Peter i am going to go ahead and turn it over to john. I want to start with something i read in the introduction. Just absolutely fascinated by. And it is about your father. It is really a lovely story. Irwin silber. Book, published a songs of the civil war. He was not like a diehard civil war buff. He was not that kind nina he did like to sing the songs. Peter i have a question about your father. This is what you wrote. This book is not about my father civil war. It is partly about the people who created the civil war my father came to love as well as those who created the kind of civil war that he despised. So tell us, what did you mean by that . How can that help us sort of frame your book . Then we will turn it over to john. Nina so i think come in terms of the kind of the civil war that he came to love, i guess i would say that was the civil war i am going to say it was the civil war created by the popular front. By that, i mean this sort of loose coalition of civil rights organiz
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
Important conversation to be had this afternoon, and i am thrilled to have the privilege to spend some time with our following guests. I want to be very clear, my goal was to discuss some concrete steps that this audience that is with us, the tens of thousands who are with us, and corporate america, what we can take to create some lasting change and benefit for minorities in this country and close the inequality gap in the boardroom and in peoples paychecks. Ursula burns is here. I should tell you she was the first and only female ceo of a fortune a black female ceo of a fortune 500 company when she ran xerox. Board,she is on ubers and ive had the honor and pleasure to have known her for quite some time. Weve had some very important discussions. Also with us, robert smith, founder and chairman of vista equity partners. He is the wealthiest black american in the country, and i should tell you you have him and theched student debt crisis at morehouse. He has the 2 solution, and we are go
Please take a minute to silence your phones before we begin. While you are doing so, we have a fair number of members with us tonight. Supporters of president lincolns cottage. In seeing some of the names on the list, i wanted to take a moment to recognize two members who have been dedicated supporters since before we were open to the public. Eric reese has been a member for 12 years. Can you raise your hand . [applause] and thank you to all the other members tonight. I did want to name everyone but i thought the fact since the two of you have been getting since before we open was special, so thank you. At that conclusion, we invite you to the book signing which will be downstairs in the library. Joining us tonight is Sidney Blumenthal and jamie raskin to discuss mr. Blumenthals new book, the third volume in his series on the 16th president. Sidney blumenthal is the author of a selfmade man and wrestling with his angel, the first two volumes in his biography, the political life of Abra
He graduated from west point in 1844 commissioned into the first u. S. Jeb stewart drove his oum. He had ambition and there were tests coming if for him in the next weeks to see if he might be able to, umm, past those tests and seek more of the command, promotion, and fame he might have been seeking. And, finally, we come to the officer in the center, james brown stewart. Better known as jeb stewart. Hes the guy who kind of instigates and will carry it out. Quick overview on his life up to that point. He was born on february 6th, 1833. He attempted to enlist in the u. S. Military but was told he was too young. He spent two years at emory and henry college. In 1850 he received his appointment. During stewarts time there, robert e. Lee arrived in 1852 and served as the military academys superintendent. At the same time fitz lee arrived. Stewart was honored for his cavalry skill during his time at west point. He graduated 13th in a class of 46. He served in the u. S. Regular meant in texa