Century ago, we seek eisenhower now. From every horizon, from women and youth, farms and factories, even from democrats who place principle above party, for all the people of america mister american Dwight David Eisenhower. Misses eisenhower, your the presence of Dwight David Eisenhower in america and around the world. We gather today in mo urning but also ingratitude. We mourn Dwight Eisenhowers death, but we are grateful for his life. We gather also that conscious to the fact and paying tribute to Dwight Eisenhower, we celebrate greatness. When we think of his place in history, we think inevitably of the other giants of those days of world war ii. And we think of the qualities of greatness and what his work that made his unique among all. Once perhaps without intending to do so, he himself put his finger on it. 1945, shortly after dday at a ceremony in londons historic gall. Hall. The triumphant Supreme Commander of the allied forces in europe was officially given the freedom of the
Admiral why do you refer to yourself as the accidental admiral . [laughter] what a great question. You can choose to hear a particular course you will lose ultimately in a different direction. And then to be in charge of all activity and with the commander of us Pacific Command position for senior admiral. My boss, a wonderful boss, secretary gates called to say forget about the pacific we will send you to nato i bk the first and only admiral to be the supreme allied commander and it was an accidenthe. That the navy was an accident as a career . Soet somewhat. That my father had kernel of marines growing up in that environment and going to Quantico High School thinking it would be them marine corps everybody goes out on a cruise going on a cruise are in san diego. Late in the day on the peer and the sun was setting looking out on all that ocean and i just wanted to be a sailor. I told my dad and mom they were hoping it would be a marine that years later my dad said that came out okay.
Housekeeping to let you know that the lab captioning for todays event is available at american progress. Org live captioning. We have a tremendous conversation ahead of us with the california governor, gavin newsom. A fantastic discussion with our panel. I well get into the introductions a bit later, but i really want to provide some words of context to the conversation. On the final day of the Democratic National convention, it is only fitting to look forward and consider how we can correct the course of this country. The Trump Administrations response to the pandemic, black lives matter, frankly dangerous and reckless of our democratic framework has made it abundantly clear that right now, under this administration, we are on the wrong path. We are not just on the wrong path, we are heading backwards, dangerously backwards. So, that is why this conversation is so important, because we want to make sure that we are moving forward. And what is really critical to this conversation is le
Enduring and beloved institutions. The United States Postal Service. Entitiese few specifically mentioned by our founders in the constitution. The Postal Service delivers more than 470 million pieces of mail each day to every home and business across the United States. Lifelinees a critical to using critical medicine, supplies, and mail for every american, no matter where you live. Words. I will not mince the Postal Service is under attack. Newspapers from every corner of the country have seen the stories and pictures. Mail is being delayed by day and sometimes even weeks. Sorting equipment is being ripped out of postal facilities and thrown into dumpsters. Are being removed from street corners. Overtime is being denied for our postal carriers, who are some of our most essential workers during the coronavirus crisis. This didnt happen by accident. It was intentional. This happened because President Trump has been blocking critical funding for the Postal Services now four months. Hishe
We are in the normandy landings gallery, the day at normandy, a very special gallery for us here because our museum was originally founded back in the 1990s as the National Dday museum. By congressional charter, we were charged with telling the story of the entire American Experience in world war ii. Why it was fun, how it was one and what it means today. So in this gallery, we get to big moments where the United States and their allies had to win this particular day. Dday, june six 1944. Behind me is our film, narrated by tom brokaw which gives our visitors the overarching story of dday at normandy but next to me, over here on the left is very special exhibit this is an exhibit case and is dedicated to ernie pyle, who actually watched the beaches at normandy where the American Forces landed. He saw all of the traces of war left over by troops who had been killed coming to shore at the beach. What we have in this case is actual artifacts and sand from utah and omaha beaches. Ernie pyle