On tuesday, september noon Sidney Blumenthal will tell us about his recently released volume three of the biography of abraham lincoln, all the powers of birth, the political life of abraham lincoln, 18561853. On monday, september 16 at 7 associate Justice Neil Gorsuch will tell us about his new book of republic if you can keep it and which explores essential aspects of the constitution and the importance of civic education, civil discourse and mutual respect. Check our website archives. Gov or sign up at the table outside the few to get email updates. You will point you will find information about other archives programs and activities. Another way to get more involved in the National Archives is to become a member of the National Archives foundation, the foundation support all of our education and outreach activities and you can check out their website archivesfoundation. Org to learn more about their organization and join online. Upstairs in the rotunda for the charters of freedom two narrows murals commemorate two founding documents of our nation, the declaration of independence and the United States constitution. In the depiction of constitution the center group of figures represents those who played key roles in the creation of that document along with George Washington, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin is george mason, one of the five most frequent speakers at the Constitutional Convention. But at the conclusion of the convention in september 1789, mason did mason did not sign the document. His primary objection the lack of a declaration individual rights like to the creation of the third charter in the rotunda, the bill of rights. Today we look for to hearing me about george masons Critical Role in our nation from his biographer william hyland. Hes a native of virginia and the author four widely praised historical biographies including in defense of Thomas Jefferson which was nominated for the virginia literary award. Is also written about a biography of fame jeffersonian historian Thomas Malone and martha jefferson, and intimate life with Thomas Jefferson. Hes a a litigation attorney wh the National Firm of vernon and boeing with nearly 30 years and highprofile trials experience. He is also imagine professor glaude at myths and University College of law and teaches undergraduate course in political science. His professional lectures have included speeches at the National Archives and Colonial Williamsburg foundation. Hes a member of the virginia and new york or stroke societies answer is on the board of directors of the Thomas Jefferson heritage society. Please welcome william hyland. [applause] thank you, thank you to the archives for inviting me back. This is my third time back here, and i enjoy my visits back to because i really feel a closeness of history when i come back year. It really gives me chills to know that the three most Important Documents in our founding history are just 200 feet above us, the declaration of independence, the constitution of the United States, and the bill of rights. And i very much feel close to history when i come here. As david told you, and ducks want to i want to think again for inviting me, i am a lawyer by practice and always start off my speeches telling a story about lawyers. Even though george mason was not a voter he had a wealth of legal knowledge like he did not go to law school like jefferson and madison. But this is a story that i want to tell about a lawyer, a doctor, a priest and a little boy. They were all on a small plane and writing together, they develop, the small plane developed a little engine trouble. The pilot said we are having trouble, everyone will to bail out. Everyone for himself. Grab a parachute and jumped out. The doctor grabbed the first parachute and said, im a doctor, i save lives so i must live, and jumped out with the first parachute. Lawyers are the most important people in the world, thus i must live, grabbed a parachute, jumped out. The priest looked at the boy and it was only one parachute left and said my son, i have lived a long and prosperous life. You have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and take off. The little boy turned to the priest and said, no worries, father. The smartest man in the world just took off with my backpack. [laughing] lets talk about george mason. Not a lot of people know about george mason. They basically no that george mason university, may be the final form that they reached a few years ago, but i have no idea who george mason is, and i hope my book changes that opinion. If Thomas Jefferson was a genius both professionally and personally, which he was, then his mentor george mason was a near genius. America was woven together on three review pieces of paper, the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the bill of rights. George mason had a hand in formulating, writing the blueprints for all three documents. In 1776 mason emerged as a revolutionary and left an indelible footprint as one of the ablest constitutionalists of alltime. And historian ralph kitchens opinion quote, mason became generally acknowledged as virginias premier republican theorist. Even though he never attended college or law school or was selftaught and his uncle 1500 Volume Library in virginia. Yet masons through enduring legacy was the creation of the american experiment, and nations capacity to create hope in a world confused in fear. Some of masons key writings is an opposing accomplishment, yet in each instance masons individual work was absorbed by a Political Coalition and his name lost to public fame. Anonymity, however, was more than a byproduct of the character of his historical work. Work. Also became a matter of preference for mason. His advice to his sons was quote to refer the happiness and independence and a private station to the troubled indexation of a public business. That was an advice he followed all his life. His colleagues elected into colleagues were met with persistent refusal on his part. Yet his crew and detailed constitutional hypnotize many elected audiences. As one scholar concluded, george mason was a thinker, and advisor rather than a publicist. My biography of mason is not a patriotic as nor a freefall into mason idolatry. It is a broad portrait of mason in the world in which he lived. While not getting his vibrant intellectual life, i tried together anecdotal accounts that will bring this brilliant man to life for the public. The resulting portrait i hope will operate fresh and surprising interpretation even to those best versed in the literature of the revolutionary period. I hope my book blended together the political and personal sides of masons story, leaving one with the inevitable conclusion, george mason deserves careful and renewed focus. Full historical notoriety has not been accorded to george mason. He attended to lack the multivolumes biographies that have burnished the other founders. And in my view has not been accorded the same that is to him. Every fact bearing upon the character and service of mason whose visionary mental gift help create a model formed government should receive a warm greeting from the public, and those who are interested in the origins of individual freedom. Mason grasped the conception of true liberty. His velocity of the authority of the citizens to control the government seemed thorough and complete. Yet his great labors are not as white widely known or established in the public might at some of the other founders. Mason hashed out blueprints for the declaration of independence, which was his virginia declaration of rights. It was said by one historian to have quote, more wisdom and concentration of thought in one sentence of it then it all former writings on the subject. Pretty powerful words. It is a little known fact that mason was personally responsible for the famous words in the final version of jeffersons eloquent declaration of independence. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were masons own words written a month before jefferson and his eloquent version of the declaration of independence. Mason added the words to the constitution giving congress the power to quote, declare, not quote, make war. He also supplied the phrases aid and comfort in the definition of treason, and you wrote the famous words high crimes and misdemeanors in the impeachment clause. Most people dont know that. Along with madison, mason also wrote major portions of the oath of office that the modern president takes when sworn in today. Quite simply given the length and breadth of masons political writings and influence, his name should be more recognizable in the Public Domain and in the same context as with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and alexander hamilton. Masons pragmatic mind had constitutional principles and in infuse them abstract theory into government reality. And mason never wavered on his core cherished convictions, individual rights and liberty over governmental power. Yet both jefferson and madison changed their views within the Political Climate of the times, suffering from what one prominent historian turned quote, a disarming ideological promiscuity. Unfortunately, history has confined mason to the second tier of historical significance. The goal of my book is not to take the recognition away from jefferson or madison or hamilton, but to assign more credit to mason. As jefferson himself admitted his authorship of the declaration of independence was quote, neither amy and originality of principle or sentiment, nor copied from any particular and previous writing. It was intended to be an expression of the american mind. In effect, masons virginia declaration of rights emerged as jeffersons brilliant and eloquent blueprint, if not first draft, of the declaration of independence. Masons layered personality also played a notable part in so many important field of intellectual thought, including government, law, the free exercise of religion, agriculture, architecture, and philosophy. He was among american authors of rights in the dependence whose delicate articulations of the american creed articulated a vision and set the course for history. Yet he remained a somewhat reclusive figure up until the American Revolutionary war, a war that precipitated his constitutional brilliance. The war for independence did not progress swiftly. As england oppressive course became National Policy toward the colonies, mason met it with the resolution no less fixed and expressed forceful language. He wrote quote, though we are englands subjects, we would use every means which have been has given us to prevent our becoming slaves. With masons commanding strength and intellect he became aroused by the emotional appeal and vigor of words. All is at stake, he wrote to washington, and the little conveniences and comforts of life with set in competition with our liberty ought to be rejected not with reluctance, but with pleasure. Mason was not a bold commander Like Washington nor of fiery oratory like Patrick Henry, but gained his chief fame as a draftsman of the virginia declaration of rights. He rarely had a National Audience outside of his country, virginia, and only the slow passage of time revealed the full significance of his proposal. Yet mason did not rest once his words were written for his ideas circulated. He was the builder and at the center and architect of the american bill of rights which one scholar called arguably the most creative and consequential act of Political Leadership in american history. Masons virginia declaration of rights affirm our modern fundamental freedoms, the right to free press, the right to a jury trial, the right to not self incriminate you. These were all masons words written 12 years, 12 years before the constitution was written. They became the blueprint for the first ten amendments known as our bill of rights. It was mason, not jefferson, not madison, not hamilton, i wrote the first version of the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms. And i found that to be amazing. These were masons famous words, quote, again 12 years before the constitution was even written, quote, these were masons words on the Second Amendment, quote, a well regulated militia composed of the body of the people trained in arms is the proper natural and safe defense of a free state. Thats his wife who died at the age of 39. Masons love and adore his wife ann and their 12 children and he had 25 grandchildren. He also loved his books, his estate, good wine, architecture, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, history, the commonwealth of virginia, and the very latest in farming ideas. At dunstan hall the home he built, mason discover the pleasures of scholarly pursuit for an alternating world of quiet and solitude with the family. A devoted family man unlike some other founders that we know, that was never hit or suspicion of smarmy involving his personal life. Indeed, it is not possible to fully understand masons intensity for liberty, sacrifice in virtue, words that have explicit meaning in the 18th century, apart from his family. Examination of surviving letters and documents at gunston hall reveal a caring husband and doting father. His sons recollection gives us an additional window into the private life of mason at gunston hall. Mason never ceased to prefer the companionship of a superior mind and price good manners. Although born privileged he opposed all the trappings of an aristocratic society. He believed in america and in americans. Liberty was his chief concern. Individual freedom was his chief concern. The freedom of the spirit, the freedom of the mind. Mason, although he did not attend college, was a cultivated gentleman. He did not attend college or law school, like i said, with jefferson or with madison. Nascent emerged though is a a lifelong advocate of education for all in proportion to their merit. To call him of voters of the enlightenment is the best way to sum up his thoughts. Masons political strength lay in his many friendships among the leaders of all shades of political vigor. One of his best friends was of course George Washington, and, in fact, they had a tremendous falling out after mason refused to sign the constitution, and that ended their 30 your friendship. Mason assumed responsibilities by virtue of his towering intellect. At times he may have seemed remote, even cloistered, and his sensitivity to criticism were recognized by some as a character flaw. But his colleagues also recognized mason as a devoted family man and loyal friend. Assets in any private circle. Masons industry would not be questioned, though we did not become due to age and health, he was recognized by his peers as a man of capacity and courage. It seemed almost impossible for george mason to be familiar with, to anyone outside of his immediate family. Mason concentrated his attention on his large family, not on posterity. His personal papers are not voluminous compared to the official papers of jefferson, washington and madison. The definitive edition of masons papers run a scant three volumes. The diversion derived from the politics and family considerations. Though george mason and Patrick Henry curtailed their political careers after the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788, so the amassed are few papers in the first three president s. In 1820, masons grandson, george mason the sixth begin to correspond with prominent men the new his grandfather, including James Madison. Madison sympathize with the young mans struggle to gather the papers. He said and wrote of masons achievements, quote, but highly distinguished as he was, accounts are more scanty than many of his contemporaries. Far inferior to them than intellectual powers and in public service. While some have largely dismissed mason as many simple refused to sign the constitution, this is not, in my view, a historically accurate picture of mason. His generosity was unmatched when it came to his family, solicited to his beloved mother while she was still alive, as well to his younger brother and sister. My adulthood he was already he had already begun to be a voracious collector of. He cultivated the arts, sciences, and agriculture. And even though he lost his dear wife ann at the age of 39, and is lifelong friendship with George Washington over his objections to the constitution, mason believed in the fundamental goodness of life. Close study of surviving documents and letters have revealed masons intricate character. Those who have commented on masons life at captioned him as a reluctant statesman, a gentleman revolutionary, or the man who did not sign the constitution. Indeed, he may be all of these things, but on examination of his public career reveals a broad picture of political contributions that spanned his entire adult life. It discloses his talents and persistence as a writer and a reformer, a legislature and a representative, a militia officer, and local Church Parish vestry, a trustee for the town of alexandria, a treasurer of his western land speculation company, the ohio company. It is unfortunate that mason is remembered best as the dissenting delicate to quote the federal constitution as it was called in 1787 in philadelphia. He was one of three men who did not sign the constitution with Edmund Randolph turkey refused to sign the final document that he perceived, sanction human slavery for the next 20 years. This constitution had a compromise for the importation of slaves for another 20 years, and he objected to that vigorously. But his main objection to the constitution was the omission of the bill of rights. There was no bill of rights for the people, he said, and that is the fundamental reason he did not sign the constitution. The first six words of his now famous objection to the constitution he wrote at the convention were heard in every town in every village. There is no declaration of rights. He carried his struggle for federal bill of rights to the people, and he lived barely long enough to see his efforts crowd with congressional victory, a monumental bill of rights. Although professional historians are familiar with masons legacy, it seems that his renowned, his name as a drowned in public obscurity. He is by far one of the most unknown figures in american history, a remote man respected by revolutionary scholars than known by the general public. The perception that pervades history is that mason seemed to lack the appeal of franklin, the robust dominance of George Washington or the personal charms of Thomas Jefferson. In fact, mason has receded so much in our collective memory that he has become nothing more than a modest bronze statue here in washington, d. C. However, in his own time and place, contemporaries grasp at superlative to describe george mason. Madison exuded that quote, mason possessed the greatest talent for debate of any man i have ever seen, heard, or speak. Patrick henry pronounced him quote, the greatest statesman i ever knew. Jefferson complemented his mind as quote, great and powerful. Philip must say, florentine physician and world traveler met mason within days of arriving in america. He said, in my opinion, mason is not well known enough. He is one of those brave, rare, talented men who caused nature a great effort to produce. The italian rate mason as one of the intellectual giant writing, quote, mason is one of those strong, very rare intellects which are created only by a special effort of nature, like that of a mac of ellie, a galileo machiavellian, newton, in the court. Most people know little of masons private life and family life. The private world of hamilton and jefferson had recently attracted a great deal of attention in ink. My book reexamines george mason by telling his personal as well as his political journey while probing his 18th century roles. Roles. Also touches on his significant contributions to our political life and liberty. Mason became a leading virginian before, during, and after the American Revolution who a great personal cost confronted the entangled history of slavery and an error of political revolution. What i hope to establish is the case for masons elevated public fame, facing him among the most famous american founders for both civil rights and freedom of religion. James madison gets credit for the bill of rights, where as he initially opposed the concept and agreed to support such document only as a last resort. George mason, i contrast, has been brushed aside as an opponent of the constitution. Whereas the truth is he was a Major Intellectual contributor to its creation. Except for madison, probably no one contribute more to the actual document then did george mason. He rightly deserves to be considered one of the fathers of our national government. Indeed, our greatest lyrical documents, the declaration of independence, the bill of rights to the constitution all form a series of concentric circles leading back to george mason. In my view, mason should emerge as one of the preeminent literary architects of the American Revolution. Most americans should read his declaration of rights and his later virginia constitution as part of the common stock of political and journalistic discourse. Mason had a sharp mind of jefferson, the determination of washington, the literary skills of madison, and the personality and grumpy temperament of john adams. A man seemingly lost to the general public, masons life was in the most entangled political period in u. S. History. Why this is mason not among sacred gallery of famed hatreds wax it is lamentable that most americans do not know mason as well as they should, especially when we reflect on who he was and what he achieved. Virginian sky on, a devoted husband and father of 12 children, 25 grandchildren grandchildren, farmer, philosopher, botanist, amateur musician, fluent in two languages, architect of the declaration of independence and the bill of rights, and one of the strongest proponents in america of religious liberty in history. Losers receive little credit from history. Most historical impressions of mason depict him as a grumpy old patriot who lost his political arguments in philadelphia, then took his hand and quill and went home, and thats why he refused to sign the constitution for his own reasons come some argue. I hope to give the reader a renewed look at masons character, life and accomplishments. Mason is shown to be in my book to be a compassionate, sensitive well read boy who matured into an accomplished statesman, devoted husband and father. Jefferson never made a secret of the fact that he revered george mason. The sage at monticello called in the wisest man of his generation. Jefferson fame biographer agreed, summarizing masons marquis contributions to the revolution when he said quote, mason chartered the rights of human beings much more fully than jefferson did in the immortal necessarily compress paragraph in the more famous document, referring to the declaration of rights pic of the contemporary and back of masons declaration, malone went on to say, there could be no possible question. More than any other single american did you hear that . More than any other single american, george mason may be regarded as the herald of this new era. Quite simply, mason developed into a a private man of renaissance interest with an abiding conviction deep inside him, the fate of individual liberty, individual freedom with paramount to governmental power. He believed individual freedom was a natural right. Individual liberty was a natural right. He wrote in his virginia declaration of rights, quote, all power is vested in and consequently derived from the people, that government is, ought to be instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the people, nation, or community. Masons oratory and literary skills helped propel the colonies towards independence. He drafted and interviewed some of the most creative and consequential political text in revolutionary history. Yet history has anointed others with fame while mason has languished in relative obscurity. I hope this gulf separating masons recognition from his political contemporaries will be abundantly clear at the end of my biography. It is said that biography ends with death. However, as did most great statesmen, mason thought that the next generation thought about. Had he lived longer perhaps he could to find a viable solution for the next generation to end slavery, an institution he condemned in the most stringent of terms, yet he never freed his own slaves. I hope to have presented mason so the reader can feel the patriot, the father, the husband, the farmer, the scholar here no doubt he seemed to know intimately but it must have seemed a privilege to have known him then as it does now. I also hope my biography will invite the reader to define patriotism as mason did in his time, in his broadest sense, while appreciating the need as well as the necessity of political debate in a free society. As one historian eloquently concluded, quote, and the story evaluations, actions speak louder than words. Emulation rather than rhetorical evaluation by men and women of wisdom and virtue is the better test, end quote. By that rule, let mason be judged. Widely, george masons true importance is to be found in the public achievement, the rights of the human spirit, life and liberty. In the final analysis, masons lyrical authorship should make in an enduring historical figure. Like jefferson with his literary brilliance, masons declaration of rights should be considered a monumental, an important taxed. He lived one of the most eventful, colorful, and consequential lives of all time. From the on this earth is lasting written principles shield mankind from, quote, the lash of tyrants. As eloquently expressed by one scholar, masons final legacy suggests political genius quote, those who carry the torch of freedom are soon forgotten, perhaps to be rediscovered centuries later. Masons moving words indeed offer an abiding legacy on individual liberties and constitutional government. Which in my view will have few equals. Thank you very much. [applause] and i and i would be glad toe any questions. I think you just have to move to the podium. Yes, sir. Thank you. I was struck when you quoted masons draft of the Second Amendment, which became the Second Amendment. And as i heard you say that, quote it, it didnt appear there was an individual right to bear arms. Is that a correct interpretation . That was his original words, but he believed in individual, the right to the individuals to bear arms. Masons major goal in major objection to the constitution was that he was afraid of another george iii. He was afraid that the new government would turn into a tyranny, so he believed in individual rights, individual liberty, but he believed that the individual has a right to arm them, even though he did not put that in the actual document. Thank you for the question. Thank you very much. The very last phrase that you just said rings potent in my ears right now, and it said to shield mankind from the lash of tyrants. How do you think mason might view the development and integration of Artificial Intelligence into our society . Would he view this inevitability as a potential threat to individual human rights . I have no idea. [laughing] Artificial Intelligence, thats a great subject. Even though mason was near genius and Thomas Jefferson was a genius, i dont think they thought that far in advance. Quite frankly. But again, going back to his name clarion call was for individual rights in individual liberty. He was against anything of the government intruding on the individuals rights and individual liberty. Maybe he would think that would be a governmental intrusion, Artificial Intelligence, i dont know. But i will say when it is major calls, his Major Concerns was a freedom of the press. So he would believe very strongly in a in a freedom of e press, freedom of expression, as far as that. You seem to be extremely familiar. You have done your research. Do you think you might feel a need to define individual now as organic . Again, i have no idea. I just have no idea how he would think about that. I really appreciate your research. Thank you very much. Thank you for the question. Can you tell us the reasons why those brilliant men who wrote the constitution and the new about the ideas in the declaration of rights, men like madison, why did these writers initially object to and reject the ideas of that declaration of rights, which they eventually agree to which ratification required in the bill of rights . Thats a great question, and those are the very essence of the disagreement between mason in washington and madison at the convention. Washington and madison thought a declaration of rights, bill of rights were superfluous to the constitution. They thought that anything that wasnt in the constitution referred back to the states, and that they did not need a document to say that there were natural rights, individual liberty. They believe that it was superfluous. Mason completely disagreed and so did Patrick Henry. He wanted an individual document appended to the constitution enumerating these bill of rights, the right to a jury trial, the right to a free press, the right to free expression. He believed that that should be written out. Washington and madison thought that was superfluous and it was inherent in the constitution. Yes, sir. You may have hinted to the answer this question just now, but in virginia politics at the time was mason more closely allied with jefferson and madison or with Patrick Henry . Jefferson, he was closely mentor to jefferson and he was a colleague of Patrick Henry. Patrick henry and him teamed up in the Virginia Ratifying Convention to try and defeat or at least get the bill of rights appended to the new constitution. Constitution. So he was a mentor to jefferson, but he was a political ally of Patrick Henry at the Virginia Ratifying Convention. And, in fact, with him patrick cannon was one of the most vociferous objectors to the constitution. They came within i think three or four votes at the Virginia Ratifying Convention of defeating the constitution, by the way. Yes, sir. Thank you. In the bill of rights and the compromise that probably took place past that, were there any particular rights that were, if you will, on mason and henrys original list that did not survive the process . Yes, there were approximately 24, i believe, amendments at the Virginia Ratifying Convention that were actually sent to congress. James madison expertly, and i give him credit, basically edited these amendments down to be really the modern version of the bill of rights, but there were many different conventions going on at the time. You have to remember that nine states had to ratify the Constitutional Convention. So each, almost each state had their own set of amendments, but i believe the were approximately 244 they came out of the Virginia Ratifying Convention. But going back again to masons major concern, his major freedom, he thought freedom of the press was an absolute fundamental. Thank you. You mentioned masons access to an extensive family library. Is there any indication as to what political thinkers, philosophers may have impacted his thinking most. Is absolutely here in fact, i have one chapter devoted exclusively to that. He read extensively in this articles library 1500 volumes, but but he read all the english jurists, locke had major influence on him, but montesquieu is what he read the most. And montesquieu really gave him the idea of the separation of powers, that there should be three branches of government. But that is why his own colleagues thought he was the most, the ablest constitutionalist in virginia, because he was so well read, so versed on all the bill of rights, the english bill of rights in 1689, the magna carta, rue sews writings, lockes writings, and thats why he really was a genius because he knew and had read all these constitutions before. Well, i think that does it for questions. One more . I had a question about the Second Amendment and proslavery the role slavery played. Not the words the right to hold slavery. Im not sure he found those two to be tied together, but again what is basic fundamental differences and one of the reasons he did not sign the constitution was because there was a compromise at the Constitutional Convention between the northern and southern states, and it basically sustained the importation of slavery for the next 20 years. He was vociferously against slavery. He wrote about slavery, and he was, he just thought it was an abomination. But like a jefferson, he did not know how to solve the problem of slavery in his lifetime. He basically kicked it down the road to the next generation, but that was one of the main reasons he did not sign the constitution, because it sustained the compromise for importing slaves for 20 more years. Yes, maam. Thank you. Could you please fill us in a little bit more on his education . Did he have a tutor . How old was he when he really started you said something about collecting books. And also, his age with regards to jefferson and of the people. He was working with, because you said his wife died at 39. How old was he . Well, he was 67 when he died. He was about 15 years older than both madison and jefferson at the time. He did have tutors as a child, like George Washington, and one of the things they did have in common with both of the fathers died when they were very young boys, at the age of ten. So we really did not have a mentor, so to speak, going up. So was uncle john mercer who was a lawyer had a vast library, over 1500 volume of english law, montesquieu, locke, things like that. So he really was under the tutelage after his father died of his uncle john mercer. And john mercer basically taught him to become a a lawyer, to become a jurist, to become a scholar. So that was really his main mentor was his uncle, and reading from the age of 11 all of these various volumes. But one of interesting things, he did remarry seven years after his wife died. A second marriage. And they did not have children, but at the time of the death of his wife, he had 12 children to raise by himself. Thank you. [applause] i think thats it. Thank thank you so much. I appreciate it. [applause] folks, just reminder there would be assigning one level up in the bookstore. The books are at the cash register. Weeknights this month we are featuring booktv programs showcasing whats available every weekend here on cspan2. Tonight we feature authors of history books. Book tv this week and every weekend here on cspan2. Next, Pulitzer Prize winning historian alan taylor on