We are now going to hear a piece, the final for romeo and juliet. Thank you so much. s. Should okay mexico [applause] [applause] good evening, good evening. Lets give the members of the National Washington opera another round of applause. [applause] my name is jon samuels i had the distinct privilege of introducing the director of this smithsonian natural portrait gallery. The first woman to serve as a director of this missoni at National Portrait gallery has been exploring new ways to place personal experience and creativity at the center of learning and awareness. Ladies and gentlemen i present to some been introduced to others the director of the smithsonian National Portrait gallery. [applause] good evening. I want to welcome you to the smithsonian at the National Portrait gallery. When congress founded the museum it was with the understanding that we would select comic display tell the stories of individuals who have made a major contribution to the u. S. History and culture. As we all know Ruth Bader Ginsburg has not only made a major impact on this country but one that is truly serve to inspire generation of people to fight for the things they care about but in such a way that others would like to join the cause. In recognition of her remarkable i am proud to say the portrait gallery has four portraits by Justice Ginsburg and the collection what is part of a Group Portrait of the first forr women to the court painted that he titled the four justices and we like to call the supremes. There is a popular adage that well behaved women rarely make history. The same certainly applies to portraits paid before the advent of photography portraits or with those who vote white men who owned land. By the time more women would have portraits made but truthfully still very few. Still today, only about 25 of the collection of women. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was extraordinary she only did not create her story and history but her story. She inspired other women to fight for their independence, demonstrate their intelligence in question the status quo. To be badly behaved or notorious. The kind of woman who is noticed and seen literally making positive. Now im pleased to introduce the chancellor of the smithsonian and another supreme the honorable chief justice of the United States jon g roberts to give opening remarks. [applause] thank you very much and good evening. I want to begin by thanking the directorate for hosting this magnificent and meaningful event here at the National Portrait galleries i want to express my appreciation to board of governors chairman for his Important Role for dedication. I do want to acknowledge in the audience my colleagues my retired colleague justice kennedy. You are out there somewhere. [applause] i am sure the be no dissenting opinions. There was once on the Supreme Court in new york are so recognizable the Postal Service delivered an envelope to that person addressed only by a drawing of the justice. I am referring of course to the time 88 years ago when hughes was the chief justice of the United States. The envelope we have kept in a Curators Office is adorned with nothing more than a pencil drawing a generate 21 postmark from new york city. A 3cent stamp with the words of washington d. C. Scrawled across the bottom. Knows an icon when it sees one. Perhaps that delivery was a stamp issue honor cues in 1962 on the centenary of his birth. Now everyone here knows the court has had another new yorker so iconic mail could have been delivered to her by amiri sketch of her appearance indeed perhaps a sketch of just your signature collar. And now a new stamp will audit this outstanding american the imminent jurors she gave so much to our country as a scholar, future, lawyer, judge, and justice. In the pantheon honored justices joint a distinguishing membership not just use but also chief Justice John Marshall and jon j and associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes name a few. William howard taft has a stamp to that honors him for the other job he held. It is a fitting moment for this ceremony too. Thirty years ago yesterday Supreme Court held a ceremonial investiture welcoming Justice Ginsburg to the court. Thirty years ago this week sat as a member of the court for the first time it convened by law for a new term on the first monday in october. Now, as a consequence of that same law im due back on the bench tomorrow morning and so in just a moment i will turn the over to the Postal Service but i could not miss this occasion. I want to recognize the presence of the justices children jane and will be part of the Supreme Court family. As chancellor of the smithsonian im pleased to welcome everyone here to the National Portrait gallery. As the chief justice and on behalf of the courts i think the Postal Service for honoring our late distinguished colleague and dear friend. Thank you very much and enjoy the program. [applause] i now have the distinct honor to introduce your mc for the evening. How long does an anchor at fox5 in the morning on sundays, the host of the five on the hill and a reporter for wtc geo tv in washington d. C. Please welcome your mc for this evening, mr. Tom fitzgerald. [applause] good evening everyone, how are you . Live a special evening for you ahead just a wonderful evening to be here. Thank you so much everyone. It is my sincere humble order to be serving as your master sermon is this evening as we mark this historic occasion for the official dedication of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg commemorative forever stamp we have a Wonderful Program for you tonight for even more wonderful than what you have witnessed tonight. But first a word about cell phones. They are wonderful modern tools of science however they can be a bit distracting official Washington Events like this one or even opera performances we ask, take a moment to silence them. Do not turn them off though youre going to need them for the Postal Service this evening would like you to use your phone to this evening. Rgb stamp and Ruth Bader Ginsburg at stamp and you set out in the social media post to make this evening. At this time we like all of you to rise for the presentation of the colors by the United States Postal Service also Police Honor Guard and the National Anthem performed by Jonathan Penn from the Washington National opera. [background noises] [background noises] [background noises] [background noises] oh say can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hail at the twilights last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight over the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave [applause] please take your seats everyone. Lets give a big around affect student Jonathan Patton and the Postal Service Police Honor Guard for that wonderful song. [applause] we are at most a fortune at the have several dignitaries and guests of honor in this audience here tonight. We would like to acknowledge them at this time. If you are able to stand and waved as i call your name, we would appreciate that. Please hold your applause to the end as they say britain would like to acknowledge the partners that made this evening possible tonight. United states Postal Service. The Ruth Bader Ginsburg family. The smithsonian National Portrait gallery. We all also have with us tonight the United States postmaster general, from the United States Postal Service board of governors, the honorable amber mick reynolds, the honorable dan and we would also like to acknowledge the many members of congress that we have with us this evening who have taken the time to be with us tonight. We of course have the ginsburg family with us this evening as well. That includes her daughter and son Jane Ginsburg and James Ginsburg prettily have philip who is the photographer of the stamp you are about to see rick kesler is the art directed the designer for the stamp and antonio with u. S. Ps art director. Thank you all of you. [applause] that means so much to everyone that you are here tonight to join in this very special event. We appreciate your support. But now to the business at hand. This is the moment youve been waiting for the scene the dedication of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg commemorative forever stamp her to do the honors tonight we have raman martin is the chairman of the Postal Service board of governors which is comparable to the board of directors of a corporation. They direct the organization expenditures the longrange planning and as you can imagine it is an and normas task for Governor Martinez also chairs the boards audit and finance committee pretty serves on the Election Mail Committee as well but it is our honor tonight to present the honorable raman martinez. [applause] [applause] good evening. Im glad you got that right so they dont call me the horrible but that is another story. Good evening. What an honor to be here tonight representing over 600 30,000 women and men of the Postal Service. First of all, i like to thank the National Portrait gallery for providing this magnificat space for such a great event. Thank you. I also want to thank the postal workers who put up this event yearround and they do a great job. They bring it to life. You guys are terrific. [applause] one of the privileges of being chairman of the board, perhaps the only one is i get first pick for the first day of issue events like this. This one was very special to me. One, we are honoring a Great American and a great individual. We are also in effect honoring the Supreme Court which i hold in high esteem. Plays a very Important Role of hold in the constitution and the rule of law. I am the only speaker tonight who probably did not know Justice Ginsburg but i saw her in action many times. I was always impressed by your firm demeanor, her sharp questions, when i saw her in action many times in the last several years. Beyond the court her personality by many americans. A lot has been said about her. But to meet one particular thing i admire was her ability to persevere. Her ability to fight for what she believes in. But to do it in a civil way. She said you can disagree without being disagreeable. Her famous friendship with justice glia another Great American is a testament to that principle. In a time of Sharp Division in our country we need more of the ginsburg spirit. As we americans use her forever stamp let us forever remember what binds together the nation. I am often asked the Selection Process to be on a stamp i will say a few words to that. We were established in 1775 by the second continental congress. Benjamin franklin with the first postmaster general. He had more hair than postmaster general but was just as efficient. In 1787 was the only federal agency mentioned by name in the constitution. It was only until 1847, 75 years later the congress authorized the issuance of stamps. That year George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were honored. Stamps were initially introduced to provide revenue over the years it has become the history of our nation in visual form. Today a person has to be deceased three years before he or she is considered for a stamp. We have one of the three Supreme Court justices that passed away. Today as you heard from the chief only 14 have been honored on a stamp. One of them was chief justice not 1930 to 1941. On a postal family note great granddaughter is here tonight, sandra. She is married to our vice chairman of the board. [applause] every of the Postal Service receives over 20000 suggestions. From there the citizens made up of 11 citizen individuals makes recommendations to the postmaster general. Stamps feature subjects that have made an extraordinary and enduring contribution to American Life, history. The official Postal Service announced today in celebrating Justice Ginsburg groundbreaking contribution and the rule of law. She certainly contributed all of that and much more to the fabric of our nation. We are very proud to be issuing a stamp in her honor. Before we asked my fellow participants to unveil the stamp with me appeared like to recognize and thank three individuals contributed to this creation. Our director ethel, she is here. [applause] michael who painted the portrait. And ralph on whose photograph the portrait was based. As you will see it is a beautiful work of art. Now it gives me great pleasure to invite Justice Ginsburgs children jane and james to join me here as well as the other participants who will unveil the stamp. I invite postmaster general to come up. Justice if you would like to join us. Justice kennedy if youd like to join us too. [background noises] [background noises] [applause] [applause] thank you. [background noises] [laughter] thank you so much Governor Martinez. Thank everyone who just joined us that incredible moment a round of applause for everyone. [applause] dont get too comfortable. [laughter] our next speaker is so wellknown in this town that as they say she needs no introduction. But yet she is going to get one anyway. She is the National Public radio Legal Affairs corporation on ite whose coverage of the Supreme Court Legal Affairs has widespread recognition including this is a long list. George peabody award the broadcaster of the year. The award for excellence in broadcasting for the National Press foundation. She has been honored seven times with the American Bar Association for continued excellence and legal reporting she is the recipient of more than two dozen honorary degrees. She is also the author of near times best seller dinners with ruth a memoir of power and friendships. Of course i could be talking about nobody else in this town but the legendary. It is wonderful to be here today. It is fitting that we are assembled to celebrate Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her stamp. Because rpg quite simply change the way the world is for american women. And she did that even before she became a judge. For more than a decade, until her first judicial appointments, she led the fight in the courts for gender equality. When she began her legal crusade women were treated, i know this is hard to believe for many in this audience, women at that time were treated by law differently from men. Hundreds of state and federal laws restricted what women could do barring them from all manner of jobs, or rights, even jury service. But by the time she became judge in 1980 she had quite literally brought a revolution. The strategy she devised was characteristically cautious, precise and singlemindedly aimed at one goal, waiting. Knowing she had to persuade mail establishment oriented judges she often picked mail plaintiffs to demonstrate how discrimination against women can also harm men. I had one of her earlier cases she represented a man whose wife, the principal breadwinner died in childbirth. The husband sought survivors benefits to care for his child. But under the then existing Social Security law only widows, not widowers were entitled to collect survivors benefits. And so she told the justices that lists law and i can almost hear her voice in my head quote operates to the disadvantage of female workers, their surviving spouses and their children. The court would ultimately agree. She won a lot of victories as a justice too. She was a master at holding a close majority together. As the court grew more and more conservative her dissents grew more and more pungent. My personal favorite came in 2013 when the court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights act contending the times had changed the law was no longer needed. Justice ginsburg in dissent said throwing out the law because it was working was like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because youre not getting wet. She was an unlikely pioneer. A shiite woman whose soft voice belied steel. By the time she was in her late 80s she was to her astonishment and i would have to say and her pleasure something of a rockstar to women and men of all ages. She was the subject of two movies merchandise glory featuring her notorious rpg monitor. A time manager cover and regular saturday night live sketches that invariably ended with the ginsburg imitator declaring and thats the ginsburg. Over her 87 years she was a friend to hundreds and hundreds of people from all walks of life. The Supreme Court it guy charged with teaching her how to use the computer found that from time to time the justice who knew he was an opera fan would invite him to go to her performance with her. Or there is the law clerk who had no idea that the justice knew of his trouble finding daycare spot for his toddler. Until the day he accompanied her to a speech at georgetown university. After words in the elevator rpg asked her escort where is the Daycare Center . The answer was the basement were rpg promptly led the whole entourage announcing when she got there, hello i am Justice Ginsburg. My clerk joe is looking for a daycare spot for his son simon. We would like a chewer. [laughter] problem solved. I could never get over how much emotional peripheral vision ruth had. She always seemed to know when to write, when to call, her actions were so often above and beyond the call of duty. When cancer reared its ugly head again in 2018, she leaned on my surgeon husband david for advice. But i remained in the dark. On the day of the surgery, just hours after she was wheeled out of the or, she called me from the icu. She was calling she said because she wanted me too know why she had forbidden david to tell me anything about what was going on. I did not want you to be trapped between your friendship for me and your obligations as a journalist she said. The reach of her personal decency extended to all manner of folk important and unimportant. For decades she corresponded with lois severin after the death of the severance husband who had been a friend of the ginsburg at cornell. After the initial condolence note rpg would periodically send cards and notes often he accompanied by a speech given on article of interest. And lois, lois began sending crocheted lacy gloves to ruth. Gloves along with similar ones that she bought would be worn by the justice to hide the dark bruise marks on her hands from cancer treatments. Over the years i interviewed the justice dozens and dozens of times. And in one of our last, she remained optimistic even though she was again fighting cancer. I do think i was born under a very bright star she said with a smile. Because if you think about it, if you think about my life i get out of law school, i have top grades. No law firm in the city of new york will hire me. I end up teaching night gives me time to devote to the movement for evening out the rights of women and men. It was that legal crusade that led to her appointment to the United States Supreme Court. Unto this for ever postage stamp this evening. [applause] x thank you so much that was fantastic. We are pleased to introduce this evening our next speaker who comes from the Postal Service. Laurie is an executive in their Law Department practices include employment, government contract, real estate law. However she knew Justice Ginsburg through the world of opera. Everyone please give a big welcome tonight. [applause] i am thrilled to participate in this celebration because of my longstanding connection with Justice Ginsburg as a fellow opera lover. I first met her many years ago through another opera fan. We were at a Movie Theater to watch the saturday matinee performance of the new York Metropolitan Opera which was being transmitted live via satellite. It soon became a regular occurrence and we saw quite a few of them over the years. As you might imagine it was quite an experience attending these performances with Justice Ginsburg. At times there was a standing ovation when she entered the auditorium and a crowd of admirers that could easily overwhelm her they were left unchecked by security. Justice ginsburg would gently wave her arms to motion everyone to sit down. But it could take a minute or two before people could calm down. People think taylor swift is a rock star. I quickly discovered it was best not to leave my seat during intermission because there was always a line of starstruck fans. Someone would invariably try to take my seat to get her attention. And sometimes they did not want to leave. Another thing i discovered was that i no longer needed to bring my opera reference book. There was no reason since she knew so much about opera and was so generous in sharing her knowledge. She would comment on the singers both past and present until stories as a child. How she and her husband martin went to the metropolitan opera when they were dating. Not surprisingly a frequent topic of conversation was the Washington National opera the Kennedy Center which she adored. She attended their dress rehearsal she like to discuss the performances. Her knowledge of opera was remarkable and it was fascinating to listen to her candor opinion of the production. She was, just as you would imagine engaging thoughtful and respectful. She was a lovely person a truly great lady. Its because of our opera connection over the years that i am sure Justice Ginsburg would enjoy the next portion of the program this evening. It is my pleasure to present the classical singing sensation who at the age of seven was named the venice world record opera singer. He is the winner of numerous contests and prices and is known for her breakthrough performance on americas got talent. Please welcome victory bring kurt. [applause] another round of applause for that. Wasnt that amazing . Thank you victory and thank you for sharing your special memories of Justice Ginsburg. Continuing our next speaker is elizabethan serves as the senior criminal Justice Policy advisor in new york city mayor adams previously she has held a variety of leadership positions of the local state and federal level including the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of new york the clerk for Justice Ginsburg when she was a judge on that u. S. Circuit court great ladies and judgment please say hello tonight to elizabeth. [applause] victory, wow fantastic. It is a funny thing when you know and love someone who becomes an icon and a stamp. Even as stamp as a beautiful an image as this one into dimension and of course ruth lived her life and i had a front row seats as one of her clerks. They are a blazingly talented group of professors and judges in Public Servant and more. They are a piece of her living legacy inspired by her brilliant comic disciplined by her work ethic and beneficiaries of her million kindnesses the notes that arrived in the mail, the court stationary, the fine lined pen of her precise handwriting and expression. For every occasion birth, death, congratulations Jane Ginsburg the justices daughter and i have been friends since we were seven. How the 1960s and 70s when ruth was a law professor and the founder of the aclu womens rights and the ginsburg new york apartment rosa typically camped out in the dining room that was lined with bookshelves full of her beloved husband martys tax reporters she was fueled it seemed entirely by coffee and cigarettes. Sometimes a pausing would marty a renowned tax expert and renowned cook would tempt her with a few morsels. She works long into the night and into the morning of the results six Supreme Court argument in seven years that establish some fundamental rights for women and men. If i knew mrs. Ginsburg a one way i got to know judge injustice and quite another. She liked something i wrote when i was 14 and 15 years later she called to offer me a job. Life in chambers called back the curtains on the law and what had been going on in that dining room lined with tax reporters. We lived and ordered life if it ruled a little bit by the judges nocturnal habits as clerks wait made sure that before we left for the day said venture in most cases the research she would then return to chambers the next morning, unzip a leather case with her neatly written legal pager she was a committed user of scotch tape and scissors and sometimes, some of our words or sentence miraculously a paragraph would survive carefully taped into the text of an opinion or an article. She opened her mind to us in a way that was heart stopping and exhilarating. In a discussion it with the judge stepped into a different world in which the usual social noises fell always so all you could hear was the thinking. She did us the great honor of taking us seriously. She disciplined our minds and our work with their own grace and order. She trained us to be better lawyers and writers by her example and her actions. We learned its life and thought and family all tightly interwoven that gives meaning to our lives one does not stand without the other. She of course went on to the high court as she always called it and became notorious. She was a person of a paradox in reserve yet delighted to be notorious. I dont believe she got a tattoo but she sported an tote bag a startling contrast to her usual elegant accessories. She was very much of the world and yet entirely apart from pieces of it. Accompanied her to the investiture of folksy judge who punctuated his remarks with references to Willie Nelson lyrics. This Willie Nelson sheet later asked us, i take it he is a baseball player . [laughter] she change in a profound way the shape of societies connections but she had an in grained in gry never puffed up. Soon after confirmation iran into her at a party. She had a glass of wine in one hand and a doorstop biography of John Marshall tucked under her arm as if conversation to fail she would at least have something to read. [laughter] i asked her how that whole high court thing was coming along. Her selfeffacing reply was lizzie, i am just working my head off to be prepared. She was a general of a revolution but nothing militaristic about her. She was an institutionalist believing in the power of the democratic structures of American Life that had been despite all she had to overcome the bedrock of her own successes. What is the difference between a bookkeeper and a Supreme Court justice she famously asked . A generation she would famously answer. At her desk her clerks formed informedher honor guard assemble great square in front of the high court. In the utter silence of that clear september day, her body was born the steps to lie in repose and we stood watch over her and turns to the days and the nights and as in front of the Court Thousands of women, men, little children passed by another living legacy. She would have been i think a little surprised by todays honor but so please the stamp is a fitting tribute to a person who believed deeply in our country and its institution on whose pen we shaped our world. [applause] thank you so much. We have reached the grand finale this evening. And it is a special one for our final speaker this evening is a lawyer, she practices a trial and appellate litigation. She focuses her pro bono practice of reproductive rights the negation and advising family law and criminal defense. She is a a lecturer at the Harvard Law School and just happens to be the granddaughter of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We are decided delighted to present to you clara. On behalf of the family of my grandmother justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg thank you to the nine states Postal Service for this great honor. Both during her life and after her death my grandmother has been honored with the several inspiring and wonderful awards and recognitions. But this one is particularly special because i think it is the first she shares with yogi berra. I like to thank those who made today possible including the honorable Ramon Martinez my grandmothers Dear Colleague and friend chief Justice Roberts the two artists responsible for the image that will soon be make its image across the country Michael Dietz who crafted the portrait based on a photograph. Of the many honors my grandmother has received this stamp is especially fitting has had occasion indeed stamps played a large role in my grandmothers life from long before by all accounts bobby was an exacting parent she would later of her clerks at her grandchildren she was about their childrens education wanting to go beyond the arctic demanding curriculum at her children school. So in the 1960s borrowed it fromher cousin and closest fried richard my mother learned about the european colonization of africa by examining stamps like those from french togoland which by the time my mother was in middle school as estonia and latvia which she knew only as part of the ussr. Bobby was also a regular user of stamps. She had a pungent for sending pg hand written snail mail letters. I always look forward to receiving her birthday cards in the mail. My favorite for my fourth birthday which featured a drawing and Justice Sandra day oconnor surrounded by music notes and the lyrics to the happy birthday song. Inside the card simply said from the supremes. I have saved all of her cards and the envelopes in which they were sent. I discovered stamps of all kinds including my favorite a bugs bunny stamp from 1997 which by the way cost only 32 cents. Bobby wrote letters are whole life. After her death i came across a box of letters that bobby wrote to her soontobe motherinlaw during her final year of college at cornell. The letters provide a fascinating and moving glimpse into a young woman in love and excited to be married and ready to be done with college. Each of the letters i found span an entire Academic Year for a 3cent stamp featuring a profile of the man who drafted the declaration of independence, thomas jefferson. I am sure bobby would be thrilled beyond words to learn she will be joining the ranks of Founding Fathers and others who inspired her like susan b anthony, alice hall and ella baker. Not to mention opera legend before we go we do have a few thanks yous to send out and a few announcements to share. We would like to thank all our guests and participants for making tonight such a special occasion. First kim singer everyone the National Portrait gallery for testing this evenings event and making us feel so welcome. [applause] donner, the u. S. Postal service thank you for choosing this location to celebrate Justice Ginsburg with this incrediblehonor of this memory, thank you. [applause] chief Justice Roberts, anita totenberg, Elizabeth Glaser and clarence spencer, we thank you as well, those tributes were amazing. You so much. And we could not gather communally without all of you in the audience so thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us tonight to celebrate Justice Ginsburg. We would like to remind that some of our panel will be available to autograph programs and other things. You can buy the Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the retail booth located beside you on those lighted signs. There will be cake. So we would like all of you to stick around and have a piece of cake to celebrate this momentous occasion and we would like all the participants to remain for another photo before we conclude in just a moment. It has been an honor and a privilege to be your mc for this evenings celebration. Its been a wonderful evening celebrating justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Have a good night everyone. We will feature the journals of lewis and clark, the journals came about following the Louisiana Purchase that president jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis to lead an explosion to support explore the last. Lewis chose William Clark to undertake the mission from 1806. Lewis and clark kept detailed journeys on the terrain, plant and animal life and potential trade routes. Stephanie ambrose called and a veteran traveler of the lewis and clark trail will join us to discuss the exhibition. Watch books that shaped america featuring the books of lewis and clark tonight at nine eastern on cspan or online at cspan. Org. Scan the qr code to listen to our companion podcast where you can learnmore about the authors. Cspan now is a free mobile app featuring your unfiltered view of whats happening live and ondemand. Keep up with live streams of floor proceedings from the congress, white house events, the court, campaigns and more from the world of politics all at your fingertips and stay current with the latest episodes of washington journal and find scheduling information for cspans radio plus a variety of compelling podcasts. Cspan now is available at the apple store and google play. Cspan now your front row seat to washington anytime anywhere. Cspan is your unfiltered view of government funded by these Television Companies and more including buckeye broadband. [music]
comparemela.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.