The president ial Oral History Program. Its great to have you with us today to join us for what i know will be a fascinating conversation with our guest jeffsell, and this is about his book called mercury rising, which is the story of John Glenn John kennedy and the space race in the context of the cold war. Jeff comes to us from the west wing riders group, which he founded as a speech writing business along with a strategic operation and this comes from his experience as a speechwriter for president clinton, and he did a number of landmark speeches for the 42nd president. He also has a background in history from Brown University and was a Rhodes Scholar and so has a masters degree in history from oxford. His previous books are on fascinating. X in and of themselves one on Franklin Roosevelt and his tussle with the us supreme court. The other is speaking of tussles on the conflict between Robert Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and so we were just talking before we went on camera. Jeff is j
Operation and this comes from his experience as a speechwriter for president clinton, and he did a number of landmark speeches for the 42nd president. He also has a background in history from Brown University and was a Rhodes Scholar and so has a masters degree in history from oxford. His previous books are on fascinating. X in and of themselves one on Franklin Roosevelt and his tussle with the us supreme court. The other is speaking of tussles on the conflict between Robert Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and so we were just talking before we went on camera. Jeff is just so good at developing dramatic tension and i would say about this book, which i thoroughly enjoyed and i think i may have mentioned to him. I certainly did others that when im getting ready to moderate a book discussion. I assign myself so many pages of the book to read a day so that i make sure im finished with it by the time the discussion begins and this one i assigned myself some time ago 10 pages a day, but it was li
Board of directors who are here this evening. We have martha kumar is here. I have seen martha. Anita mcbride will be here shortly, if she is not here already. David firrea is on our board several members of our National Council of white house history, which we are always grateful to have. This evening, it is my honor and privilege to introduce a really terrific friend of mine and front of the White House Historical society, mark updegrove. He served as the president and the ceo of the lbj foundation in austin, texas. He is a president ial historian for abc news. He is also an accomplished author. Mark has actually authored five books on the presidency, including this book that we are celebrating this evening, incomparable grace, jfk in the presidency. I had the privilege of recording a podcast this afternoon with mark, which we will release later in the month when the book is officially released. It was a fascinating conversation. I really enjoyed my time with mark and i think you are
Book called mercury rising, which is the story of John Glenn John kennedy and the space race in the context of the cold war. Jeff comes to us from the west wing riders group, which he founded as a speech writing business along with a strategic operation and this comes from his experience as a speechwriter for president clinton, and he did a number of landmark speeches for the 42nd president. He also has a background in history from Brown University and was a Rhodes Scholar and so has a masters degree in history from oxford. His previous books are on fascinating. X in and of themselves one on Franklin Roosevelt and his tussle with the us supreme court. The other is speaking of tussles on the conflict between Robert Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and so we were just talking before we went on camera. Jeff is just so good at developing dramatic tension and i would say about this book, which i thoroughly enjoyed and i think i may have mentioned to him. I certainly did others that when im getti
This evening. Im welcoming you under our roof here at historic Decatur House, which is the home of the White House Historical association. We are honored to occupy this property that is owned this evening, im welcoming you under a written historic Decatur House which is the home of the White House Historical association. We are honored to occupy this poverty that is owned by chris for preservation, one of our partners and our work. It is terrific to have them here. We have three members of our board of directors were here this evening, martha kumar is here. Ive seen martha. And needed mcbride will be here shortly, if shes not here already. And david varia is on our board here, over on the right. Its an honor to have all of you here, as well as several members of our National Council on white house history, which we are always grateful to have. Well, this evening it is my honor and privilege to introduce a really terrific friend of mine and a friend of the White House Historical associa