Dwight pitcaithley. [applause] ms. Drake dr. Pitcaithley nick promised he was not going to include the rockstar part. Thanks to nick for that wonderful introduction. Thank you that we can have a conversation that goes on for another 30 or 45 minutes. Robert and moran, who, many of you know, was a Pulitzer Prize civil war is our only felt history. History lived in the national imagination. I think thats true whether your ancestry goes back that far or not. My mostly does not. But the civil war affects ken burns, maybe its part of the dna. We think about it a lot. Every year when i teach the civil war course, the first day i give my students an exam and i ask them, in a word or phrase tell me what caused the civil war, what caused secession . Without secession there is no civil war. Everybody has an answer. Its not the same answer. But they all have an answer. Its states rights no, no, no. Its labored. No, its the tariff. General economic issues. I think its cultural differences to train
Tour, but only a brief clip is shown in the first few minutes of this program. Good evening and welcome, everyone. I am tom putnam, director of the john f. Kennedy president ial library and museum, and on behalf of the executive director of the Kennedy Library foundation, the board of directors, and all of our colleagues, i think you for joining us this evening. Let me first acknowledge the generous underwriters of the forum, boston capital, the local institute, raytheon, the boston foundation, and our media partners. We considered having this Forum Last Night on the actual 50th anniversary of mrs. Kennedys tour but did not want to make any of you having to choose between sharing valentines day with loved ones or with your friends here at the Kennedy Library. We are so pleased to have so many of you with us this evening. 50 years ago, Jacqueline Kennedy introduced herself to the nation. In many ways, the public already knew her from her role as the president s wife, mother of two child
Nick so since he retired, he teaches at new mexico state university, teaches about history and Civil War History and he had a book that came out this week, the u. S. Constitution and secession. It is my distinct pleasure and honor to introduce you to dr. Dwight pitcaithley. Dr. Pitcaithley he promised he was not going to include the rockstar part. Best laid plans. Thank you for coming tonight. Thanks to nick that wonderful introduction and thanks to the grant site for hosting this event. Im going to talk about 25 or 30 minutes, and then alternative over to you, so you can talk about whatever you want to talk about, and we hope that during my time, i have been provocative enough that we can have a conversation that goes on for another 35 or 40 minutes. Robert jim moran, who many of you know, threetime loser prizewinner, wrote that the civil war is our only felt history, history lived in the national imagination, and i think that is true, whether your ancestry goes back that far on not.
This evening we have cspan here. Is the microphone working back there . We have just one microphone here to ask questions. Cell if you need access to this microphone, if you are sitting over there you can go back there. I want to welcome Lilly Ledbetter who has come this evening to talk about his new book grace and grit. This is the first time Lilly Ledbetter has been to politics and prose. He is from montana which is why think he has written many books. Including the song of the dodo which expects a medal for Natural History writing. He holds honorary degrees from Colorado College in Montana State university where he serves as prof. Of western american studies. He has won the National Magazine award three times for articles in a wide variety of magazines including esquire, the advantage and rolling stone. The third of these awards was for a National Geographic storing called when stock went wrong. National geographic now, David Quammen has the title contributing editor which gives him