[inaudible conversations] welcome everybody. My name is Douglas Bradburn. And the founding director of the National Library for the George Washington and beautiful mount vernon and delighted to you all again for a wonderful evening of conversation and history and i would also like to welcome the cspan audience out there. Its great to have you back in the library. You know these evening book talks are special for a variety of reasons. We get to bring exciting new historians to an eager community here but also because it sponsored by the great donor to mt. Vernon for many many years as you all know. The association does not take any government money. Its completely private institution based on philanthropy and some people come to the estate so we depend on it in groups like the ford family and the Ford Motor Company have supported mount vernon. Henry ford did the first fire engine mt. Vernon to keep the from burning to the ground. Ongoing challenge and in fact you were welcome to the don