[applause] john thank you. Its an honor to be here. A great thing to be talking about George Washington. In itself it tells us a lot. Had you get interested in the project and why is the interest today. Imagine if the first Founding Fathers sat down with Alexander Hamilton in James Madison and wrote a memo to future generations, to us, specifically about the forces he feared. Rooted in the lessons of his life and understanding of history. He did. That is the farewell address. It was the philadelphia executive mansion on market six street. And he wrote it over years as the autobiography of his ideas. And it really was the sum total of his hardwon wisdom, john all the aspects of his life as a soldier, surveyor, father, statesman. Washington doesnt always get the respect he deserves as a thinker. As a man of great wisdom. He wasnt a shining wit. He was enormously insecure. As opposed to the great confidence he felt as a general, as a farmer. He really did cultivate his character conscious
[applause] john thank you. Its an honor to be here. A great thing to be talking about George Washington. In itself it tells us a lot. Had you get interested in the project and why is the interest today. Imagine if the first Founding Fathers sat down with Alexander Hamilton in James Madison and wrote a memo to future generations, to us, specifically about the forces he feared. Rooted in the lessons of his life and understanding of history. He did. That is the farewell address. It was the philadelphia executive mansion on market six street. And he wrote it over years as the autobiography of his ideas. And it really was the sum total of his hardwon wisdom, john all the aspects of his life as a soldier, surveyor, father, statesman. Washington doesnt always get the respect he deserves as a thinker. As a man of great wisdom. He wasnt a shining wit. He was enormously insecure. As opposed to the great confidence he felt as a general, as a farmer. He really did cultivate his character conscious
Signing following this program. So please join me today and welcoming my guess, john. [applause] john i am honored to be here. It is a great thing to talk about George Washington. [laughter] it tells us a lot. John, how did you get interested in the project, and why is it of interest today to think of washingtons farewell address . John imagine if George Alexander set out hamilton in james madison, and wrote a memo to future generations, to us, specifically about the forces he feared that could destroy our democratic republic . Wrote the word lessons of his life and understanding of history . He did not. That is the farewell address. He wrote it a block from here. He wrote it over a period of years as the autobiography of his ideas. And it really was the total of his hard wisdom, drawing on all the aspects of his life. As a soldier, a surveyor, farmer, a statesman, and washington does not always get the respect he deserves as a thinker. As a man of great wisdom. He wasnt the most brill
About becoming this inventor. And he keeps a notebook, actually, he keeps several notebooks and we have them at the museum. This is invention diary and sketch book where hes recording his ideas. Earl tupper, shirley, massachusetts. And then i think this is so fascinating, this first page starts with my purpose in life. And he really outlines sort of his goals for his career as an inventor. And then goes on and on. This diary is from the 1930s, as i said, and it really is hes inventing and trying to start a business inventing in probably the worst moment in American History, which is 1933, when 25 of americans are out of work. There are dozens of inventions in here. He tries all sorts of things, from personal Care Products like pocket combs to corsets, to my favorite, which is a rumble seat protector. So hes doing addons to cars, something that would keep you dry when youre sitting in your car. Thats one thing that he tries to patent it. He protects the idea, and he tried to market it.
And up next, a visit to the National Constitution center in philadelphia to learn about the exhibit constituting liberty from the declaration to the bill of rights. Our tour guide is president and ceo jeffrey rosen. The National Constitution center is a very special place. Its the only institution in america that has a charter from congress to disseminate information about the u. S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis. That means we bring together all sides in the constitutional debates that transfix america to debate not political issues but constitutional issues so that you the people can make up your own mind. We do that in three ways. With the museum of we the people, which is this Beautiful Museum here on Independence Hall in philadelphia, and im looking out on one of the most beautiful constitutional views in america, Independence Hall, where the declaration of independence and the constitution were drafted. Were also americas town hall, a center for debates and symposiums and po