Bill Clinton Historical lecture. I would like to thank our great trustee and benefactor, bernard schwartz, for his generosity and making this event and many of our Public Programs possible. [applause] i would also like to recognize and thank one of our trustees who has joined us today, david blight. One of our panelists. I would take this opportunity to say how proud we are to count david among our trustees at new York Historical. I want to recognize laura washington and mercedes franklin, who are cochairs of our Frederick Douglass counsel. Of course, welcome all members who have joined up today. Joined usned us today. [applause] and i want to recognize a longstanding and very special friend of new York Historical, eric rudin, who has joined us this morning. Thank eric for all he and his family have done over a very long time at this institution. Thank you. [applause] this Mornings Program will last about an hour and a half and it will include a question and answer session. You should
I would also like to recognize and thank one of our trustees who has joined us today, david blight. One of our panelists. Opportunity tois say how proud we are to count david among our trustees at New York Historical. I want to recognize laura washington and mercedes franklin, who are cochairs of our Frederick Douglass counsel. Of course, welcome all members who have joined up today. Who have joined up today. [applause] and i want to recognize a if not, my colleagues are going up and down the aisles with notecards and pencils. The notecards will be collected later on in the program. There will be a book signing following the program this morning. The book signing will take place right outside these central doors in the smith gallery. Copies of the books are available for purchase at our ny History Museum store, which is located to my left on the 77th street side. We are really, truly delighted to welcome our guest speakers. David blight, professor of American History and director of th
York. His honors include the National Humanities medal presented by president george w. Bush. Before we begin, i ask that you please turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices, and now please join me in welcoming our guest. Thank you. [applause] mr. Holzer good evening. Happy lincolns birthday. I am so proud and grateful to be asked to do another lincolns birthday talk here at the New York Historical society. Two years ago, it was snowing. Last year it was sleeting with ice. I think lincoln might have been another president who was not too unhappy about global warming. Just a guess. [laughter] tonight, i want to give a speech about a speech. And here is a spoiler alert. Only masterpieces qualify for that kind of analysis, so let me call your attention to the fact that lincolns sin second inaugural address, if you had any doubt, is indeed a masterpiece. I think most of you already know the speech, at least the most familiar part of it, with malice toward none and charity for
Weeks before his assassination and generally considered to be one of the most iconic speeches in American History. The New York Historical society hosted the event. We are honored to welcome Harold Holzer back. He is the Jonathan Stanton director of the roosevelt house policy institute at hunter college. He previously served as chairman of the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial foundation and cochair of the u. S. Lincoln bicentennial commission, appointed by president bill clinton. He is the author of numerous books, including lincoln and the power of the press. His most recent, monument man. He served as chief historian for New York Historicals 20092010 exhibition, lincoln in new york. His honors include the national byanities medal presented president george w. Bush. Before we begin, i ask that you please turn off your cell phones and other Electronic Devices and please join me in welcoming our guest. Thank you. [applause] mr. Holzer good evening. Happy lincolns birthday. So proud and grat
Many our beautiful robert h. Smith auditorium this morning. Todays program, Frederick Douglass, abraham again and emancipation. Would like to thank our great trustee and benefactor, arnold schwartz, for his generosity and aking this event and many of our Public Programs possible. [applause] id also like to recognize and thank one of our trustees who has joined us today, david light. I want to recognize laura ashington and Mercedes Franklin who are cochairs of our Frederick Douglass counsel. Thank you to all members who have joined us today. [applause] and i want to recognize a longstanding and special friend of New York Historical who has joined us this morning. And thank him for all that he and his family have done over a very, very long time that institution. Thank you. [applause] this Mornings Program will last about an hour and a half and it a question and answer session. You should have received a note card and a pencil as you entered this morning. If not, my colleagues are going