I will give david a moment. Thank you all for coming. Thank you for your patience. What a beautiful day. I am the executive director of the Library Association and on behalf of of our board of trustees and first lady, we welcome you to this wonderful day, this gorgeous day of what will be a truly memorable hour with one of greatest authors and historians David Mccullough. [applause] for those of you who may not be familiar founded in 1929 by ohio firstnd lady. Ms. Cooper an avid reader who. There should be a collection of books of ohio writers of ohio books from that idea the library was born in today the book awards and book festivals to connect readers and writers to promote our state as one of the truly great literary centers of the united states. 2019 marks the 90th anniversary and can you think of anyone who is more perfect to add luster to your 90th celebration and then David Mccullough. [applause] three years ago in this very room he attended the awards for the Wright Brothers. How many ofyear you have read tt book . He told us at that time he was working on a new book he was excited about we asked him to come back and share it with us and we are grateful he has brought his lovely wife rosalie, and his son. Welcome. Also a special thank you to our sponsors Area Corporation and Capital Square foundation which i am pleased to say is bringing doris colonel lawrence on Doris Kearns Goodwin here. And also to cspan you can see his recording this event live for book tv. And finally a very special thanks to the first lady whos been a great supporter of ours to a tradition going back to our founder mrs. Cooper. Thank you while i say thank you to first ladies hope taft and all those have been very involved and i might add that hope and francis brought their husbands. Thank you for coming. [applause] bringing people together of all parties some of you say was such unity may be we should put mccullough 2020. [laughter] we just began putting together the event and she told me she and the governor were huge mccullough fans and said let us know if we can help we are so grateful that you have with mike introduce david there was an enthusiastic yes im delighted to introduce someone who served her stay in many capacities and since january the 70th governor of ohio. [applause] thank you very much good morning everyone. We are delighted to join to celebrate the 90th anniversary. If you have not been to their book festival, it will come up again next year. Dont miss it if you love ohio writers and want to meet them, its a great opportunity. Friend was there this year unfortunately my schedule is not correct and i was somewhere else but i guarantee it will be there next year. Was our pleasure y to welcome David Mccullough, his wife on wife rosalie and son bill and the Research Assistant of the state of ohio. This pittsburgh native while researching his magnificent book on the Wright Brothers walked to the perry in Greene County where they perfected flying and spent a great deal of time one of the bicycle and print shops and in the Wright Brothers archives at Wright State University this pittsburgh native also spent many a day at Marietta College and nights at the Lafayette Hotel on the banks of the river. He did that working on his new book which you are all holding i think everybody has got one, the pioneers he said it best himself a grip on the ohio river in pittsburgh where ther story begins so its in my bloodstream to. A twotime Pulitzer Prize winner to National Book awards and recipient of the president ial medal of freedom. For over 50 years he has informed us and inspired us and introduced us to fascinating characters to bring new insight in introspective for understanding of historical figures we thought we already knew and he told us more about. We are delighted to have him today it has been said you could have the character of David Mccullough writing history as effortlessly as if he was telling a good after dinner antidote once referencing his apparently unquenchable enthusiasm for research that makes his book so compelling and although he writes with a skill he never resorts to the license to event never draws a conclusion not backed by hard facts. His books are always filled with fascinating subject matter Fascinating Research and detailed pros. And one of my favorite quotations one of the truth about history that needs to be made clear to a student is that nothing ever had to happen the way it happened. Probably by the and ted to think a politician. [laughter] it doesnt always have to happen that way. My friend loves his pros but is fallen in love with his voice and loves to listen to him read the Wright Brothers book and i must tell you, i worry a little bit and became a little jealous when she started to listen to your rendition of the Wright Brothers w book for the third time. [laughter] i love your voice also but i was a little concerned. [laughter] we are thrilled once again his immense talent to tell a truly ohio story taking the stories of the five earliest settlers to bring them to life these remarkable americans risked their lives by leaving the comfort of new england to be a part of the settling of our state. I must admit that my favorite mccullough book is about harry truman. He writes a stirring account of the come from behind campaign in 1948 and our lesson for Anyone Running for office you can be your own person and do itit your way and despite what the experts say you cant win. Please help me will come back to ohio again David Mccullough. [applause] thank you governor and all of you. Never in my life has such a warmhearted uplifting appreciated welcome as we have had since wee arrived in ohio several days ago. To began are talk with the pioneers down in marietta and columbus. The generosity, the good spirits the honesty and the decency. Is so prevalent and apparent that i hope you dont ever take itr for granted thank you. Dont get too big for your britches. And the dedication to community and family which are so important are major objectives in this wonderful society and civilization or whatever you call it. That our predecessors that we still believe then are so espoused to come across the subject by chance. And to talk about the role of luck in history the role of luck in life. Good luck or bad luck. And to give the commencement speech at Ohio University in 2004. I excepted and i realize i know nothing about Ohio University so i began to do a little homework and i was told or read the oldest building on campus is called cutler hall. Who was cutler . I soon found out and once i found out i became entranced with the mans career. The fact he went to yale where i had graduated and lives in massachusetts and the fact the first job after graduating from college on Marthas Vineyard island and the fact my wifes family and the fact that his son ephraim was born in Marthas Vineyard and the fact in order to getet to ohio you have to go to pittsburgh. [laughter] and the first copy and then to be published in cincinnati but then i dont know if it was by samuel eldreth or who but the National Publisher that was a. S. Barnes was my wife rosalies greatgrandfather so there is a connection we cant deny or take for granted. The big change the big revelation that here was something that after i finish the Wright Brothers to get down to marietta there is a collection of archival material and my assistant is the greatest researcher in America Today saw this breathtaking collection that we had open king tuts tomb and it was thrilling. So let me just try to describe not that there is so much of it literally there are thousands of letters in memoirs journals and maps and data off all kinds and magnificent Oil Paintings but the quality of it all. And the quality of the thinking and then to express what we were brokenhearted about. How they were suffering and all the work they had to do. And the epidemic disease and a natural fiasco. Storms and earthquakes all of it happening one after another. Compared to that we are all a bunch of softies. Truly. [laughter] i could go on for hours of the lessons of history and why it is so beneficial and important so two of the most important lessons to be passed on to children and grandchildren the first is empathy to put yourself in the other persons place and imagine what life might have been like then its the same for people of their own time to understand why other people feel as they do. Empathy. And second gratitude and all that other people do for our benefit and have done long ago and we should never take that for granted and one of the things that we do take for granted is a Public School system and that all men are created equal. And those National Life began here. Here in ohio why . Because of one man efrom cutler. The northwest ordinance, 1787 states very clearly there will be publicli education. There will be complete freedomof of religion. Attitude toward the native americans that is fundamentally respectful and decent. Sld and and, there will be no slavery. Remember there were slaves in every original 13 colonies. So all men are created equal yes 150 slaves in the slave quarters. No. It will not be that way in ohio they determinedua. And that was due primarily if not entirely to Vanessa Cutler who wrote the basic tenets of the northwest ordinance and to his son ephraim. That Vanessa Cutler was a doctor of law and medicine and divinity all three at once and practiced all three. Probably almost certainly the leading american botanist of his day, astronomer, languages and then in the good life and then with those i have come to knowo. And then to have too much going on back home in massachusetts which is just north of boston and his church is still there and superb condition to come to ohio is still there. And his son came out here with his wife and four children. To be young and hopeful. And the rocky ground in an england coming down the ohio river to have the children died ofer disease. On the banks of the river. They arrive here mrs. Cutler stepped off and turned her ankle badly and suffering from disease himself when he arrived here. They knew no one so they had to began as everybody had to do it with hard work. Night and day every day and all the children worked right away. Now even keller didnt have the education his father had very important to keep in mind. I was asked in an interview just the other day of all the scenes in my book which do i wish i couldve been there to watched . I knew right away. There was aa big movement that came after the election of thomasth jefferson the jeffersonians will call it they didnt have a party name it. If they decided they would get rid of this rule to introduce slavery into ohio. To people in the legislature were leading the charge to stop that from keeping it into turning into a slave state rufus putnam was a and a leader on an effective leader. And he is absolutely devoted to stopping this change and he could hardly get out of bed. There is even some question if you would even survive. The day of the vote rufus putnam came into the boarding house room nearby and was old enough to be his father. You must get well and was according to your own measure according to one account putnam and another man carried them on the stretcher no reliable evidence he wrote on the i went to the convention to move to strike out the obnoxious matter as i was able. It was an act of fortitude and the result to never be forgotte forgotten. And the past by a majority of one vote only. Because he got up from his suffering and voted it was stopped and there would be no slavery. Not just in ohio but all of the Northwest Territory which included indiana, illinois, indiana, illinois, michigan and wisconsin. Imagine if the slaves were admitted and what wouldve happened. There would have been no underground railroad or Harriet Beecher stowe. Or Uncle Toms Cabin are the most influential novel written by any american. And the whole picture would have been different one man there is no statue of him. And to be totally forgotten so imagine the excitement we felt to hear all these letters. And that alone as well over 1000 pieces. And joe barker a wonderful carpenter who became the first architect. Rc very gifted and their own writings and intentionally. To have a sense of humor. And then they like to drink of course alcohol, whiskey was the only thing they had. Giving birth to a child or suffering they couldnt just give you a pain killer. We forget how important whiskey was as currency. They didnt have money to use. And and that we are so actively involved in this world that nobody ever lived in the past. There was no past. There is no past it was their present and they knew no better than we do how it would turn out. They didnt know they would succeed but they did not give up. Please keep in mind they did not come here to make a lot of money or become famous, or own a lot of fancy possessions. But to create a good society based on the background. And then to create a good society for children, family and they did not come here to stay here and work and raise families and i hear. And with that wonderful concentration of material and just beyond its part of the cemetery and rufus putnam said we have to preserve this. And then developers to tear it all down with a Community Graveyard and communities cemetery is the first example that i know of so they have history on their mind. And is ideal of education. It was not easy by efrom cutler. And to be in the legislature for ale long time and communicating at that time constantly am back home in marietta. Her name was sally. She was the second wife. The first wife died. Might the cost of their children to come here. He tended to overwork. Except on sunday. And then reading the bible one morning and contemplating do you know what day this is . It sunday. No its not a mistake in the was a traditional ritual and otherwise very often he didnt succeed we attempted to do. To pour out the anguish and frustration and irritation to his wife sally. Just returned from attending a meeting all the slumber and the adjoining room and the boarding house. The difficulty of making thickheaded mortals is sometimes vexing on the issue of Public Schools is necessary to make that possible. But this evening i had to contend theres nowhere to be found in with the demure looks beyond wary and like bloodsuckers to suck the public. See how things have changed . [laughter] and was fed up and truly tired of it. But by no means and the devotion to the cause of learning was no less than ever in effecting a change in taxation. And then he succeeded. Think of that. And then created Ohio University. The First University west of the allegheny mountains. I cannot arrest me the importance of that success of that crusade of his and it all goes back to his father who believe the establishment of the university was of utmost importance it was first object and that is the principal thing and with that wisdom i happen to feel very strongly are professors there was nobody doing work more in the long run. I think we can forget that underestimate the importance and then more respect and sense of appreciation im proud to say i have a son who is a High School Teacher im very glad who runs the preschool in new england. And im very indebted. And certain teachers in school and in college uplifted the sense of possibilities in life when we needed encouragement and i believe strongly in required forces. And then include writing should been required. Because it is essential to the best kind of education but i also think its important for young people to be reminded in life some things are required. [laughter] [applause] now i have to return to the Wright Brothers for a moment because i knew how they were raised and educated with those who first established education the Wright Brothers as im sure you know were raised in a home you give it four of them in this room easily no indoor plumbing or indoor water system, no telephone, they had very little at all but also a house full of books by their father as a minister with mark twain and shakespeare they were good books and brought them up to read books that if you dont quite understand shakespeare all the more reason to read. He told them learn to use the english language correctly and effectively both on paper and on your feet no matter what location you intend to pursue those will carry you farther if any of these young men went to college that stress was without any question of lasting importance i remember the first time i started to read wilbur writes letters , the great connection at the library of congress, what a vocabulary. Doing my work on my book about americans in paris that preceded the Wright Brothers into which were in france at the turn of the century continuing into the 20th century. And lo and behold i ran into wilbur i thought what the hell is he doing in paris . [laughter] he supposed to be in a bicycle shop inn ohio. Then i read he was writing about was system on letters back to his sister and a father overseeing the great paintings at the louvre. To study the interiors of the great gothic cathedrals and i thought this isnt the way most of us think of Wilbur Wright and then i found out about catherine, his sister one of the most remarkable americans ive ever come to know. And she was one of the first women to go there. And her letters to them as well as the fathers letters were extraordinary. Anything they ever said or wrote that Wilbur Wright no bird ever sword in a calm. What does that mean cracks if you take it literally that you cannot take off into the air into the wind but in a way he says he will never amount to much if you dont have to face any adversity if everything is easy for you. And that is exactly the lessons to be experiencing again and again of the community at marietta of these principle characters. Suffering. David brooks has a new book out which i find very interesting and he talks about the good that comes out of suffering. And thats the story. And the high purpose involved wilbur and Orville Wrights father said its work of for the purpose never worry about how they will make money and wasnt on their mind much at all. But again the old values, tell the truth. Dont lie. Dont cheat, dont get too big for your britches. Be loyal to your friends here country and family and try to make yourself useful but is cutler established a school the whole third floor on top of the parsonage to create a private school not a minister of the church but also the schoolmaster. The theme was to be useful. And all of that is so fundamentally true and so obvious that we tend to forget it. Now in a way i guess if i had to confess, i am a shortterm pessimist with a longrange optimist. I think history shows that. And history is essential because it reminds us so vividly not only what can happen that is disastrous or cruel or unkind or costly for what super accomplishments could be made what should be taught and written about not just as politics in the military yes its important and yes it is very important its not even half ofof it. That music in science and medicine i firmly believe and 50 years looking back they will say the most important thing that wasim happening that we dont even and talk about what you think what has been accomplished just in our lifetime rosalie and i each had a brother sadly afflicted by polio the discovery of dna is a major change to make us feel very good about our time. And proud of the fact how much happened in this country because of education. So we should all not just appreciatete those becoming contact with that how much of the responsibility and obligation we have to make it better and open to everybody and make it possibleve for everybody and when i see a college like marietta i have to tip my hat to that wonderful Little College what they are doing their and their fact thend the helief of liberal arts and humanities and emphasis on the humanities is admirable in the extreme. You have 137 colleges and universities. Imagine suburban major universities and marietta is certainly one ofof them. Thats something for all of you to be proud of im proud to be a part of the ohio story. And i wrote my first love stletter in ohio i was a counselor at camp. On lake erie. The girl i wrote her a letter and we have been married for 65 years. [applause] and we both feel we are off to a good start. [laughter] [applause] she is my editor in chief. My secretary of the treasury. The chair of my ethics committee. [laughter] and my polar star. Please stand up. [applause] the speech that i gave at Ohio University 2004 was 15 years ago. That is one i put a lot of time and thought into i want to close my remarks this morning with the same remarks that i close that speech with. I still think they are valid 15 years ago and this is advice to the graduating class. It was there on that beautiful campus, i will never forget it with rosie and my son before driving appear to columbus to see how beautiful it is and to be reminded of that turning point in my life. Went bad news rides high and despair were loudmouth and corruption is center stage with some keep crying the country is going to the dogs , remember it has always been going to the dogs. [laughter] its always been going to the dogs in the eyes of some and 90 percent or more of the people are good people. Generous hearted, law abidin abiding, good citizens who get to work on time. Do a good job. Love their country, pay their taxes and care about their neighbors and their childrens education and believe rightly as you do and i do in the ideals upon which our way of life is founded. Thank you. [applause]