marines of all races and creeds, incumbents so severe you could scrape off the veneer of civilization from every one of us . From refugees on an overcrowded boat in the pacific and other events . What i learned in terms of the militarys role is this. America does not have to be perfect to be worth loving, supporting and defending. There are rhythms in life and in a countrys life that as long as each generation commits to the founding principles our country produces to stand for, professes to stand for, our experiment in democracys future remains in our hands and makes legitimate calls for our support. I saw the microcosm of america every day in the marines and when fighting for life, i saw the best of life keeping faith in the goodness in each other. Faith that even in the crucible of combat, america was worth fighting for. Even when we are not perfect because we share a passion to be improving the citizens of this country, to fix what is broken, to never be complacent and never and to turn over to the next generation the same freedoms we enjoy. I believe a country like ours is like a bank. You have to put something in if you want to take something out. You want freedom, you need to commit something. Oftentimes collegiates can Say Something to members of their college that resonates to one another simply because of the shared formative experience. Alum saidat one yale to other graduates in 1940, a dark time worldwide, facing a muscular and fascist enemy. Walter said you took the good things for granted. Now you must earn them again. For every right that you cherish, you have a duty which you must fulfill. For every hope you entertain, you have a task you must perform. For every good you wish to preserve, you will have to sacrifice your comfort and your knees. Your ease. There is nothing for nothing any longer. I think his words are applicable to citizens today of this big experiment and they are worth considering. Thank you very much. Michael thank you. [applause] michael we now have time for conversation, questions and discussion. By askingme the pump each of our spec our speakers. They will not know what they are being asked. We will find out with the answer. I hope you will be thinking of questions you would like to put to them and to be lining up behind these microphones. You can ask. Please try to keep your questions as brief as i am going to begin mine. I will begin with kiron. Your words were profound and pessimistic. I feel sad at the end. To you is, what is the greatest source of optimism thesee in the world or in United States today about a revival of good citizenship . Kiron that is a hard question. Your discussion helped me think about the more optimistic side of the citizenship in america. We would not have the debate we are having now about Global Citizenship if we had civics education. Much of what is being debated now is a violation of some of the basic understandings of how morgan is that nations organize themselves, the history of citizenship. Much of it is trying to make us. Ore moral part of the argument is we have such a responsibility to others to the environment, the degradation we have seen, to somethingar, if we do better with people, we will get better outcomes. First we need to understand principles and how we got here. That ties all of our presentations together. To the kind of education, it does not have to be one we did in the past, but where we do teach the west, we teach the classics and include them in our standard curricula, we will see a different debate. Global citizenship is not the way to make the world more moral, to make people more moral because it doesnt address the issue of the hard work and responsibility we face on a daily basis of being part of a polity. Positivesere is some to starting with the fundamental 16. Lems of k through what hoover is doing here is our way of contributing to a more moral education. Josh, let me ask you this. You mentioned the founders of this country. I did as well. I hear from young people and students, why are we talking about those guys . They you can demise ferment they epitomize for many people today white male privilege. They are what we should be, that is what we should be casting aside to create a new more egalitarian world. What do you say to those people . Josiah i want to say that their worries are not meaningless. They are not empty. Had a hasas deep problems with race, obviously slavery. So then it is not an empty concern that they have. But i think leaping to the thought that because people have a certain ethnicity, had a certain class standing, had a , the idea istion that those people had or have, that the form of government that they devised, is somehow inherently corrupt. Is born withit defect, that it is so defective the subject to be a completely rejected idea. What i hope to do in my teaching is not to convince people that there is a Perfect Union that momentated at a single in the 18th century and we have fallen short of that, or that the the classics that the founders read, the greek and roman are the unique exempulars of a kind of ethics, morality and that returning to them is the only way to go forward. If we dont understand the background, the grounding from which, the impulse to say that i care about justice, i care about equality, i care about the that is being, to some byent, violated incarceration. Finding out where those ideas frequently initially, how theyve been developed over into aow they were built constitutional order, how that in different democratic experiments over time, not only 18th century one but early now subsequent ones thats going to be important for them to then finally make their judgment about how can floms is in a democracy livelfilled in the age we in. Not going to go back to the 18th century. Oft, the foundation equality, freedom, dignity, and there areance that certain baseline conditions that are necessary to sustain those values, those ideas were, in fact, originated then or and we could then build on that, i think, to perfectndeed, a more union. Never a perfect one. Said, its anm ongoing experiment. And id like to say to them, thats what youre we do doking for, that better. Michael general, as i have heard you talking, it seemed to me that one of the themes of similar toare so what many at the founding about the importance of selfsacrifice for the common that good citizenship and patriotism, patriotism in particular, love of country, is the blessings and privileges that we enjoy from nation, as much as it is based upon the sacrifices that we make for the nation. So my question to you is, outside of the military, when at youve come now the mostrd, one of privileged places on the planet and you see the society that we are in and that our students are in. Where is the source of selfsacrifice in a society like that . Gen. Mattis where is the source . Michael if self sacrifice is citizenship, to patriotism as i think you have perceived, why does it come from domesticry Privileged Society . Gen. Mattis i think it starts, gratitude a sense of for all that were given and an awareness of that. Its hard to have that when youre young and you grow up with something and its always been there. You just getgen, to breathe it. As we heard, our Education System is probably not putting a on showing people how fortunate they are. Of ourd to see many privileges and all of our benefits of democracy, through other peoples eyes who did not have those benefits. And i think if we could bring a dozen students from hong kong right now to the stanford aroundand let them walk and say what its like, when you dont have it, thats when you really notice it. This room were born here, completely by accident. Here by choice. Responsibility to the next generation to turn over thee freedoms intact and country a little bit better. Jefferson used this word and i had more it when ive than one beer. We hold this country in usefront. And you canrarian chop down the tree, you can change the course of the streams, you can plow the ground, whatever you want with it. But you must turn it over to or son in as good or better condition than youve got it. Inhold this country usefront. Its not about making a sacrifice, per se, its carrying out your duty to the next generation and not being so selfish that you think you can just spend money by borrowing wantou can do whatever you to the environment without taking care of it. To turn it over in as good a shape or better. Thats a responsibility. That is the source, to me, why ierything you do and dont feel at all like i was a martyr by going out and serving in the infantry for 40 years. Ill look you in the eye, ive met you, and ill tell everyone it was worth every day of it. Voted for,e who you whether youre male or female, whether you go to the church or synagogue or is is is a saloon, youre worth it. Thats what freedom is all about. That doesnt stop at the waters edge. Hard example is whats motivating many of the kids in kong right now to stay the course against an onerous bunch. More of a its responsibility than a sense of going for self sacrifice. Always been enough patriots to step forward and god there will always be them but we all need to roll up this country keep in that trajectory. Thats a responsibility. Michael do i see a question here . Dont be shy. Citizen young voter and and given the vast wisdom on the stage here, my question to you is, what, in the next year or two, scares you . Seeing the news ongoing in iran and china and north korea and noise going on. Im still trying to piece it all together what scares much noise, i want to know what scares you specifically, given your experiences, when you look at these things. Thatel who wants to take on. You . Scares this year, within the next two years, what scares you . You one of the things that scares me is when i the candidates from both of great parties of this country anding about silly stuff not addressing things that country. Tter to the gen. Mattis let me add something there. I was a secretary of defense and of you know what that means. Youre supposed to defend the country. There are threats. Were concerned about north korean millions and Nuclear Things and those russia has developed rhetoric and invading countries and we an ambientism, threat thats out there. Without losingct constitutional freedoms or overreact what scares me any external threat is how americans are treating each other right now in public life. [applause] gen. Mattis we dont get back showing some fundamental respect, to listening to one ofther, to showing a degree friendliness toward one another ive fought terrorists for a long time. I know what terrorists look like. Someone in public life calling a fellow american a terrorist because they have a idea, that worries me more than the russian army. I guarantee you. Ill leave it at that. Michael shall we take another question . Fewve heard there are a different countries, of the countries i have been to, the switzerland. I remember everyone seems genuinely invested in making better place. A Road Construction projects, literally working, not just holding up a sign or something. Differenta immigration policy. They have mandatory military service. What do you think it would take us to get our citizenry towards what switzerland has thats realistic to get with . Ody on board michael josh, youre probably closer to switzerland . Josiah switzerland has a very interesting history. Some of the , switzerland were exempulars of direct democracy. They have a tradition of citizens not only engaging in the kind of work that they have a tradition of citizens not general mattis is talking about, military service, not only a communitygoing to gathering in which theyre deciding the basic rules and decisions about their local community. So i think that one of the things that could get us back is wenking about ways in which can take our tradition of american federalism and making making what we do locally more engaged and then more connected to what we do nationally so that you can feel that as a citizen, you actually have a voice and that you can use that voice to at least make some or help make some or to making local decisions and that those local an integrated role to play in the larger community, the national community, of which you are a part. And thats going to take some thinking about institutional design. Ups basically stepping federalism to a 21st century level. Is the how to do that challenge and thats a challenge that i hope that your generation on. Oing to take michael theres also the issue chocolate. [laughter] here . L a question over said onel mattis, you of the keys to citizenship is trust and thats trust in each as citizens and trust in the government. So my question for all of you teachable . T is it trainable . And how badly has social media, our Political Polarization and the thousands of factcheck demonstrated of our current trust and whatd do we need to do to rebuild it . Gen. Mattis its a great question. The senior marine on campus here retired force guard, its the retired captain, george schultz. And secretary schultz will tell you that in all factors dealing Human Interaction engagement, trust is what he calls the coin of the realm. It starts, i think, at home, civicsly, but i think education is where you can put a strong rationale together for why, without trust, cannot have a functioning democracy, because if you cant another, why would you be willing to have others with power, basically. , in at, youve got to in community, give power to some people. You hire a policeman. Give authority to the mayor to distribute the towns money. How can you have this work if you dont have trust . So you can train to it. Can actually put people in difficult circumstances where they have to trust one another. Thats why we seem to come together more during a crisis. After 9 11, right we all pulled together. But we shouldnt have to wait for that. Best interests, to work with one another. Withthe only way to work one another is to trust each other and im not sure at times people dont trust. Because i found i forget who it was he said its harder to trust somebody once youve met them. [laughter] gen. Mattis you reverse it is the way i would put it. Once you meet, its also harder them. E the best i can give you i dont have a good answer for you. Ive seen trust work, though. Have now, for example, we excellent trusted relations between the u. S. Military and the mexican military. Consideringnder, some of the rhetoric that youve heard, how could we have that. And the fact is, by both militarys now, weveight established that trust. Ive seen it work even when orer things were going wrong were difficult. Its a matter of rolling up your sleeves and giving your word. When you give your word, you have to be there. Michael i would like to throw to kiron, too. Kiron im of a couple of minds. With the statement that trust is the coin of the realm governmentt run a without it. Having been in washington, ive seen recently that not only its just trust that americans lack for their own government, but somehow and i think most of the problems were talking about 16e are k through problems we have moved so far transactional direction where almost every engagement, isecially in washington, about what will this do for me, very, very quickly. Trust is not a factor when youre dominated by transactions. How we fix that, i dont know. There should be, in a ofocracy, a healthy distrust government always. And so when i read polls show that only 40 of Americans Trust this or that branch of government or the whole government, theres nothing i our founding that suggests that we should give over our cognitive abilities and to rival hypothesize to elected or unelected government officials. But knowing how to do that responsibly i think is a huge problem now. So on the one side, i distrust my government because i should. And the whole founding of our country, the writing of the about how do was institutionalan arrangement given that were dealing with fallible human beings. Side, we needer political officials who arent transactional. That werethe period in. And if you fix that, you fix a problems. You, all speakers, for your comments. A common theme i heard was a voluntaryhave participation of our citizens in our democracy. Mattis, what are your thoughts on what we may aim through obligatory service, either military or other, or the byortunity we might lose remaining with hope and trying to have voluntary participation . Gen. Mattis i think theres a strong argument to be made that if Abraham Lincoln and woodrow and f. D. R. And john f. Call americansll dont wescripted, why force the issue . Ive studied the mormon the men andion that young now young women will become for two years they will do something for someone else. Its a lot more in keeping with the american would call on we people of all ages but certainly age andople coming of then retirees or people who want to take a timeout from their job, to just do something for someone else. Year orrs first for a two. I dont care if its teaching in poor school district, poorly functioning school district, on american reservation or inner city or in the peace corps or marine corps i dont care where its at. But again, create a tradition of in europe,ead in a war period all the young people took a year on the tour and i guess find themselves, i dont know what theyre doing. But i think it would be a lot better for us to look at it and ay, why dont we spend, as natural course, a year or two andg things for others create a national expectation, something that can be part of Civic Education, that this is what you do. Putting government bureaucracy in place which runs Something Like this i dont think it would be the most effective way to get go which ist to basically a sense of love for their fellow citizens and for other people in the world does that answer your question or beat around the bush . Yes, thank you. Josiah i was really moved, general, when you talked about soldiers and sailors taking their oath and how you recounted they wereas making a pledge. Oaths andn is about citizenship. Greek andd ancient those who would take a pledge to leave their cities and states found them when they to my understanding today there Global Citizenship and we no longer practice the daily pledge of allegiance to flag which was once also part of our Civic Education in elementary schools. Talk a bit about the act, the performative act of pledging towards an affirmative way towards our citizenship . It matter anymore . Gen. Mattis ill take a stab at. Means a lot in the military. Youre reminded of it routinely, sometimes in brusque terms by a sergeant. Reenlist,en you when youre promoted, you take the oath again, raise your right the military oath again to uphold and defend the constitution, support and defend the constitution. To bethink that its got to something where the community it a kind of a symbols cymbals clash in your life. To the opera. I dont go often. Cymbals go if youre sleepy after a long day at work, its got to be the cymbals clash that brings you remember, oh, yeah, im part of something bigger than me, im responsible for them, not just me. It brings you out of your meism. Be i think its got to voluntary or its meaningless. Obligation without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. Its got to be willing. It cant be forced. Michael josh . Josiah one way to think about citizenst naturalized are required to take an exam and exam and then take an oath. By the accident of having been here, i didnt have to do that. Right . Whethere think about those who choose, and i think exactly right, it must be take on theould duties of citizenship including of voting, of sitting on a jury, to take on those duties, perhaps i ought actave made the act of committing myself to some kind of oath of citizenship. And those who didnt want to do that could be residents, could have passports, could have all of the various background things to live a life a Effective Member of a and yet short of being a full citizen. I mean, at least that would suggest to us the seriousness of this duty that i think weve all been stressing that is connected to the rights that come with the of being a citizen. So i think at least its worth thinking about. Its worth putting that into the conversation. Accident ofe of the my birth, have no responsibility the kind ofke commitment that someone who is accident someplace else do . Equired to michael excellent question. To jump in. Kiron on the issue of taking oath, you will be interested to have tot of course you take an oath of office when youre Senate Confirmed. For hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of positions when a new comes in that arent Senate Confirmed and you some take an oath and people are taking an oath every year if they switch jobs and officialis the cabinet doess or her designee who the oath. And i have found that taking an repeatedly doesnt make you do a better job. It doesnt make you a better citizen. It has to be part of a broader understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship. Enough. Tself, its not but we have a lot of oath taking in the u. S. Somebody is taking an oath every day. And were still having the concern us all. Ober, i trained at stanford and the course i enjoyed the most was your course on the origins of political thought, covering the early greek war. About theys curious climb to democracy. How does a society known for advanced democracy for its time, principles. E this common refrain from panel i guess is that citizen ship is under attack and so, what is competing against it . If everybody agrees that isizenship is at risk, what the competing idea in our to citizenship that people find attractive and why structurally to make citizenship an attractive inion in the past decades society . Josiah i think the simple of whato the question athenian democracy anthey failed to find institutional answer, after 200 years of success as an filed to findy the answer of how to address the problems of scale. Were simply not abler to or not willing to find the breakthrough way of conceiving of themselves to citizenship beyond malesre of native adult of athenian territory. They were, overwhelmed by larger entities military able to bring pressure to bear that they simply didnt have the human resources, to answer. So scale really is the challenge of democracy. Scale in terms of numbers. In terms of the distance between people, the diversity. So a successful democracy questions, figures out how to become bigger and without losing the coherence of citizenship, of a citizen community. Thats really hard. The athenians didnt succeed that. Ng arguably were facing a similar moment of, can we do that . Have a way to confront the 21st century challenges of of as whether we think inizenship or diversity, ways that are going to be anovative and allow us to be community of citizens together, that is larger and more diverse in various ways. Alternative to citizenship is being a subject, right . Straightforward. To have a master, to have a to have someone who can give you orders to which you no response and if your is benevolent, has the best inerest in the community mind, you may have a perfectly nice life. Thats the alternative and many people find it very attractive. Course, the boss may choose benevolent. Be so the next leader may not be so benevolent. With augustusout and end up with caligula. Rough butittle bit thats just a choice you make from giving up citizenship and choosing to be a subject. Think that really is the choice. Its binary. Either citizens governor themselves or they accept the else orce of someone or coalition. Ta michael i have a slightly different reaction to the question of what is the alternative. In 1774, Patrick Henry electrified the country when he stood up at the continental am nots and he accused i a virginian, i am an american, time when primary citizenship, primary loyalty was in your individual place. I am an american. He said, those were the alternatives. I think today we are similarly a kind of reverse patrick of america in which loyalty isimary breaking up into various kinds of tribalism. Some people, this is lines ofalong the forth. Ex, sexuality, so identity politics is a part of this. Biggest,ink that the most dangerous, most vicious that is coming to the is actuallyica political partisanship. These thingsof becoming dangerous is when to hate folks of the other side. Isnt just that i can take pride in being a presbyterian, if one can take pride in being a presbyterian, seriously doubt most days. Senses thatt one other members of other factions hateful, racist, you know, privileged, whatever it happens to be, and this divides think makesand i people not citizens of the but rather, in a sense, citizens of their own particular identity politics. And i think that is tearing the apart. Im part of the youngest here at stanford. Seminal historical events for me growing up was the great recession, the war on terror, n. S. A. Surveillance, social media, and it seems to me that trust in American Values and rights and liberties are something that need to be continually renewed, not just for new generations, but also internationally. I was wondering your perspective and obligation as citizens and residents of this opposed to perhaps or thete or leader Education System, in terms of trust. G this josiah i think the trust question really does keep coming back, isnt it . I think there really are we think about this in a very binary kind of way, the question who are, see those other than ourselves, those who have goals that are to some extent different than ours among fellow citizens as our enemies . Right . What some theorists have advocated. German theorist carl smit suggested that the basic meaning of politics was the relationship of friend and enemy and that real, it was aot matter of identifying your enemy and destroying him. He was sometimes calls hitlers jurist. Alternative is what aristotle called civic friendship. Friendship isnt a personal friendship. You dont have to love your fellow citizens. And yet you do believe in them are part of the same extended project. Someccept that we have cannotn common and we achieve those goals unless we commonality and act accordingly. It is the part of getting backust is conceptionistotleian of civic friendship, it for the 21st century, not just going back and aristotle carefully although thats a very good idea to do that. Thank you for the shoutout of the course in which we do that. But i think thinking about the someone as atrust sharer innd, as a certain core goals, and a in aristotle gaining those goals is what weve got to go for. Again, how to do that under the conditions of the 21st on,ury, social media and so is the next big challenge and it just people of my age who are going to do that because the skills. E and that is really, i think, your generations challenge, is stepping up to how can you find way to be friends with those with whom you have profound disagreements. I want to thank all of you for such a great discussion. This is so important. Just want to say thank you. I have a couple of quick myments but then into question. First of all, i want to if stanford takes this civics and soto on, theres a college, little Hillsdale College and you might look at that because they have an online course. I just want to encourage you. They have an online course called the constitution and civics 101. Theay, its spanning across country. And people are taking their courses, over a million or two million people. So be encouraged. Snap this up and i think they have study groups. People can do it singly. But i think stanfords course be well received. So my point is, get it online as people you can so that can take it from all over the world, frankly. Thing is, i thought it interesting, that in israel, say, three, four pondering they were how could they get their people get on the same page, all these people returning from all over the world. Could they get their about thethink country more, be engaged. The bestdecided that way to do it was to have the history. Udy their nine to nineed a class. It wasnt a class. They were having everyone read a there areday because 929 chapters in the bible. Testament. Be the old but i thought youd find that whatraging, that that was their solution was. Get the people to read their history. Lesson to all a of us, that we study our history. The united of states. But now my question. Theuestion has to do with constitution. Im concerned and i wonder if comment on this, how theres all this talk and rhetoric about changing the constitution, lets throw out Second Amendment or throw out First Amendment and so on. It that the rhetoric is it justt changing seems, in my lifetime, its, say, the last 10 or 15 years, when i was a child, teenager or whatever, that talk about changing of constitution instead adhering to it it. I dont know whether im articulating the question properly but i think you get the gist of how theres all this we want tothat change it, change it, change it. Commentsring what your are about the constitution, adhering to that as our foundation. Michael if you look through american history, there are ofiods of more sort agitation to change the constitution and then it goes and rises and falls. I do think we are currently at a time when many more people are entertaining the thought and way because the constitution is so important to the way we do things, when be goingnt seem to well, naturally people think, means therest something that our foundational ourem, maybe we can solve problems by looking back at that. You press people for what particular changes there would be to the constitution, of course people say things like, well, abolish the Electoral College or guns or various that are essentially peripheral issues. Leastdont actually at my experience is that most people, itsost generalized dissatisfaction belief inn actual that we need to change the way does things. Sorry, weve reached the witching hour. I want to thank you all for a wonderful conversation. [applause] and i want to thank all of you who have come tonight to participate. I believe theres a reception in the lobby outside. Please stay for that. We look forward to seeing you there and look forward to seeing you at our next speaking event. Much. You very [captions performed by National Historian feature. And order your copy today wherever books and e books are old. President trump spoke at Mount Rushmore during a celebration there announcing an executive order featuring a National Park featuring the greatest americans. His is an hour and 45 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States donald j. Trump and first lady, melania trump. [cheers and applause] please rise for the playing f the national anthem. O say can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming whose bright stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight o er the ramparts we watched were so valiantly streaming and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through you the night , that our flag was still there say does that starspangled banner yet wave and the home of the brave good evening, everyone. Im a u. H. 60 pilot with the south Dakota National Guard Charlie Company first of the 189 regiment. My wife cayla and i would like to welcome you to south dakota. We proudly serve our state and the nation. Whether at home or overseas we stand ready to support the citizens of south dakota and the United States. Thank you for your continued support of our armed forces. We hope you enjoy the festivities tonight. Im the aircraft production superintendent at the 114 quarter rank. I grew up you in south dakota and i joined the National Guard in 1992. As the production superintendent i direct the maintenance for the f16 all the scheduled maintenance. Our mission is to generate power with the f16 aircraft. It means a lot to me to follow n my parents footsteps. Ladies and gentlemen, please fighting you 114th logos and National Guard. Good evening, everyone im captain justin purge nichols from pierce, south dakota. Im a b1 pie lopt and member of the thunder boards at Ellsworth Air force base. Im captain garrett boom mack. Im a b1 systems officer and a proud member of the squaw drant. Coming up, youll see the Strategic Bomber capable of long. Urations we hope you enjoy the show. Happy birthday, america. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, your United States Navy Flight Demonstration squaw drant takes pleasure in performing for you here at Mount Rushmore, south dakota. Since 1946, the blue angels have ad the unique privilege of demons demonstrating the naval aviation. Here at Mount Rushmore we will perform a flyby in traditional blue angel formation so you you can take pride in what your pilots have learned to fly. The blue angels. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome former host of entertainment tonight and your master of ceremonies, mary hart. Mary thank you, and good south dakota evening to one and all cheers and applause] we welcome you, President Trump, our first lady, millennia, and your whole family. There are so many people i want to introduce very quickly, but i want to say, thank you, governor noem, for making this possible. Cheers and applause] and thank you to you, incredible audience. You have been here for hours today, and it was only 125 degrees out here in the sun. You are not only seated here, youre up there, and you are eyond. The are just spectacular for being here to celebrate the fourth of july, the birthday of ur great nation. I also want to introduce you know these gentlemen well, former governor and current senator, mike rounds and john thune, longtime friends. Wonderful to have you here. [applause] advise or s. E. Obrien. Welcome to south dakota. [applause] and senator paul, rand paul. I believe, im my seeing you . Ok. [applause] and then we have congressman dusty johnson seated over here. [applause] congressman jason smith. Wayne mullin. Rk as well as congressman adrian smith. [applause] welcome to you all. It is so incredibly great to be back in my home state of south dakota, and it started this simply a few weeks ago. It was a text. Isnt about the way all of our important events occur in our lives these days . Did you get my voicemail, mary . Kristi, i texted back. No, when did you leave it . Next second, the phone rings, it is governor noem saying, mary, i have a favor to ask of you. Would you consider . When she explained this glorious night and the plans, i said, are you kidding . I would be so honored, so happy. Let me just tell you that i am incredibly proud to have all of you who are firsttimers here. And i know there are people from all over the country visiting because i have talked to a few of you today, and we are so happy, whether it is New Hampshire or delaware or wherever you came from, you had a trek, but i know you are happy to be in this great state. I have a Long Association with Mount Rushmore. And it is making me mad that those in granite arent aging. [laughter] as a young kid, i was here with my family, then as miss south dakota. [applause] thank you. You know what, i woke up at 3 00 a. M. About a week and a half ago and i went, do i dare mentioned that . Yes, because it is important to me. I am so proud of this state and the values i was raised with here in south dakota. But i was here as miss south dakota in 1970. And the heart attack started when i went that is 50 years ago. Holy cow so i am proud of that. In 1991, i had the great joy of cohosting, with fellow south dakotan tom brokaw, the rededication and the golden anniversary of Mount Rushmore, and we were on our 41st president , George Herbert walker bush and first lady barbara bush. And im bringing this up because president bush, we went fishing that day. We went fishing. The bushs and the sugarmans. And i just wanted to offer that i have a tackle box and i can a a live wiggling worm on hook in case you and melania would like to try to catch a few before you leave or when you come back. [laughter] i am so honored to be master of ceremonies tonight, and we are so proud of our men and women in uniform. Onderful to have you here. We support you. We love you and we thank you. [applause] we are all proud to be americans. We do live truly in the greatest ountry in the world. And since i brought up yes, we. Do i remember well the tumultuous miss, the tragedy and ultimately the triumph of the 60s. I was growing up then and those were not easy times for those of you who happen to be old enough like i am to remember. But you know what, that was a terrible decade. But we turned timeout be a better nation. And with everything going on now, i know we can come together, sharing and listening to one anothers ideas, and we can, yet again, become a better nation. [applause] it has been 11 years since fireworks were last seen here in Mount Rushmore. We are so excited to bring them back. I would like to thanks secretary bernhardt, our interior secretary, for helping governor noem. And thank you, President Trump, for making this wonderful evening happened. Cheers and applause] and i want to thank all of the incredible people who did those flyovers. And i just couldnt help but thinking, when we saw air force one flying over, President Trump, that birdseye view of the monument must have in maybe even more spectacular for you than it was for us. But we are so proud that you did both of those flyovers, and we are so proud that you are here. Cheers and applause] and now, i would like to introduce our first speaker, a very special woman, someone who i have gotten to know through the years, you have gotten to know her, you fellow south dakota and, in leader consistently challenging the status quo and working to make her state stronger for the next generation. She is a lifelong south dakotan, and from when she could walk, she worked beside her dad on the ranch. We love her mary i love her, too. In college, she married brian, another farm kid. She first got involved in politic after her fathers death, serving as a Citizen Legislature in the state legislature from 20072010. Before serving in the u. S. House of representatives from 20112018. She recently gained National Attention for her response to national events, including covid19, protests, and efforts to rewrite american history. Cheers and applause] and maybe even more importantly, she often says that her greatest ccomplishment is raising three children who love the lord, love their family, and know how to work hard. Would you please give it up for the wonderful governor of south dakota, kristi noem [cheers and applause] gov. Noem good evening. You all look so good. Wow, thank you for coming. Mary, you are just absolutely wonderful. Arent we proud of mary hart . [applause] so, i understand there is a lot of south dakotans here. Who here is from south dakota . Cheers and applause] how many of you here tonight, it is your first visit to south dakota . [cheers and applause] thank you for coming. Means the world to me. Tonight, we have a very special guest. With us. We have the 174th Cyber Protection unit. Is with us here tonight. Could they please stand . [applause] folks, these soldiers were deployed for 13 months as a part of Operation Enduring freedom, and they never got a welcome home, so we decided to throw a big Party Tonight and officially welcome them home and thank them for their service. Would you give them a round of applause . Cheers and applause] thank you for your service. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a fantastic evening planned for you. And let me start by introducing someone that has been absolutely instrumental to making tonight happen. It is my honor to introduce david bernhardt, who is the United States secretary of the nterior. He was raised in rural town of elk hurst, colorado. Ive actually hunted there. Fantastic elk and rifles. Secretary bernhardt grew up hunting and fishing on public land. He also has legal policy and administrative experience. He served nearly a decade in seniorlevel positions at the department, including as solicitor and deputy secretary. Under his leadership, the interior doug g. has expanded access to public lands. Theyve advanced American Energy independence, strengthened the departmental ethics program, and also delivered billions of dollars in regulatory relief to be beginning since the very beginning of the trump administration. We are also honored to have his wife, jenna, here this evening with us, as well as his daughter, katie. So ladies and gentlemen, would you please join me in welcoming the United States secretary of the interior, david bernhardt. [applause] secretary bernhardt good evening. Thank you, governor. It is great to be in south akota. Over a decade ago, fireworks illuminated the sky over this memorial, a place that honors our former president s. Tonight, they return. [cheers and applause] tonights celebration would not have been possible without the leadership of President Trump cheers and applause] and governor noem. They called for a patriotic celebration and an incredible firework display here at mount ushmore. Mr. President , first lady, governor, members of congress, and other guests, welcome to ount rushmore. [cheers and applause] this magnificent monument, urrounded by the duty of the black hills of south dakota tells the story of the birth, the development, and the preservation of our incredible nation. Few places are more central to the collective american identity than Mount Rushmore. Overlooking us are george washington, thomas jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and teddy roosevelt. These great leaders forged our great nation and preserved it. The department of the interiors National Park service is entrusted as a steward and a guardian of our National Parks, monuments, and battlefields, all of which tell our story. Which tell american story. The story includes moments of great triumph, as well as setbacks and challenges. Reflecting upon these moments in our history provides solace, rejuvenation and inspiration to all of us. Please join the in giving a hand of thanks to the wonderful employees of our National Park service, particularly those here at Mount Rushmore who have worked tirelessly to put this event on. Thank you. [applause] now, they are awesome. Now, as we are under the gaze of teddy roosevelt, i cannot help but note that it was through president roosevelts leadership and resolve that we were able to enjoy the public lands and experience our National Parks. And it is in roosevelts conservation spirit that earlier this year, President Trump called on congress to pass an historic agreement investing in ur public lands. Last month, the Senate Passed legislation that he called for. Later this month, we expect congress will approve legislation to provide our National Parks and public lands with the most significant investment in generations so that our children and grandchildren can fully enjoy the splendors of sites like Mount Rushmore. Thank you, mr. President. [applause] thank you. On this day in 1776, john adams described his vision of how we should celebrate our nations ndependence. He said it should be marked with pomp and praise, with shows, games, sports, guns, be on fires, and illuminations. From one end of a continent to the other. 244 years later, President Trump fosters adams vision even in times of challenge. Adams recognized [applause] its pretty awesome. Adams recognized that our Independence Day would bring people together. By doing so, we can reflect on and appreciate the principles and freedoms that bind us together to make america the greatest nation on the planet. Thank you and god bless america. Cheers and applause] gov. Noem thank you, secretary bernhardt, and thanks to your entire team. This was no small feat pulling off this evenings event. And you guys are absolute rock stars in helping us get it accomplished. It is so good having a here tonight. I just appreciate you coming and helping us celebrate our Independence Day. We have been working since before i was even sworn in as governor to get to this night tonight. N fact, when we had the ticket system set up, we had over 125,000 people sign up in a threeday period to get to be one of the 7,500 people that are sitting here tonight in these seats for the celebration. Congratulations to all of you here in place. Cheers and applause] whether you are visiting one of our largest cities, or smaller towns, south dakota is a state that prides itself on the closeknit nature of our communities. Tonight, if you look to your left, if you look to your right, you are going to see that this crowd isnt just from south dakota, but its from everywhere across this nation. We just appreciate you coming, and we know that this is a celebration. Across america these last several weeks, we have been witnessing a very troubling situation unfold. In realtime, we are watching an organized, coordinated campaign to remove under limited all references to our nations founding, and many other points n our history. [crowd booing] you know, rather than look into the past to improve our future, some are trying to wipe away the lessons of history, lessons we should be teaching to our children and to our grandchildren. This approach focuses exclusively on our forefathers flaws, but it fails to capitalize on the opportunity to learn from their virtues. Make no mistake, this is being done deliberately to discredit americas founding principles, by discrediting the individuals who formed them so that america can be remade into a different political image. Tonight, i want to invite you all, and those around the country watching the founding generation has important things to tell us all about americas past, its present and its future. Remember, our many stars aligning, including a unique assembly of powerful writers, gifted thinkers, and tremendous generals, and dont forget, they were supported by a simple citizen army that defeated the worlds most powerful empire. Cheers and applause] against all odds and incredible struggle, we can find examples of perseverance, dedication, and commitment to certain fundamental truths. These men did not stage a revolt against the kingdom of Great Britain for personal gain or personal power, they did it because they knew they had to in order to defend their rights to live, work and worship as they saw fit. You know, following the british defeat, we could have had a king. But instead, we had a man who walked away from his position as commanderinchief. Then he also walked away from the presidency. These examples, like so many others, rarely make the cut when looking back on their lives, but they undoubtedly serve as a an illustration of all that americans should emulate. Towards this effort, the signers of the declaration of independence pledged their life and their sacred honor. The declaration is arguably one of the most important statements of purpose ever written, not just because it serves as justification of independence to the entire world, but also because it has led to our prosperity and inspired many other nations and peoples to seek freedom. These words are not remembered nearly enough today. We hold these truths to be selfevident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, and among those are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from their consent of the governed. a let us never forget especially oday, that our government cheers and applause] chanting u. S. A. ] let us never forget that today that our government has the power it does it the people have consented to it. We have consented specifically to our government that will serve all of us equally, and that will protect and uphold fundamental rights enumerated by our constitution. It is our duty to renew our commitment to these ideals and pass them on to those who come fter us. These ideals cannot be dismissed as the irrelevant opinions of flawed men. Our founders had their flaws, but to use those flaws to condemn their ideals is njust. How many of us have lived up to our own ideals . Without the sacrifices of these few, the world would not have a ringing example of true freedom. We can speak and write, worship, work, defend ourselves, and even protest as we see fit because of these men and their ideals. To attempt to cancel the founding generation is an attempt to cancel our own freedoms. Now [applause] the rich and beautiful lands on which many of us live and on which we are now standing today are the result of men and women searching for more. At times, especially today, it seems we are often paralyzed by the present and defeated by the future. Our country was founded by dissidents, and people seeking to find a better life for themselves and their children. People all over the world continue to flock to america today. The simple reason is that it is our commitment to the ideals laid out by our forefathers. The struggle to maintain the union was a proposition that americans must live up to the principles articulated in the declaration. And americas rebirth allowed their iteration of the supposed articulated. 1862, a simple question was put before congress, can we do better . Our choice was clear, we could nobodyly save or mainly lose the last best hope on earth. The way it is playing, peaceful, just, a way that the world will forever applaud. The men and women who built this country envisioned an america that would project its policy to places that had not known them. They also took on the mission of protecting the natural wonders of the west, something all of us sitting here tonight can be thankful for. In particular, i think many of us, especially those on the political front lines would be wise to remember. It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man ho is actually in the arena, who strives valiantly, who errs, comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming. But who does actually strive to do the deeds, who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions. Who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with the cold and timid souls who neither knew victory or defeat. Youd be hard pressed to find a more appropriate quote to guide leadership. Leadership requires wisdom. A will to act and confidence to stand up for what is right. Our love for america and our commitment to stand for the principles that make america unique, deserves to be applauded. We honor these men and women for their contributions, their leadership, all the positive things they represent, the things that make america a unique and call us to live to our promises. This Independence Day, let us be grateful that we have such words and such examples to follow, and that others were willing to sacrifice so much to create a land in which liberty and law can be protected. Et us not destroy history. Let us learn from it by preserving and imitating what is good about it. We are cheers and applause] we are all committed to a country where any person regardless of their standing at birth and make anything of themselves. This applied to me. I was just a farm kid. Now i am the first female governor of south dakota. Cheers and applause] but it applies to everyone else, too. Let us, like our founding fathers, pledge our own lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor to the cause of liberty and selfgovernment so we may continue to have the freedom to follow our conscience, to build our lives and to live in peace. Now, i want to introduce someone who understands precisely what it means to brave the dangers of the arena. Someone who strives valiantly. Who knows great enthusiasms. Who spends himself in a worthy cause and who has repeated his commitment to place americans, american liberty, american safety, and the american constitution before anything lse. I am talking, of course, about president donald trump. Cheers and applause] mr. President [cheers and applause] mr. President , welcome to south dakota. And thank you [applause] thank you for your efforts to bring this beautiful celebration of american independence, history, and liberty to fruition. Thank you for your efforts to emind the American People that they provide the consent of the governed on which legitimate government depends. Ladies and gentlemen, president onald trump a and i am proud to be an american, where at least i know im free, and i want forget the men who died gave that right to me and i gladly stand up, next to you and defend still here today cause there aint no doubt i love this land god bless the u. S. A. From the lakes of minnesota, to the hills of tennessee across the plains of texas, from sea to shining sea from detroit down to houston and new york to la, well, theres pride in every american heart, and its time we stand and say that im proud to be an american where at least i know im free and i wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me nd i gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today cause there aint no doubt i love this land god bless the u. S. A. And im proud to be an american where at least i know im free and i wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me and i gladly stand up you next to you and defend her still today cause there aint no doubt i love this land god bless the u. S. A. [cheers and applause] pres. Trump well, thank you very much. Governor noem, secretary bernhardt, we very much pressure it. Members of congress, distinguished guests, and a very special hello to south dakota. [cheers and applause] as we begin this fourth of july weekend, the first lady and i would wish each and everyone of you a very, very happy Independence Day. Thank you. Let us show our appreciation to the south dakota army and air National Guard and the u. S. Air force for inspiring us with that magnificent display of american air power. [applause] and of course, our gratitude as always to the legendary and very talented blue angels. Thank you very much. [applause] let us also send our deepest thanks to our wonderful veterans, Law Enforcement, First Responders and the doctors, nurses and scientists working tirelessly to kill the virus. Theyre working hard. [applause] we want to thank them very, very much. We are grateful as well to your stays congressional delegation, senator john thune, john, thank you very much. [applause] senator mike rounds. Thank you, mike. [applause] and dusty johnson, congressman. Hi, dusty. Thank you. And all others with us tonight from congress. Thank you very much for coming. We appreciate it. There could be no better place to celebrate americas independence than beneath this magnificent, incredible, majestic mountain, monument to the greatest americans who have ever lived. Today we pay tribute to the exceptional lives and extraordinary legacies of george washington, thomas jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and teddy roosevelt. [applause] i am here as your president to proclaim before the country, and before the world, this monument will never be desecrated. These heroes will never be defaced. [cheers and applause] their legacy will never, ever be destroyed. Their achievements will never be forgotten. And Mount Rushmore will stand forever as an eternal tribute to our forefathers, and to our freedoms. [cheers and applause] chanting u. S. A. ] we are together tonight to herald the most important day in the history of nations, july 4, 776. At those words, every american heart should swell with pride. Every American Family should cheer with delight, and every American Patriot should be filled with joy, because each of you lives in the most magnificent country in the history of the world, and it will soon be greater than ever efore. Cheers and applause] our founders launched not only a revolution in government, but a revolution in the pursuit of justice, equality, liberty and prosperity. No nation has done more to advance the human condition than the United States of america, nd no people have done more to promote Human Progress than the citizens of our great ation. [cheers and applause] it was all made possible by the courage of 56 patriots who athered in philadelphia over 244 years ago and signed the declaration of independence. They enshrined a divine truth that changed the world forever when they said, all men are reated equal. These immortal words set in motion the unstoppable march of freedom. Our founders boldly declared that we are all endowed with the same divine rights given us by our creator in heaven and that which god has given us, we will allow no one ever to take away, ever. Cheers and applause] 1776 represented the culmination of thousands of years of western ivilization and the triumph of not only spirit, but wisdom, philosophy, and reason. And yet as we meet here tonight, there is a growing danger that threatens every blessing our ancestors fought so hard for, struggled they bled to secure. Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to erase our istory, erase our values and indoctrinate our children. [crowd booing] angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of Violent Crime in our cities. Many of these people have no dea why they are doing this, but some know exactly what they are doing. They think the American People are weak and soft and ubmissive. But, no, the American People are trong and proud, and they will not allow our country and all of its values, history and culture to be taken from them. Cheers and applause] crowd chanting u. S. A. ] one of their political weapons is cancel culture, driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters, and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees. This is the very definition of totalitarianism, and it is completely alien to our culture and to our values. And it has absolutely no place in the United States of america. Cheers and applause] this attack on our liberty, our magnificent liberty must be stopped, and it will be stopped ery quickly. We will expose this dangerous movement, protect our nations children, end this radical assault and preserve our american way of life. In our schools, our newsrooms, even our corporate boardrooms, there is a new farleft fascism that demands absolute allegiance. If you do not speak its language, perform its rituals, recite its mantras and follow ts commandments, then you will censored, persecuted and blacklisted and punished. Its not going to happen to us. Make no mistake, this leftwing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the american revolution. N so doing, they would destroy the very civilization that rescued billions from poverty, disease, violence and hunger, and that lifted humanity to new highs of achievement, discovery and progress. To make this possible, they are determined to tear down every statue, symbol and memory of our national heritage. Thats very true, actually. That is why i am deploying federal Law Enforcement to protect our monuments, arrest the rioters and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent f the law. [crowd chanting four more years] thank you. I am pleased to report that yesterday federal agents arrested the suspected ring leader of the attack on the statue of the great Andrew Jackson in washington, d. C. [cheers and applause] and in addition, hundreds more have been arrested. [cheers and applause] under the executive over i signed last week pertaining to the Veterans Memorial preservation and recognition act and other laws, people who damage or deface federal statues deface federal statues or monuments will get a minimum of 10 years in prison. [cheers and applause] pres. Trump and obviously, that includes our beautiful Mount Rushmore. [cheers and applause] pres. Trump our people have a great memory. They will never forget the destruction of statues and monuments to george washington, Abraham Lincoln, ulysses s grant, abolitionists, and many others
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