The modern world. What i found even more telling was how things are invented. How invention itself is encouraged and nurtured. At least how it has been encouraged and nurtured in this country in the past. Its easy to say, as i do in my book, that we are a nation of tinkerers. We americans like to think of ourselves as natural adventurers, risktakers, entrepreneurs. But what does that mean exactly. . I am a believer in american exceptionalism. But as marines like to say, it has to be earned, never given. How did we earn it . How did we do what we did and . And how could we get back to doing it right . As the first nation to exist wholly in the modern age, United States has also insisted when timeed wholly in that making things when we were extracting them from the earth. We invented almost everything about america. We have constantly reinvented almost everything as we deemed it necessary, including our institutions, our customs, our laws. Above all, our definition of who is american and
As best we can. Im going to talk to you a little bit tonight about america the ingenious. This book i wrote. The best thing about writing books is hopefully you learned something. I learned a great deal writing this. Americansof how invented, developed or learned to exploit so many of the things exploit the world. What i found even more telling was how things are invented. How invention itself is encouraged and nurtured. At least how it has been encouraged and nurtured in this country in the past. , as i do in myy book, that we are a nation of tinkerers. We americans like to think of ass natural adventurers, risktakers and entrepreneurs. But what does that mean exactly. I am a believer in american exceptionalism. It hasnes like to say, to be earned, never given. How did we earn it . How did we do what we did and how could we get back to doing it right . As the first nation to exist wholly in the modern age, United States has also insisted when making things when we were extracting them
Complicated and controversial building of a memorial to president James Garfield on the u. S. Capitol grounds. Well hear from Matthew Gilmore who edits a washington, d. C. History blog. Those of you probably know matt by name, if not in person. He runs a blog, the matthew b. Gilmore press blog and also hes an author of the column of the intowner. If you follow d. C. History, hes been integrally involved. Anything history in d. C. Oh, you also run the d. C. History list. Thank you for that on behalf of the city. Today hes going to talk about James Garfield, his death and efforts to commemorate his life and death here in washington, d. C. I wont say too much more about it. I dont want to steal his steam. Please join me in welcoming matt. [ applause ] thank you very much. The story im going to tell might be ripped from todays or recent headlines. There was a president ial memorial delayed for years caught up in congressional infighting. Legislation pending. A powerful lobby behind the mem
To be here with the Vice President , with the honorable david young, who will be coming up after me. This whole concept of people coming along saying america was never great, i wonder where those people came from because do they recognize that this defended by a ragtag bunch of militiamen became the most3 powerful nation in the world in record time . That does not happen to a nation that is not great. And what was the world like before the United States of america . Stop and think about what the world was like. There were despotic leaders trampling over other people. They have to think twice about that now. Then, think about the innovation , the entrepreneurship, the hard makingat went into america into a great place. That is what makes us the kind of place that works for everybody. Some people say, well, america was good some groups, but maybe not so good for other groups. Again, maybe they need a history lesson. Say nothing ever happened for africanamericans in this country and that
Are watching American History tv, all weekend every weekend on American History tv. Tv,ext on American History novelist and historian kevin baker discusses his book, america the genius how a generation of tinkerers changed the world. At an event in cape cod, mr. Baker describes what he thinks are key factors in the nations innovative spirit. Guestant to thank our tonight. Kevin baker has written several your, at you are still in but also was raised in rockport, massachusetts. He has experienced being a massachusetts person. Tonight,ing forward to keeping an ion the weather, but please welcome kevin baker. Mark, for having me. Great to be on the cape, if only virtually. Hoped to be there, but i am going to have to make do. Talk to you about america the ingenious, this book i wrote. The best thing about writing books is that hopefully, you learn something. I learned a great deal writing this. Americansory of how invented, developed or learned to exploit so many innovations that would sha