And neglect. And im going to start earlier than 1783. Im going to start with the beginning of european exploration, the early part of the 17th century. So its going to be an almost 200year dream. And but it will go fast because im going to concentrate on what happened once the dream was realized. In 1607 john smith entered the sevenmile wide mouth of the Potomac River and headed north. Whether he got this far north we are actually not certain but the People Living here called the place petomek. It translates as a place to which something is brought, a trading place, a place to which tribute is brought. It was a beautiful area in which the tide water from the ocean stopped. The river narrowed and as you know north of georgetown its very different river. But here where georgetown was to rise there was a huge tidal marsh. And this is the origin of the swamp myth. Washington, d. C. Was not built in the swamp. It is an insult to George Washington to think that he would locate the capital of
Going to say it until i get here. So i hope you will forgive me for the lack of visuals. My title is dreams nightmares and neglect. And im going to start earlier than 1783. Im going to start with the beginning of european exploration, the early part of the 17th century. So its going to be an almost 200year dream. And but it will go fast because im going to concentrate on what happened once the dream was realized. In 1607 john smith entered the sevenmile wide mouth of the Potomac River and headed north. Whether he got this far north we are actually not certain but the People Living here called the place petomek. It translates as a place to which something is brought, a trading place, a place to which tribute is brought. It was a beautiful area in which the tide water from the ocean stopped. The river narrowed and as you know north of georgetown its very different river. But here where georgetown was to rise there was a huge tidal marsh. And this is the origin of the swamp myth. Washingt
The federal government. Hes been very active and interested in particularly researching the seat of government. Hes been the author of many book and articles. Throughout most of his professional life, hes been the coeditor of documentary history of First Federal congress. I do want to say one thing about one of his books, which i think is a real classic now, thats the creation of washington, d. C. , which is published back in 1991. If anybody wants to know about behind the scenes and proceedings and meetings and all the things that went on in terms of the location of national capital, this book is a must read. Id like you to welcome kenneth bolling. [ applause ] thank you, bill. Rather than thank the individual organizations, i just want to say i think most of us would agree that this conference just rocks. [ laughter ] i would like to thank in particular the editor of our papers for the fine job they are doing. Fiona griffin and marsha anderson. [ applause ] one of the things i have i
Character to fame generous charc bequeathed it his immortal name. Some lines later, the fourth , president s name was joined to that of the first. The the honored place of washington was filled by madison in diplomacy skilled. Dipl a seat far more exalted than a throne, or ever yet too hauty monarchs known. The patriotic consensus went like this. The office of the presidency all by itself was a testament to thy nobility of the american political experiment. And madison had already proved himself by 1814 as both as great and as a appropriately humble as the first of men, George Washington. So the unfortunate tendency is to make history simple. The whole idea of a political la faith is that it is supposed to eliminate confusion by suggesting pictures to the mindt that are frozen in time, somehow pure, cleaner, than they really were. The world had known many a hauty monarch, americas distinctive e characteristics was its nonhereditary system of governance. The presidencys republican chara
Government buildings at york, canada. Perhaps only one government building and perhaps not the American Army after all. This provided the burning of the public buildings provided opponents of the location with an opportunity to argue for removal without having to did he mean the city. During the month prior to convening of congress in late september 1814, residents expressed fears that the opponents of the city might prevail. Washington socialite eliz a, granddaughter of washington, went so far as to accuse secretary of war john armstrong, jr. , of allowing the british to capture the city in order to give ammunition to those who wished to move from the potomac and win himself Political Support in what might have been upcoming campaign. The 13th congress reconvened in the Patent Office on september 19th. While members talked privately about the possibility of an immediate removal, president James Madison assured them that the buildings were only the burning of the buildings were only a