The u. S. Military command in vietnam, with his retirement from the cia he went to the Georgetown School foreign service. Hes also founding member, and is the author of a new book the foundations of the cia harry truman, and the origins of a cold war. Rick, come on up. Think you all for coming out when you could be at the Christmas Market across the street. I appreciate that. As vince said ive been with the sea i a for going on 50 years. For the last 20 years ive taught intelligence in georgetown. In teaching their at george town ive discovered from participating with the museum that theres a great interest in the cia and the general subject of National Intelligence. Also considerable misunderstanding, suspicion and outright hostile itty about National Intelligence. So one of the reasons that i wrote this book is as a primer to try to explain not to knowledgeable people like yourself or my colleague, but the general public what it is that the Intelligence Community does, and the kinds
Of the smithsonian institution, dr. Lonnie bunch. He is also and was the founding director of the National Musicians museum of African American history and culture and, as a librarian, my first purchase, very recently, was online, his new book, a fools errand, creating the National Museum of African American history and culture in the age of bush, obama, and trump. We appreciate you, doctor bunch, for being with us today, and we have a lot of things we would like to cover. I hope you feel free to ask me a few questions, but i really know that people have been very interested in your perspective on what is going on, and when we planned this, we had the Health Crisis that was going on. Since that time, another crisis. And movement. You released a statement although it will be a monumental task, the past is replete with examples of ordinary people working together to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. History is a guide for a Better Future and it demonstrates that we can become
At things like artifacts, serial culture, paintings, fine arts, decorative arts, the white house has all of those things as well. If you are into politics, policy obviously, that is the big one people think about. Even in terms of pop culture, or political culture, understanding the white house is a symbol for american democracy. And how that symbol has changed and evolved over time. It says a lot about who we are, the american identity itself, and i think all of these different ways of studying the white house touches on all of these Different Things that you may not get in a traditional American History textbook. But if you dig deeper, there is an incredible history beneath the surface. Lindsay chervinsky, a white house historian and new in the role there, we will spend time with both of you learning about your work and about the association. I want to ask you to give the elevator speech about the association, how i got started and what its mission is . The association was founded by
Jonathan pliska, and author of the awardwinning White House Historical association publication, a garden for the a history of the white house grounds. Jonathan will be signing copies of this book later in the day during the reception in the gift shop. You will have an opportunity to meet with him, and talk about how great his presentation was. [laughter] please join me in welcoming jonathan pliska. [applause] yes, hello, i am jonathan pliska. I am absolutely honored to be speaking at this wonderful garden symposium. I would like to thank the White House Historical association, oak spring, and all the other sponsors for having me here today for hosting the event. As well as that splendid reception last evening at the u. S. Botanical garden. Thank you all for attending. I am going to give you the overview of the first 100 years or so of the white house grounds. Focusing on the various uses of the landscape, as well as its physical development, and to squeeze us all in in a little under 3
American history textbook, but if you dig a little bit deeper, theres an incredible history just beneath the surface. Lindsay, also a White House Historical association historian and new in the role there. Were going to spend some time with both of you learning about your work and also about the association. So im going to ask you to give the elevator speech about the association itself, how it got started and what its mission is. Sure, so the association was founded by Jacqueline Kennedy to preserve and protect the history of the white house and then share that history with the American People more broadly. And since then, weve worked on that mission to try and cultivate the white house, the first floor especially, as sort of a museum for the people to tell the story of the white house and the story of the nation and to try and make it a little bit more accessible for visitors that come through. Why the first floor specifically . Sure. So the first floor is often referred to as the st