Democracy and in our society. We do that through Civic Education programs that bring the United States senate to life, and conversation like tonight, that bring American History into focus. We are very proud to partner with the Massachusetts Historical Society on todays program. They are an invaluable resource for american life, history, and culture. All of us at the institute are proud to gather and esteemed panel tonight. Fred thys covers politics at wbur, where he has been since 1998. Breaking news and serving as a trusted source of truth and information. He previously was the nbc news bureau chief in mexico city, and a south america reporter for cbs news, based in argentina. Joining fred on the panel are four distinguished scholars who provide perspectives on and knowledge of our nations founders. They will paint an informative picture of how the founders operated, and what current lawmakers and each one of us can learn from them. Tonights historians include liz covart from the ins
Gina good evening everyone. On behalf of the Edward M Kennedy institute for the United States senate, it is my pleasure to welcome you. We are going to have a conversation about the intersection of Early American History and contemporary political issues. First visit to the institute, i also want to welcome you to our fullscale replica of the United States senate chamber. We arekennedy institute, committed to engaging the public in a conversation about the role each one of us plays in our democracy and in our society. That through Civic Education programs that bring the United States senate to life, and conversation like tonight, that bring American History into focus. We are very proud to partner with the Massachusetts Historical Society on todays program. They are an invaluable resource for american life, history, and culture. All of us at the institute are proud together roy proud to gather and esteemed panel tonight. Wbur,overs politics at where he has been since 1998, breaking new
Washington, were joined by the education and reason to give their, the president and ceo of George Washingtons not vernon on this president s day. First, sir, explain the significance of that moment that is portrayed over your shoulder there, the swearing in of George Washington. Well, good morning, welcome to non vernon. Behind me you see George Washington, the first president being sworn in and it would have been in 1789, in april. How well where the duties and the powers of the office that he was about to step into, how well were we defined at this moment when they were sworn in . Well they werent defined at all, the presidency was a brandnew institution, or have never been anything like, it certainly in america and really in the world, that was the new experiment of an elected magistrate that would have, at one point, with the head of state, like a king, but at the same time also be the chief executioner of the laws, the chief executive in this case, the chief policy maker, and it
Hard to imagine we could be a country without washingtons battlefield heroics. If you want to understand military history, look at washingtons campaign in new jersey and the hudson river, et cetera, its quite remarkable. Washington journal continues. From the ground of George Washingtons historic mt. Vernon, were joined now at the education and Museum Center there by doug bradburn, the president and ceo of George Washingtons mt. Vernon on this president s day. First, sir, explain the significance of that moment thats portrayed over your shoulder there, the swearingin of George Washington. Well, good morning, welcome to mt. Vernon. Behind me you see George Washington, the first president , being sworn in at federal hall in new york city. This would have been in 1789 in april. How well were the duties and the powers of the office that he was about to step into, how well were they defined at that moment when he was sworn in . Well, they werent defined at all. The presidency was a brand ne
There had not been anything like it certainly in america, were in the world. Of an a new experiment elected magistrate that at one point would be the head of state like a king, but at the same time also be the chief executioner of the law. The chief executive in this case. The chief policymaker. It was not exactly clear where the policies of powers of legislature in the president would be defined. Created thatally office and many of the president s, many of the things we come to think of as president ial really come down from his example in the office. Age 57 whenof 1789, he took the oath. What were his views at the time about expanding or restricting the power of the office he was stepping into . Washington had already established the idea that civilians should be in control, that we needed to exercise restraint. He knew he wanted the ability to have one Foreign Policy that would number his office. He knew that he wanted to have one military voice in the country that would be in his o