Great question. I wanted to write a book that would be a first draft of the history of the long epidemics for the year of covid and beyond but that would speak to an interested reader, not just a specialist in the field. There are lots of specialists in the field and i thought my valueadded might be to translate from specialists in the field to reader who are fascinate by the blizzard of legal issues that werent really on most peoples anda until now. We never thought about pt epidemics but think about them now, particularly what we can learn from them andhat do we know when its going to be over. I want to begin, john, if i can, really at the end of your book, and then ill pivot book at the end of our interview to ask you more but this question. You write, america has two histories, one ugly,he other far more appealing. In the months and years ahead, americans will hold the power between them. Lets hope the make the right choice. Im going to be asking you more but what that right choice
Feldman analysts is artistic portrayals of the American Revolution and civil war. She talks about the influence of paintings, sculptures, in memorials on how history is remembered. The Smithsonian Associates host to this event. Today we are going to look at the American Revolution and civil war, in particular, but a little beyond that. Controversies about the stories we tell. I am going to focus, because it is impossible to cover such an amount of material in one top. Im going to focus in particular on the nations capital, and the public buildings on the mall, which is after all, the centerpiece of american political culture, and our public culture, where people come from all around the world, and the country to participate in government, to learn about government, to understand our heritage. So i thought what is it we say to those people when they come to washington . What have been some of the controversies . What are some of the issues we should be aware of . And what is missing . S
During this pandemic. We have taken staff within other units within h. R. We have five different areas that i mentioned and five different Business Units in h. R. We assigned them and put them in our return to work so we can provide better visibility and Better Customer Service to our employees. It was interesting to note that from march to october, during the covid19 shelterinplace, really intense period, they return to work team has respond to over 9000 emails from march to october. In october alone, have responded to 425 calls. For fy 19 and and 20 they responded to 5500. Thats is a staff of six people who done that. Its interesting, i heard lot about staffing and you mention that one of the things was the shortage in staffing. There has been and the team has been dedicated to make sure to try to provide enhanced customer service. One things that we have been committed is communicating. I hear lot about communicating, making sure there are updates. We sent over hundred emails about
The extraordinary life of hamilton aellis cose the author of trana they both have a lot to add for people that are interested not only in our history but a lot of current events. Im going to give kimberly and alice a couple minutes to introduce themselves and then we will jump into discussion. Kimberly, do you want to go first . Hi, i am so delighted to be here. As i was saying before we get started, i used to live in austin, he went to ut for my phd so being a part of the texas book festival has been a dream of mine for a long time. Edited picture it would happen this way but i will take it. Im very grateful to participate and thank you so much for having me. Im a historian and ice study women, sex politics, and science and medicine. Now i live in cincinnati and i teach in oxford ohio. I contribute essays to publications like the washington post, i have an oped in there today actually about kamala harris. I also have my new book free thinker which tells the story of the fallen woman a
I have guy with me a wonderful author writing a fantastic book john, you are a distinguished scholar and historian and have given us a book at exactly the right time we need in the midst of a pandemic. You have said your goal was to do a citizens guide what did you mean by that quick. Great question. I wanted to write a book that will be a first draft of history during the covid and beyond but would speak to an interested reader not just a specialist in the field there are a lot of specialist and my valueadded code be a translate to readers who are just fascinated by the blizzard of the legal issues that have arisen in the last six months that we were not on most peoples agenda until now. And we never thought about past epidemicsut we are now particularly what can weearn from them andhen do we know it will be over. But i want to beg at the end of your book and now i will back to ask you more about this questn. You wh america has two histories one is far more appealing in the mons and y