Is chiefrowski executive officer of the president ial library. Visited residential library and museum in the noted states. She writes a regular column for the foundations magazine. She is the founder and executive foundation the 13 50 and activecitizens citizenship. Shes the editor of gettysburg replies the world responds to Abraham Lincolns gettysburg address. Ladies and gentlemen, carla khorowski. [applause] good evening. It is an honor and privilege to be here with you tonight as part of the bernard and irene series. Ished speaker i would like to thank the bryant park reading room, the new york public library, the New York Historical society, and all of you for inviting me to speak with you this evening. Although she passed away a few thankago, i would like to Irene Schwartz and her husband for underwriting this series. We wouldhis support not be able to be here with you this evening. Im here to speak about gettysburg replies, one of more than 18,000 books that have been written about Abraham Lincoln today. You may ask yourself why so many . Because, although he no longer walks this earthly plane he resonates from the words he has written and the documents he has left behind for our prosperity. Yet deeplymple, complex man who looked at complex issues plainly and purely. He accepted and spoke the truth. Many believe lincoln transcended all other president s who have served before him, and cents. His Great American story has reached and continues to reach across borders, oceans, races and religions, politics and party lines. Here was a man who grow up in a log cabin grew up in a log cabin with a dirt floor, who seem to have the deck stacked against him. Livingwere a child today, he may have been an at risk youth. Not getting along with his father, having his mother and his sister died when he was very young, having to adapt to a new stepfamily, and his family never putting down any roots. Moving from place to place on the unsettled western frontier. Yet he ascended to our nations highest office. Multitudeched a null t of souls. Ourselves what could be revealed about him that hasnt already . The answer seems to be a lot. The link onion has more layers than most, and it will continued to be peeled for centuries to come. I hope you will find that gettysburg replies is unique and onike other books published Abraham Lincoln. The book pays homage to one of speeches andtest the men who wrote it worlds greatest speeches and the man who wrote it. Like all great speeches it bears repeating. To set the stage, we are fortunate to have with us one of new yorks own, a member of broadway royalty, mr. John themn who will read immortal words written by Abraham Lincoln. Please join me in welcoming him. [applause] thank you. Ago,score and seven years our forefathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper we should do this, but in a larger sense we cannot consecrate, cannot we cannot hallow this ground. The cavemen living and dead who struggled here have consecrated power toove our poor add or detract. Note ord will little remember what we say here. It can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that e gaveof which they her the last full measure of the motion of devotion. That we resolve these dead shall not have died in vain. Shallhis nation under god have a new birth of freedom. That government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the air. From the earth. [applause] carla thank you. It is no exaggeration that the gettysburg address has been read or recited millions upon millions of times. Each time it is read or heard, even now more than a century and a half after it was written and delivered, it still inspires. It still moves us to the core. It still makes us introspective. It still transcends and takes us to new levels of hope and possibility. Many consider the gettysburg address to be Abraham Lincolns greatest speech. It would be difficult to argue otherwise. , what couldyourself he have written that rivaled it . Scholars and armchair historians may argue that his Cooper Union Speech or his second inaugural might be even greater. As you probably know his Cooper Union Speech was delivered two miles south of here at the cooper institute, now known as the cooper union. It was a speech which in part launched Abraham Lincolns career on the broader national stage. The speech delivered at february of 1860 when our nation was on the brink of civil war, brought us the words let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith led us to the end there to do our duty as we understand it. Wassecond inaugural address given when the civil war was nearing conclusion. As lincoln called upon our ancestors and all of us to this malicemove forward with toward none, with charity for all. Notet a tone which was unitive and vengeful, but really rather peaceful and visionary. There is no doubt that lincolns three most famous addresses are among his greatest, and in the end the debate among about which is the greatest is more subjective than objective. What makes the gettysburg address more cited . Is a 272 ward word masterpiece, in which he set our nation on a course for a new birth of freedom, one we are still working to perfect today. 2012, we at the Abraham Lincoln president ial library and museum and our foundation were looking for a way to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the gettysburg address. We wanted to do something special. Naturally, our first thought was up with the document on display. That usually is enough. But we wanted to take it a step beyond. There are only five copies of the gettysburg address in lincolns own hand. Two of the copies are at the library of congress, those are the two drafts he wrote prior to getting the address. Another that he wrote post address is at cornell university. Another is in the white house in the lincoln room. The other one is the everett copy. That is that our museum and library in springfield, illinois. Our copy of the address was it was the one written immediately after his delivery everett and he delivery of it. Bit byrequested to write everett. Asked president lincoln to write it out so he could put it for book to auction off convalescing soldiers, which lincoln gladly obliged him. When a document is as famous and revered as the gettysburg address, it seems like putting it on display should be enough. Of ame up with the idea 272 word challenge. Number inis the exact the gettysburg address. While lincoln did not set out to 272 words, he did not think he was going to write a 272 word masterpiece. We challenged people to write their own 272 words that they might become more intimately tied to the address and really understand how difficult it is words,rilliant in 272 let alone be brilliant at any time. People and as part of the challenge, as theists essayists could write about lincoln, the gettysburg address or something cause related that certain their passions stirred their passions. We were hoping to receive enough that we could put some out in a small display with the gettysburg display. When news of the challenge started to spread, we found ourselves doing more than our share of explaining that the task was not to write as well as president lincoln, but rather to celebrate the man and his work. Holdert turned to harold to see if you would help us launch the project by writing his own 272 words. He wrote back an email and said , who could be as the sink and brilliant as Abraham Lincoln . Was, no one on the planet except perhaps those who live by the tweet. He was not daunted and in a few words,e had his 272 which i like to share with you now. His essay was titled long remembered. Essence of thethe gettysburg address and 272 words. Quite a challenge, for lincoln used but two cheats sheets of paper to write it. Of glittering essence lincolns and perhaps americas greatest speech is its glittering economy. He delivered a speech that revolutionized political oratory. It was a new birth of simplicity and made a virtue of brevity. Course, the link does not begin to explain its enduring magic. Didnt reinvent america as some claim . Probably not. We have come a long way. No one can say for certain whether if he returned to assess his legacy that he would conclude we traveled to fast or too slowly. On the opposite side of the analytical coin, was the gettysburg address meant to be more than a subtle declaration of his authors intention to serve a second term as president . Too simplistic and senegal. Then what simplistic and cynical. Then what . Itself needed to some and rebirth or die as well. Therein lies its genius and relevance. Colossal errore in the gettysburg address, suggesting the world would little note or long remember. He was too honest and maybe even disingenuous. He wrote his speech with such breathtaking ingenuity, he surely mended to long meant it to long endure. That is harold 272 words. When we received it we felt we were on our way. That it did not take off, all of a sudden and express mail message came to our door. Paper bore the central figure of an eagle. There was the name also in blue under it in all caps. It was from jimmy carter. That he would write his 272 words. Museumtely, working at with very valuable artifacts, we knew that we probably should be putting on the white curators gloves, but we were too excited and just picked it up and started reading. I would like to share his essay with you now. It is a magnificent essay. Bear with me while i get to it. Called simply gettysburg address. David began talks at camp between israel and egypt, it became obvious the two leaders were almost completely incompatible. For three days i tried to induce them to negotiate in good faith, but they were always subverted into expressing ancient antagonism. For the last 10 days of discussion, i kept them completely apart with them living in separate cabins. As the first sunday approach, i tried to think of something that would diver our minds from the middle east argument and focus our attention on something completely removed from our concentrated work. Finally, why wife suggested suggests suggested we drive to the nearby civil war memorial at gettysburg. We arranged for the two delegations to go in buses, and i wrote in the president ial limousine sitting between the two men. Once there, the israeli Prime Minister was familiar with the battlefield and what had occurred there, having studied it at our military school. I showed him where the georgia artillery had been and recounted the horrible losses on both sides. The other man was disturbingly aloof. I was a proud man and i was afraid he would be embarrassed and angry. Thegroup became silent with guide announced we were at the spot of lincolns address. Baa few moments, bacon in began to recite the words a clear and strong voice and we listened with rapt attention. It was my most memorable event at a memorial to war. You can imagine, we were very moved when we received the spirit we were touched that he not only chose to participate in our project, but from what he wrote, we realized we were probably some of the first people to hear that story, certainly some of the first ever to read it. We knew immediately that the contents of the essay had historic significance. We realize that we were no longer trailing in historys wake as we usually do at the museum because we are getting other peoples artifacts that are 150 years old and rather than ceiling in historys wake, document became, we were creating historys wake. All the documents are here in the book for you to read at another time. Another interesting thing about president carters essay is that he typed it himself on his own typewriter. It is not just that he typed it himself, it was on a typewriter, and this was only a year ago. I am sure his staff must of had a computer, he may even have a computer, and he used a typewriter and he was clear it was on a typewriter. Which brings me to another aspect of the project. In addition to challenging people to write 272 words, we challenge them to walk further in ligand shoes and had right rightns shoes and hand rite their essays. Some of them did it. Actearned that the actual of having to hand write essays was a challenge in and of itself. , theyme of our essayists said it was more stressful than having to compose 272 words. Word 200 and to 53, they invariably made a mistake and would have to start over from scratch. One person said it was a humiliating experience. Day fromcall one general Colin Powells office. They said, do you mind if general powell princes essay by his essay bys hand, and we said, who are we to tell him what to do . Cursive was not going over very well. In a few ways, we received his essay and i would like to share that with you now. It is titled the march must ontinue. In november 20 13, 3 months after commemorating the anniversary of the dr. Martin jrs i have a dream speech, we commemorated the gettysburg address. King to remind america that the work was not finished and lincolns vision nonyet not yet realized. During that century, we saw the rise of segregation and the fiction that separate but equal could actually be equal. , aecond civil war was needed war of protest, it would be a war of morals and aspirations. A war to make america. America live up to the dreams of our forefathers. Our fathers brought forth on vision thatnt a new all men are created equal. Dr. King reaffirmed these hopes in his speech. I gettysburg address and have a dream have gone down as the most inspirational speeches in American History. I am proud of my country and all we have done to realize these visions. Both men would be pleased but not satisfied. Both men were assassinated for their believes. We are there inheritors. You must do more than commemorate the date and the warmed by their words. We must reach out to those in need so that we may all be free at last. The march must continue. As you can see, we were very fortunate in receiving essays from some very powerful individuals. The essays themselves were powerful. We received essays from people from all walks of life, from High School Students to u. S. Likedents, to film makers urns,n spielberg and ken berg from Corporate Leaders like poetss eric schmidt, like billy collins, sailors from the uss Abraham Lincoln and musical and visual artists. Use seeger said as send the gettysburg address written in his own hand in a different format. Said, i am going to write it out for you in the way i have helped people learn to recite it. Said, i am not a writer but i do photographs. Essayst us some photo the we included in the book, particularly the one of Daniel Chester french, the sculptor for the lincoln memorial. She was at his studio and took a picture of the model, and that is will we have in the book. Essayistsr other spoke of their personal experience and family heritage. Wrote anjulian bond essay for us that reminds us that only a few generations separate us from slavery. He wrote an eloquent essay, i will read some of it for you. Fathers generation stands between julian bond and bondage. He and his mother were property like a chair or horse. At 15, barely able to read and hitchedy grandfather his way across kentucky to college. His was a transcendent generations of black americans born in slavery, freed by Abraham Lincoln and determined to make their way and freedom. When he graduated, the college asked him to deliver the commencement address and he said , the pessimist looks out on the world of wickedness and send an blighted by all that is good and helpful in the progress of the human race, b wales the present state of affairs and predicts woeful things for the future. In every cloud, he beholds a destructive storm, and every shadow a lurking flow. He forgets that the clouds also bring light, hope that lightning purifies the atmosphere, that shadow in darkness prepare for sunshine and growth, and adversity serves the race for greater and greater victories. Here is to greater and greater victories. So, these gettysburg replies ive shared it a few more i will share our revelatory on many levels. 100 50 years after lincolns death, he is still relevant. His actions and words still guide us to this day. Share our revelatory on many levels. Which is why peoplesoft so often ask themselves in boardrooms, in classrooms, congresses, chat in backometimes even hallways of churches, mosques, synagogues, what would lincoln do . One of the things he did was write thoughtful, eloquent speeches which to this day beckon us word upon word, sentence upon sentence, to contemplate our actions, our responsibilities, to better userstand what has befallen and what lessons blessings have been bestowed upon us as a nation and world. Giovanni pointed out, our nation forgets the amber waves of grain were not there because the natives im sorry, were there because the natives had managed, not ravaged the land. There was no dust bowl, no outofcontrol wildfires, no dead fish floating in polluted waters. The shame of destroying those people is ours to bear. Gray alsosor robert pointed this out as he wrote about a cause which concerned him, the care and protection of our planet. Valediction to earth on the occasion of the he pens aing futuristic and fatalistic warning. Today is the day we hoped would never come. Yet the time is here. Now we must leave the earth forever. We dare not call it ours, for when it was ours, we did not love her as she loved us. Nurture inreturn her kind. Our smallwe board fleet of starships, we the last million or so of our kind must humbly pray to our unknown god that our tragic mistakes of war and greet and vanity, though their painful memory cannot go with this into the void, will not be fatally reenacted on our longboard each other or in our new home, should we find one in the vast cosmos. We must believe we have learned our final failure on earth was not one of freedom of responsibility. Freedom, a mighty good in itself, became licensed and license became a consuming fire and that fire became our holocaust. Again we must beg forgiveness of the earth. She can no longer sustain us, nor should she in view of our sins against her. But she may be able in good time to heal herself. Our atonement must consist in doing better if allowed the chance. We are the relics of a colossal failure and the deep universe is not care whether we continue to exist. We alone and care. Cam care. Where do we deserve to live . We will know that place and ourselves when we reach it. That was obviously an essay by someone picking something that they are passionate about. Another person who wrote something that they are , while robertut was contemplating an environmental holocaust, this other person, sam harris, was contemplating moving on from another. That was the mass genocide perpetrated by adolf hitler and the nazis during world war ii. Sam was taken by the nazis in 1939 at the age of four to live in concentration camps in poland. Nine, his the age of camp was liberated by the russian army and sam and his sister came to america as orphans, having lost their entire family in the holocaust. He was adopted by a family in the chicago area, changed his back. Nd never looked as a sophomore in high school, he was assigned to write an essay, the very same essay that he contributed to the book. Was 273y, his essay words. One of those words he put in parenthesis, and you can bet your Bottom Dollar that we went to him and said, take that one out, and he did. It was as though it was a lincoln ordained miracle that he ended up with 272 words. Essay,ng to read sams remember he wrote this as a 16yearold boy. He also told me that none of his classmates knew his history, they just knew him as a classmate and did not know what he had gone through. He titled it the best place on earth. America is indeed the blessed best place on earth. Most people born in america may not think of it the same way i do because all of the freedom comes to them as naturally as breathing. I come up being born in europe and living through the war, have a different respect for democracy is being practiced in the u. S. Agountil about 3. 5 years did i know what democracy was. Then the day came. To this free country. This was a complete change for me in the way people lived and the way people spoke. In all the countries i have been, including poland, my birthplace, austria, germany, that the people live so freely and in modern countries. Still on the harbor ship, the ernie pyle, i stared at the million lights that bring the light, between the large buildings and ownership on the water, there lay a Little Island on which rested the statue of liberty. Even not knowing yet with the huge figure was, i stared at it with great interest. Then i questioned. When i realized what it symbolizes, that much more my eyes brightened with freedom in my heartbeat like the drums of peace. Now i have lived in this heaven for 3. 5 years, and i still think of these first visions of real human life which all people all over the world should one day experience. Hope wouldshould never let me forget the site of liberty my eyes saw my first night in america. God bless america. That one always gets me. Lincoln thomas who was a friend to the jews and other oppressed people, refugees at , wasime, and immigrants obviously most associated with ending the civil and abolishing slavery. However, one of the many things which made him great was his big picture thinking. He was the ultimate multitasker. Even though they did not have the term back then, he was. He, in the midst of the civil war raging on and the slavery question being debated, he still had the big vision for our nation. He passed the homestead act would provide land to pioneering settlers in the western frontier , he passed the Pacific Railroad led to theactually nailing of the golden spike connecting the easton waste east and west coast. He created our system of landgrant universities, one in every state. He established the department of agriculture and created our National Banking system. The list of his accomplishments go on and on. But one of our essayists, Neil Degrasse tyson, wrote about one of his lesserknown accomplishments, his establishment of the National Academy of sciences. Dr. Tysons essay was so well received after it came out, the bill gates actually made a video of it to help encourage americas youth to engage in Scientific Study and exploration. If you are interested, it is available on youtube. You can take a look at it in your free time. Neilld like to read Degrasse Tysons essay for you now. It is called the lincoln seedbed. Divided the United States of america, yet in its wake we would neil as one nation under visible. President lincoln chartered the National Academy of sciences, comprised of 50 distinguish it ,esearchers whose task was then as now, to advise congress and the executive branch of all of the ways the frontier of science and contribute to the health, wealth and security of his residence. , we hadng nation the Industrial Revolution the transformed europe, but americans have yet to embrace the meaning of science to society. Now with more than 2000 members, the National Academy encompasses dozens of fields undreamt of at the time of lincolns charter. Quantum physics, discovered in the 1920s, now drives nearly one third of the worlds wealth, forming the basis of our computer revolution. Climatology and as warm heart planet, it may be the only way to save us from ourselves. Addressed thisr bed ofit constitutes the our future. Enginesmed the primary of our economic growth. While both remember honest a for war and peace, the time has come to recognize him for setting a. Ation a year prior to his charter of the National Academy of sciences , our 16th president also established the medal of honor. Have a fortunate to medal of honor recipient. He remarked that the greatest honor of my life was being the metal. 63 metals were earned in the battle of gettysburg. To take my place alongside such man is humbling. Bestieve i must do my because of what it represents. Not only of maintaining the union but if also the founding principles of liberty and equality. National our principles that we defend with our life. We had another essay from veteran who went to war with the idea that she might be sacrificing her life. Her story is very inspirational. Her essay is entitled our greatest treasure. Month in, he said let us strive us. Him. Re for americas greatest resource is militaryell, it is not might or mineral deposits, our greatest treasure is our men and women willing to die to defend the nation. They are our loved ones and neighbors and friends. Since lexington and concorde, our military men and women answered the call when the military asked is willing to lay down their life. They do this for strangers across the land that they will never meet. Serve and so do our loved ones. Our military families send them to bleed for our nation. Easy to celebrate their memory a few holidays each year. That is not enough. How a nation treats its veterans after they serve is a true measure of all of us whether it is health care, education or employment. We have a covenant to keep with our veterans. We are all dishonored when a their headsto lay on a street they defend it. So as you realize, only a handful of the more than 1000 essays we have received through s project and we had of have about 92 more. They are all buried in tell and subject and style. All inspired by the great emancipator Abraham Lincoln. Im going to share one last essay and it was written by the Film Producer kathleen kennedy. Entitled clarity of purpose. I will say a few remarks after this. Writes, we spend much if not all of our lives in search of our reason for being. It harder we look, the more the hidden meaning of our existence seems to exude us. Lincoln, his many great andevements recognized wasted no time accomplishing all he could. Pathcles were put in his and his understanding of how he fits into his time and place along with his ambition, inner moralth and strong compass always gave him the will to overcome this. Recognize thato it comes at a serious cost. The responsibility to fulfill a burdentinys and that demands tremendous sacrifice. It cannot have been higher. It is difficult to imagine that someone could rise to that challenge. It is even more difficult to imagine the kind of person that andd rise so selflessly with unconditional dedication. It is for that very reason that often in the same breath we referred to his story as a triumph and a tragedy. Was who he wasn meant to be, he has left an ,ndelible mark on our history our country and our lives. For that, Abraham Lincoln will always be remembered. Remembered and just as lincoln looked introspectively and ponder these questions, i now ask each of you what is your destiny . What is your purpose . What is it that is demanding tremendous sacrifice from you . Addressyour gettysburg and what are your 200 and 72 272 words . Abraham lincoln was and still is a euro american hero, who saw the United States as the last and best hope of earth. To living up to the principles of our founding father. People government of the and by the people and for the people would not perish from the earth. He understood that the mighty scourge of war that had come upon our nation was just a physical manifestation to live up to its own lofty principles. Washington was the father of our country but lincoln was the savior. His story continues to be revealed and revered. Once wrote, the greatness of napoleon, caesar or washington is only mimicked by the sign of lincoln. Countryigger than his and bigger than all the president s together. Hero and he died a will live as long as the world lives. To william i will shakespeare who i wouldve loved to have 272 words from. Favoritee of lincolns literary figures. Take him and cut him out in little stars. Face of heavenhe so find that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the sun. Without i thank you for sharing this with me. Each toe right your own 272 words. Part of theome a library and museum. All of them are there. And bite you all to come and visit our library in springfield and i thank you again for being here this evening. [applause] those wonderful presentation and a great project. I dont is the it but it was inspiring. Know who thought of it but it was inspiring. We do have time for some questions. We have a microphone in the aisle there. Audience. For the mentioned the Prime Minister reciting the address. International visitors come to the museum. They know he won the civil war. His words were much more that time and place in our history. Example, jefferson signed the declaration of independence which is much more universal. Ournd people that come familiar with lincolns words and meaning . We actually receive visitors from a hundred countries annually. They come from five continents and they all know him. Familiar butbe as they know the gettysburg address and we actually have some International Essays in the book. People do know that when they come to our museum their response is that they didnt know their whole story. When they learn it, they become even more taken with him. We actually have one women from im justica who said, telling you that i am going to bring out the hat. Sure enough she did. People are very moved by him. Left twoid lincoln copies of his speech in washington. The speech onroke the train going to gettysburg. It was probably bribing some of it on the train. And was perfecting it that night. Afterwards and member of the press asked him for a copy of it. And that it to him person through that copy out. That is lost to history and so the very first when he was asked to write was the everest. How many copies were there altogether . There are five that exist today that is written in his own hands. Day. Ways wait for the you thatickly tell when i was in california a friend had passed away and he says can you come down . There and they had it in a hefty bag. All i kept thinking was, thank god no one had thrown it out. Had two lincoln levels. They didnt know it was still in existence so you really never know. Six copy. E there is a you said there is one in the lincoln bedroom in the white house. We have one. Museum is only one of two places that has it. The other is the library of congress. I am impressed with his political courage in reference to the aftermath of the uprising. Hundreds of indians were and heed to death reviewed every single one of the and reduced it to her 3839. 3839. T he did this at incredible risk. In generated a lot of controversy. Of 1862erm elections were coming up. Do you know if the Republican Party as a result of that lost elections in the house and senate . You are educating us tonight. I do not have an answer to that question. I am not a historian. Buthd is not in history working where i have worked, i have learned a lot. Name andve me your address, i can send you the answer from our lincoln curator. Career, he was always for the underdog and as grant hadentioned expelled the jews from the mississippi valley. It anddiately rescinded set under no circumstances. He was famous for hardening rdoning many pa people. He understood this might have been the 200th document that i it is the only one that is important to that family and individual. To do theseok time pardons. Can encourage me to give you your email. Thank you for your comments. What was the reaction to the gettysburg address and was there a particular moment when it had achieved its icon . Do we know what his voice sounded like . I will take the second question first. There have been accurate prescriptions. Museum and howr he sat. His cadence not just with his walk but his voice. Tony oln curator that thetell me portrayal of lincoln in the movie was very good from all the things written about him. As far as the gettysburg address, it is not like today where the minute you have made world. Eamed all over the it was well received. Case in point, there was everett who was saying that you said in 2. 5 words, then i could happen in 2. 5 hours. He realized he had hit it out of the ballpark. One he had a lot of selfdeprecating humor. Once a woman accused him of being twofaced. Replied, if i had two phases, wood would i be wearing this one . [laughter] he kind of hit it out of the park and the gettysburg was one of them. Thank you. Is where dostion you send the submissions because im going to have all of my students submit this as an assignment. This is wonderful. I will give you the address but you can send them through the library foundation. My question is, did you reach out to all the living president s . Whom toyou determine query on this . We said, anyone who wants to write one. We put it in our magazine and advertise it. Were were some people who knew we should absolutely try to hear from. We were very fortunate because the president does not always say we will go to this and that. The passing of others and four of them submitted essays. We went to the caption of the u. S. Abraham lincoln. Anyone that wants to write an essay. We wrote to a lot of lincoln scholars. Their important to get opinions. Also we have students from Little Rock Central High School who talk about the little rock nine. And it School Teachers range. Ry wide we have one more. That is a good question. I wish i can tell you. The question was, did i know what the last word was that he took out of his essay . I dont. Theent on to establish Illinois Holocaust Museum he went on to do great things and he is a wonderful man who has joined me on a lot of these presentations. He cannot make the trip but thank you so much. [applause] thank you carla. Thank you for coming and we will see you next week. Good night everyone. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] American History tv airs on cspan3 every weekend telling the american story through visits to historic locations. This month, it is in prime time to introduce you to programs you can see every weekend. Hear lectures by top history professors. American artifacts takes a look at archives. Revealing america. The civilarn about war and the presidency focuses on u. S. President s and first ladies. All of this month in prime time and every weekend. American history tv is marking the centennial of the National Parks service. I grew up there and i lived there. It is the most distant National Park. It is nearly 10 million visitors a year. Trees and all sorts of wildlife. About 315. I like the fact that i can walk out of my house and walk about two miles to a conservation property. I like the stories about the people. Createdt smokys were that they gave to the country. Those who live around there feel that they own it. There is a sense of ownership from people all over the country. Buys it important to preserve sites like this . It important to preserve sites like this . Was the way it was 80 years ago. To allow these great trees to grow. Now it is such a lush area and they are growing back. Then there are the family stories. 80s when in the was governor i took a walk. He had been blind for 20 years and was still allowed to live in the park. Man who wasast allowed to live in the park and when he died, no other people lived in the park. A couple of Supreme Court justices try to see him. Like, we haveng not had many governors from that state. I havent heard anything on you yet. [laughter] one of the highlights for me is the 50th anniversary of the park. Pn oh which is this beautiful area and the knoxville tennessee symphony afternoon ia sunday played amazing grace. Like what this scottish people used to bring in. It was a big thrill for me. This past thursday, the National Park service celebrated it centennial. We talked to senators about this. Is American History tv only on cspan3. The cspan radio cap ap makes it easy to follow thep elections. Get audio coverage and scheduling plus podcast times for our Popular History programs. Stay up to date on all the election programs. Each week, American History tvs contactsica provides for todays public affairs. In august of 1963, the u. S. Information agency put on this documentary. By law, they could not be shown in the United States until 12 years after their production. Titled the march on washington