Programs. In 1982 he appeared on book notes to talk about his biography of president truman it won the Pulitzer Prize for biography and to help change the view of the truman presidency. Here he is from 1992. Cspan you start off by saying as far back as he could remember truman held onto the mythical roman heroes. What is that all about . The mythical hero who left in time of war with the great general and was victorious and renounced all of his power and returned to the farm. Thats a theme the country was founded on. If you are at the capital with the great painting of George Washington turning over his powers as commanderinchief of the Continental Army to congress the symbols earth all throughout that painting because they believe this is what democracy entailed that any citizen should be called upon at any time to serve b ultheir country in any capacity and the power belong to the people and would bepo returned to those who held it. He like to say i never forget who i was, where i ca
Humanity can overcome the most accurate of weather predictions. [laughter] thank you to our new sponsor wells fargo specifically sponsoring the new history and biography on pavilion was 1h annual National Book festival all of us at the library of Congress Hope you enjoy it as much as we have planning and bringing it to you with so many great sponsors and partners but its also an important because building a key reading is essential not just to enriching our own lives but extending horizons of society to sustain that democracy and we are grateful to those 115 riders bringing us the creative spirit and collective in a national way here at the mall. At the 11th National Book festival not only a success but the unprecedented number of people participating with the work of over 100 volunteers giving of their time with more than 1000 it is a record in that respect as well as people like you who have been here. Also special recognition to the wonderful librarian the executive director Jennife
Carta. We remember, of course, this institutions good fortune to have been called upon to safeguard the lincoln magna carta during world war ii. But as a repository of the accumulated knowledge of human civilization, the library of Congress Must also be acknowledged to be one of the best assets the United States possesses for participation in magna cartas greatest legacy, the preservation of the rule of law. The library began over two centuries ago as the principle reference collection for legal research, both for the congress and the United States supreme cou court. It continues to offer unparalleled Legal Resources to all three branches of the United States government as well as to the governments of foreign states. This mission, the preservation of the rule of law is inscribed in the very walls of the building in which we are standing, the Thomas Jefferson building, in paintings, mosaics in the ceiling, statues in the reading room. Theres a wonderful quote by the englishman richard
Ceremony. This program runs about 45 minutes. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Im james billington, the 13th librarian of the congress. Its a great pleasure to zvr coe you to the library of congress and to this event celebrating the opening of the librarys latest exhibition, magna carta, muse and a mentor. I think it is indisputable that the library of congress has a special relationship with magna carta. We remember, of course, this institutions good fortune to have been called upon to safeguard the lincoln magna carta during world war ii. But as a repository of the accumulated knowledge of human civilization, the library of Congress Must also be acknowledged to be one of the best assets the United States possesses for participation in magna cartas greatest legacy, the preservation of the rule of law. The library began over two centuries ago as the principle reference collection for legal research, both for the congress and the United States supreme cou court. It continues to offer
The magna carta as we called it into this year. A document of great historical significance to the rule of law. The 800th anniversary of which will be two weeks from today. And we are honored and privileged to have as our lecturer the Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, the honorable, barren else of richland. The historical feats that the lady has herself accomplished. She is the first and as far as the only member of the Supreme Court to be a woman. She was the first and only longhorn that was a woman in 1999 when she was appoint to the court of appeals and only the second woman appointed to the court of appeal and privy council. She was the First High Court judge to come from an academic and serve ant. She had been called to the bar in 1969 and in 1989. When she practiced law briefly in manchester, she decided the ratio, as much as she had seen in cambridge, she was one of six women in her class. She was the only one to get a star first for exceptional distin