Ellis island. This island for Many Americans is the place where their american story began. 12 to 13 million americans came to this island and to this building in order to be given the okay to go out and start their lives in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Now, a lot of people dont know about ellis island before that time. Im going to talk briefly about ellis island itself. Today were 27 acres in size. But in the original form this island was, it was three acres. A small island in the middle of the harbor. Barely above sea level at high tide. It was a military installation first as a fort during the war of 1812 and eventually during the 1800s as a storage depot. Around 1890 it was decided by the federal government this would be the place they would institute the first building specifically constructed for the processing of immigrants. They did construct the building between 1890 and 1892. The building here is not the first processing center. Its the second. The first was a large wooden
So the book became a susan head of the idea come to you for telling the story at this time . Jeff when i try to do when i write nonfiction books is to go everywhere where the people i write about went. Id rather drive and that way you really get a sense of place. Somewhere along the line in the 30,000 or so miles i drive every year i started wondering how we got to be a country, a culture where we take for granted and we can get in a car and go anywhere we want to. I thought it would be a good idea to write a book about that and as always happens when you look into history, theres more to it than you ever expected. Susan your book begins and ends with someone thats a minor character, jeff bixby. Who was he and why was he interesting to you . Jeff one of the things that struck me as i researched the book was the vagabonds and edison and whoever may be with him on that trip could literally change the lives of anyone they met. They were considered magicians for everything they brought to
Drive. Story atbecame the that point in their lives. Susan how did the idea come to you for telling the story at this time . Jeff when i try to do when i write nonfiction books is to go everywhere where the people i write about went. I always use my car. Id rather drive and that way you really get a sense of place. Somewhere along the line in the 30,000 or so miles i drive every year i started wondering how we got to be a country, a culture where we take for granted and we can get in a car and go anywhere we want to. I thought it would be a good idea to write a book about that and as always happens when you look into history, theres more to it than you ever expected. Susan your book begins and ends with someone thats a minor character, jeff bixby. Who was he and why was he interesting to you . Jeff one of the things that struck me as i researched the book was the vagabonds and edison and whoever may be with him on that trip could literally change the lives of anyone they met. They were
Susan we want to listen to just a little bit of jeff bixbys music so people can get a sense of what interested ford and edison. Susan just a little bit of the music. Would a lot of americans be listening to music of this type of this era . I would rather drive you get a sense of place. Somewhere along the line in the 30,000 or so miles i drive every year i started wondering how we got to be a country, a culture where we take for granted we can go anywhere we want to. Since i didnt know i thought it would be a good idea to write a book about that. Your book begins and ends with a somewhat minor character. Who was he and why was he interesting to you . Jeff was an elderly country fiddler working out of michigan playing barn dances and so forth, and that was pretty much the height of his musical career. He was listed in local archives as a shoe maker. Henry ford had heard about his sic and unexpectedly in 1923 his wife opens their door in this little tiny isolated town and there stands he
How this man flew 15 miles, 8,000 feet in the air with just a lawn chair and these balloons. Put your arms around me baby and we do say good morning, america. We say, say what say what. That stunt. Inspired by the movie up. As we said earlier, but i dont know if thats creative, or just flatout insane. Maybe a little of both. First new developments overnight in washington. The senate was up late. Vice president pence cast the deciding vote to repeal a rule that makes it easier for consumers to sue banks or credit card companies. And the shock waves still being felt after two republican senators blasted President Trump. Senator flake will join us in a moment. He said yesterday enough is enough. He called the president reckless and tennessee senator bob corker accused the president of debasing the presidency. Mary bruce, all the reaction coming in on capitol hill. Good morning, mary. Reporter good morning, robin. We are witnessing an astounding public indictment of the integrity of a sitt