Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, members of the senate who are here, members of the house of representatives, and all who have come here tonight to join with us as we celebrate the awarding of the Freedom Award to Linmanuel Miranda. I am the president and ceo of the u. S. Capital Historical Society and a former member of congress from connecticut. This evening, we pay tribute, as i mentioned, to Linmanuel Miranda, an extraordinarily talented composer, lyricist, playwright, and actor. As a Historical Society, we usually honor historians. Last year, we honored David Mccullough with our Freedom Award. This year, we honor an artist to transformed history into the hit musical, hamilton. With a hiphop score, catchy lyrics and contemporary choreography, americans of all generations and backgrounds are learning about Alexander Ehrenberg and burr, and how their conflicting vision shaped our young country. 200 years later, we grapple with some of the same issues. Thank you, Linmanuel Miranda, for making history alive through the performing arts. This evening, we are honored to have the democratic leader with us, and former speaker of the house, nancy pelosi. Madam speaker, i invite you to the podium to say a few words. [applause] Speaker Pelosi good afternoon, everyone. I am delighted to be here with everyone. It seems like yesterday we were honoring David Mccullough, now, a whole generation of people bring history alive. It is an honor to be here with senator murkowski. Ron, thank you for your great leadership for this organization for so many years and welcome to the dawn carlson, the new board chair, thank you for your leadership. Those two are applause lines. [applause] Speaker Pelosi i will to you when it is an applause line. Here we are, we are in the room where it happened. [laughter] Speaker Pelosi or at least where it happened at that time. This is the house chamber, the early days of our republic. For 55 years the capital Historical Society has illuminated the Rich Heritage of the congress and the ideals it upholds. Here we are in this room that in this room. Award, wereedom celebrate the inspiring men and women who advanced public understanding and appreciation for our great democracy. This years recipient has made a profound contribution to that mission, Linmanuel Miranda. [applause] Speaker Pelosi not only that, but his parents are here. Thank you for sharing him. [applause] Speaker Pelosi stand up, stand up, stand up. [cheers and applause] Speaker Pelosi congresswoman said that she and mr. Miranda had come from puerto rico at the same time and attended the same college. There is a lot of family and members to pay tribute to your family. As the world knows, Linmanuel Miranda is a great creative talent of our time. With a Tony Award Winning broadway hit hamilton, he energized americas understanding of our own history. In so doing, he ignited a phenomenon. We are gripped by hamiltons brilliant writing and captivating music. We are seized by high drama and electrified by its irresistible optimism and a message of hope. Part of the power of hamilton is that it reminds us that our american story is shaped not simply by events, but by people. That our tale is one of revolutionary and disruptors. Visionaries and strivers, innovators and immigrants. [applause] Speaker Pelosi and immigrants. [applause] Speaker Pelosi especially important for us to remember that. Our constant reinvigoration of america are our newcomers to america who make america more american with their hope, optimism and courage. That our journey is not predetermined but wrestled into reality by men and women afraid, unafraid to dream. Unafraid to dream. It reminds us of our dreamers. Linmanuel miranda took the story of our founding and infused it with fresh life and infectious spirit. He is continuing the journey of hamilton through the Hamilton Education project which brings together the magic of history and the arts in the classroom. This Partnership Helped hundreds of thousands of High School Students forge connections to our founding era. It is making history itself inspiring the next generation of historians, writers, performers, and leaders. Continuing to work for the transformative initiatives such as this, and our broader connection to education, humanities and the arts are vital. Linmanuel miranda truly convinced everyone that the arts are what will bring our country together. [applause] Speaker Pelosi you have been a force in that regard. David mccullough pointed to the statue of cleo, the muse of history, up there. For almost two centuries, cleo and her clock have reminded men and women in this hallowed halls that we are part of history. That our words and actions will face the judgment of history, and that we are part of a long and honorable heritage of our democracy. Now, under cleos gaze, we celebrate Linmanuel Miranda, a man gifted by the news of the muse of history, and all others of artists and historians of our modern era. Thank you Linmanuel Miranda for giving us the story of america then told by a america now. I am honored that we will cure from john lewis who will present the award, but all of us who are here and honored to be in your presence, to celebrate your triumph and hamilton and to congratulate you. Thank you for your passion, your talent, your gift. Thank you for your succession of for your exceptional contributions to revitalize and advancing our democracy. Thank you Linmanuel Miranda. [applause] thank you madam speaker for your kind words. A number of members of the house and senate are here, mixed in with the crowd that is here this evening. [applause] would you please raise your hand, so we can acknowledge your presence . Leader pelosi mentioned Linmanuel Mirandas parents. I want to mention them again because they made it all possible. [laughter] so, would you please stand again . [applause] also with us this evening is who wrote the book hamilton. [applause] where are you . Way back there. The book obviously inspired Linmanuel Miranda. Thank you for being with us this evening. Miller, the director of philanthropy and special projects at 5000 broadway productions. Would you please stand . [applause] thank you. Marie horwitz, the claimed radio host and playwright and mentor to mr. Miranda, would you please stand and be recognized . [applause] were honored that all of you are here this evening to share this evening with us. It is now my pleasure to introduce senator lisa murkowski, chair of the appropriations subcommittee on interior environment and related agencies. Among the related agencies are the two National Endowments for the arts and the humanities. She is a dedicated advocate for the arts. In lisas words, there is nothing that holds us together more as americans or human beings as what comes to us through the arts. The u. S. Capital Historical Society was honored in 2004 to be awarded the humanities medal. With a ceremony in the white house, a very exciting moment for the society, and personally for me. So, i would like to now bring to the podium senator lisa murkowski. [applause] senator murkowski ron, thank you for that. It is indeed an honor to be with you this evening. To the family, mr. And mrs. Miranda, wonderful to have you with us as we recognize this evening, Linmanuel Miranda. There may not be Many Americans who are familiar with the u. S. Capital Historical Society and the role that it plays. It is an incredibly important actually, because not only does the society preserve the past and history through programs like the Freedom Award, but the society helped americans see the living connections between the past and where we are today. Thatlps us to understand this capital is the symbol of america as a living institution. That is why, choosing to honor Linmanuel Miranda with this years Freedom Award is such a perfect, beautiful choice. Look around you. Look at where we are standing. The history that surrounds us. We see the old murals not necessarily in this room but in the room just adjacent. We also have the statues of famous but long dead americans like george washington. Lives arese whose more contemporary with our own like president eisenhower, president reagan, rosa parks. More importantly, each and every day, americans drum all walks of all walksericans from of life and every age walk through this room. They are looking up at the statues, at the amazing history surrounding us. You have to believe that each are inspired to learn, to enjoy, to truly be inspired by the history around us. I like to listen to the school becausearticularly, sometimes you catch these kids ofing you just a glimmer what is going on in their heads. They will see a particular statue and be captivated by it. Then, someone will tell them the story of rosa parks, and it is a reminder to me that these figures are not just angered in bronze, that is a living history here. How we share this and inspire one another, that is what this award is all about today. Linmanuel miranda has inspired americans young and old, rich and poor, whether you are from new york or alaska, he has ee the dry dusts of our Founding Fathers in a fresh way. Andy that modernizes them allows us to see ourselves in them. In short, what Linmanuel Miranda has been able to do is engage new audiences to appreciate our past through a form of art, a Broadway Musical. Hamiltonthink and a Broadway Musical, it just does not connect, but that is why it is so brilliant. That is why it is so perfect, because it forces us to imagine. At the same time, he has exposed the typical Broadway Musical theatergoer to art forms they probably have not appreciated before. You probably taught a lot of history to some runway some broadway buffs out there. His is exactly the type of engagement with the American Public that i think many of us in congress which we had. Congress wish we had. Perhaps we can have a conversation with you after this on how to be more engaging, but i would like to congratulate you, Linmanuel Miranda, for receiving another recognition. Not just for his writing or his unique and inspiring ability to bring foundational events in our nations history in new and exciting ways, but i want to congratulate him to his commitment to the strength and value of our democracy. Could writene hamilton and bring it to stu dents if he did not love his country and all it can be. Ladies and gentlemen, a man who has helped us look up, look outward, who has widen our eyes, opened our ears. Truly, a talented, inspiring individual. The 2017 recipient of the u. S. Capital Historical SocietyFreedom Award, mr. Linmanuel miranda. We cannot thank you enough. [applause] mr. Miranda hello. My thanks to all of you and especially senator michalski, congressman lewis, congresswoman pelosi. The Historical Society tells a story not just to lawmakers, but it illuminates political history. It also eliminates the breathtaking history and architecture all around us. I mean, i packed a sleeping bag. When you leave, it is going to be like night at the museum in here. All of these guys will come to life and we will have a bit of a time. I will tell you about my adventures in the morning. It is extraordinary to be surrounded by this incredible history. The Historical Society gives us the tools to wrestle with our history. To understand the same philosophical disagreements that underpin the Constitutional Convention and so many other flashpoints in the american experiment. Aliveson and hamilton are in this hall. Really like me, but they are here. This is the room where it happened, the room where it happened. [laughter] mr. Miranda but for real. Hamilton story is told by ron. Give it up for ron. [applause] mr. Miranda hamiltons story reached out to me across the centuries and when i let me go and would not let me go. On vacation, walking my dog, in the shower, there was the ghost of eliza hamilton, get back to your piano. We all know that eliza is very persistent. When you hear a tune from hamilton, it gets stuck in your head. Imagine what i felt like. It took seven years to get them out of my head thanks to our incredible creative team. The worlds reaction and the my life, in particular. But, before hamilton had the chance to change my life, humanities and arts programs did. From my earliest days in the schools, i have benefited from immersing in music, acting and literature arts. I o a lot to louise and louisa. Awill make them stand up third stand up. Time. Stand up stand up. [applause] mr. Miranda you will not meet to bigger musical theater dorks in your lifetime. [laughter] and thanks to men of le mans chap, in our subaru, growing up growing up, that is why i am standing in front of you here today. There is no the doubt that without the education i had a student in a new york public city school, i would not be here. Thank you, public school. [applause] mr. Miranda if i had not been cast as captain hook in the six grade play, hamilton the musical would not exist. Real talk. Through humanities and arts programs, i learned more than how to play piano and follow stage directions. I learned how to be a leader. I learned how to love collaborating. You are a theater kid, you make friends from different grades and social groups. You learn to work hard to create something greater than the sum of your parts. Just for the sake of making something great. Without humanities and arts programs, i wouldnt be standing here. Without Alexander Hamilton and the immigrants in this country, many of us would not be standing here. Without the countless other immigrants who built this country, it is very probable that very few of us would be her here. Our story concludes people who came to this country with the parents and dont other homes. [applause] mr. Miranda their parents have no documents but their kids are Getting College degrees, working as First Responders during disasters like harvey and erma, and in the case of my own congressman, some are working as lawmakers in the United States congress. Our heritage of humanities and arts is shared, and it is irreplaceable. It belongs to every american, rich and poor, young and old, urban and rural, republican and democrat, immigrant and nativeborn, statue and still alive. [laughter] mr. Miranda in every corner of our country. This is what the u. S. Historical Capital Society does, as do so many other nonprofits in urban and rural locations alike. I am a new yorker. My dad came by way of puerto rico and my moms parents are , from puerto rico and mexico. New york has a thriving cultural scene with countless nonprofits, theater groups and corporate to complement these initiatives. These partnerships are a good thing and no one would have been happier to see them then my man hamilton, standing in the next room. There is no reason why the but humanity arts should be the sole of the government. Most American Kids do not live in new york, or san francisco, or d. C. , or l. A. , or miami and seattle. Californias central valley, native american reservations, the mississippi delta, and vast swaths of the great plains, the private resources simply do not exist to provide kids with the kinds of programs i was lucky enough to grow up with. This is why National Endowment for the humanities and National Endowment for the arts are so , vital to our democracy. [applause] mr. Miranda without these resources, we are essentially telling kids without access to the arts, your world is small, do not drink too big. Do not dream too big. We do not just fill kids with this message, we fill our democracies. Humanities and arts are a luxury service, an essential and i could not disagree more. The opposite is true. The more opportunities kids have come of the more they will appreciate the poetry of mathematical poetry and environmental science, the more they learn to be human and what it is to be human. Nurturing the gift of empathy makes us better citizens. It makes us understand each other better. Learning to read music will help a student with her math a good math just is instruction helps her to make genius of iambic mpeg canada or iambic pentameter and the genius of shakespeare. A painter who understands chemistry is a better painter. Citizens who have exposure to a whole consolation and disciplines and subject areas make it better democracy and up and an economically viable country. Thats shared interest is shared by the humanities arts. Most of you in this room would know that arts and cultural events, and jobs and tourism bring to towns and districts. When the hamilton tour comes to your town, all the surrounding businesses benefit. If you dont believe me, ask the pizza place across from the Richard Rodgers on 46th street. Their pies are the greatest. Investments contribute directly to the prosperity of American Communities in every congressional district. They create jobs, spur tourism, and also expand horizons and shared values. Weakening these resources of vibrancy would lead to lost jobs and lost revenue, of course but , there would be a spiritual that losesation touch with its soul, with all of the statues in the room where , real people worked hard to make this country. So thank you. , thanks to all of you who stand up to and protect our shared interest and Cultural Heritage everywhere. Some parts of the others some parts of the country it is easier to say. And yes, government support, to see to it that no child is denied access to humanities. That handed your effort, i think you so much. I thank you so much. [applause] mr. Miranda i will finish with this, the opportunity to create the Hamilton Educational program, our producer, and my father, who i will not make stand up a fourth time [laughter] mr. Miranda has been the highlight of the whole thing. Pride, toe with great see these high school kids. I dont know if you know about this program but high school , kids have a curriculum on hamilton and all of the founders. And the perform original works they create. On the same stage where hamilton is performed. And to hear they want to be , teachers and historians as a result of this experience, 250 thousand kids from all over the countries from title i schools will have the opportunity to go through the program. And that is a fourreal legacy. That is a liza hamilton tell our story legacy. They will not all go up and go grow up and going to theater, but engaging in the story in a real way they find their own. They begin to ask, what i want to do with my time here on earth . What kind of country do we want to create for ourselves . On behalf of everyone who worked tirelessly to share American Culture and history with communities throughout our country, thank you so much for this great honor it means the world to me. Have a wonderful night. [cheers and applause] thank you mr. Miranda for your inspiring remarks. I am don carlson, the new chairman of the u. S. Capital Historical Society. And with me is congressman john lewis. [applause] i am honored to stand on the same platform with this true gentleman. Three years ago, the society presented the Freedom Award to john lewis in recognition of his , lifelong commitment to civil rights. Tonight he joins us as the author of the highly acclaimed entitledning trilogy, marge. He found a way to teach history. It is presented in graphic or comic book form. Read with a great , great graphics. Thank you congressman lewis for joining me as we now present the 2017 Freedom Award to Linmanuel Miranda. Lin, will you please come forward . [applause] on behalf of the u. S. Capital Historical Society, we want to present to you, tonight the 2017 Freedom Award, to you Linmanuel Miranda, in , recognition of your achievement and communicating the origins and continuing vitality of constitutional ideals, through creative art and education. By empowering americans across generations and origins, to see themselves in our past you have , fostered this spirit of civic engagement. Thank you. [applause] [cheering] congressman lewis, would you like to make a few remarks . Congressman lewis good evening. Thank you, mr. Chairman. In roud to join you join you, and congratulations, mr. Miranda on receiving this great honor. You see, i was a champion of the arts long before i was elected to congress. Those who really know me understand that i love history and i adore the arts. Except on the occasion of music and trauma, the Civil Rights Movement would have been a bird without wings. Marian anderson, nina simone and bennett, james baldwin, baez, harry belafonte, peter paul and mary. [laughter] congressman lewis these are just a few of the many many artist who provided the anthem who provided the anthem for a movement, who translated our feelings into literature and recorded our pain and progress. So tonight, i join our friends and colleagues in thinking you for continuing the ongoing struggle to redeem the soul of america. [applause] congressman lewis mr. Miranda, we are in history to shape, to inform, to inspire and to move our people. Tor play gave voice immigrants, to love and to the american dream. Through hamilton, linmanuel, you have inspired people to be brave and courageous, to getting trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble, and i say, thank you. Every day you move the souls of men and women, the young and old, and people of all races and regions. Linmanuel, you are so young [laughter] congressman lewis so gifted and so talented. I know and my heart of hearts, and wisdom, will inspire generations unborn. I hope that you will continue to create, to challenge and to channel the voices, the hopes, and the needs of all people, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Together, we must strive towards what dr. Martin luther king called the beloved community. Where love, peace, equality, and simple justice may infuse into the heart and soul of all of humankind. Linmanuel, with your dedication , inspiration, and commitment, we are armed and ready. We cannot give up, we will not in, and more than ever before, we need your art to continue to be the wind beneath our wings. And again, i congratulate you. And thank you. I salute you, again, for this welldeserved honor. [cheers and applause] this concludes our program. I would like for you to join with me in one final applause in recognition for our honoree tonight, who brings us great honor with his presence, great honor with his work, and great honor how he helps the next generation of americans. Thank you. [cheers and applause] this weekend, on American History tv on cspan3, tonight at eight luckys lectures in history, a discussion of the evolution of the national park. Ystem are was not a case of setting aside a natural landscape and leaving alone, which is what we think of only linkin park protection. When he was doing was is making nature, out of what was at the time, sheep meadows. Theres actually a big, grassy area of central park, called the sheeps meadow, and it is ause sheep were on it. Also, on american artifacts, saving slave houses. Buildingsouses are that are disappearing from the landscape, so by documenting them that is one way of preserving them. Documenting them, and through my database, it is also a way to share information and getting out there, and learn from them. At 7 00 p. M. On oral histories, we continue our series on photojournalists with an interview with lucien perkins. The photo is of her yelling at these freshmen plebes, who are lined up against a wall with their chins stuck down, like this. And that photograph appeared everywhere in the world. Storyonvinced that that helped me get a job at the post. Tv, allcan history weekend, every weekend. Only on cspan3