The modern world. What i found even more telling was how things are invented. How invention itself is encouraged and nurtured. At least how it has been encouraged and nurtured in this country in the past. Its easy to say, as i do in my book, that we are a nation of tinkerers. We americans like to think of ourselves as natural adventurers, risktakers, entrepreneurs. But what does that mean exactly. . I am a believer in american exceptionalism. But as marines like to say, it has to be earned, never given. How did we earn it . How did we do what we did and . And how could we get back to doing it right . As the first nation to exist wholly in the modern age, United States has also insisted when timeed wholly in that making things when we were extracting them from the earth. We invented almost everything about america. We have constantly reinvented almost everything as we deemed it necessary, including our institutions, our customs, our laws. Above all, our definition of who is american and
As best we can. Im going to talk to you a little bit tonight about america the ingenious. This book i wrote. The best thing about writing books is hopefully you learned something. I learned a great deal writing this. Americansof how invented, developed or learned to exploit so many of the things exploit the world. What i found even more telling was how things are invented. How invention itself is encouraged and nurtured. At least how it has been encouraged and nurtured in this country in the past. , as i do in myy book, that we are a nation of tinkerers. We americans like to think of ass natural adventurers, risktakers and entrepreneurs. But what does that mean exactly. I am a believer in american exceptionalism. It hasnes like to say, to be earned, never given. How did we earn it . How did we do what we did and how could we get back to doing it right . As the first nation to exist wholly in the modern age, United States has also insisted when making things when we were extracting them
Complicated and controversial building of a memorial to president James Garfield on the u. S. Capitol grounds. Well hear from Matthew Gilmore who edits a washington, d. C. History blog. Those of you probably know matt by name, if not in person. He runs a blog, the matthew b. Gilmore press blog and also hes an author of the column of the intowner. If you follow d. C. History, hes been integrally involved. Anything history in d. C. Oh, you also run the d. C. History list. Thank you for that on behalf of the city. Today hes going to talk about James Garfield, his death and efforts to commemorate his life and death here in washington, d. C. I wont say too much more about it. I dont want to steal his steam. Please join me in welcoming matt. [ applause ] thank you very much. The story im going to tell might be ripped from todays or recent headlines. There was a president ial memorial delayed for years caught up in congressional infighting. Legislation pending. A powerful lobby behind the mem
The most intelligent president s we have ever had. I mean, he is up there in the top half dozen. And when we go through his life, by the end of it, or the middle of it, youre going to start laughing because youre just going to say no, that cant be, he cant be that good in that field, its just not possible. And then well find something else. And youre going to say, no, he is just incredibly bright. And the hope for his presidency was enormous. And so were going to discuss an absolutely brilliant human being. I was chatting with a friend before. And he asked me if i thought garfield was the most intelligent. Its i dont know how you test Something Like that. Its not as if you give president s iq tests. Its a lot easier with things that are easy to measure. Tall and short. I mean, we all know that madison was our shortest president , lincoln was our tallest president. Thats easy. I dont know how you know who the most intelligent. Certainly the two adams, jefferson, madison, lincoln. Garfie
Garfield is one of the most intelligent president s we have ever had. He is up there in the top half dozen and when we go through his life, by the end of the middle of it, and youre going to say no, that cant be. He cant be that good in that field. Its just not possible, and then well find something else, and youre going to no. He is just incredibly bright, and the hope for his presidency was enormous, and were going to discuss an absolutely brilliant human being. I was chatting with a friend before, and he asked me if i thought garfield was the most intelligent. I dont know how you test Something Like that, and its not as if you give president s iq tests. Its a lot easier with things that are easy to measure, tall ask short. We all know that madison was our shortest president , lincoln was our tallest president because thats easy. I dont know how you know who the most intelligent. Certainly the two adams, jefferson, madison and Lincoln Garfield is right up there. So one of the reasons