Halfway through the first volume of the landmark history of the Federal Reserve. Not only having worked at the Federal Reserve, but having had lunch many, many times talking about his history, i have followed closely over time the massive transformations that has occurred at the fed, just since the financial crisis but over my lifetime. And before, and to think that the first 10 years of my life we were on the Gold Standard, you know, it suggests that things have changed a lot. And so when a friend at the wall street journal called up to ask if i would review a new book by a university of pennsylvania professor named peter contibrown called that are independent of the Federal Reserve, i jumped at the chance because of two things. One, i really do love that they. I think it had a big positive impact on my professional life at its a very important place in washington filled with people who want to do the right thing. They sometimes fail but i love the spirit of the food. The second thing
Documents should include a bill of rights. Mr. Brookhiser explores the conflicting opinions of Founding Fathers george mason, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton while also addressing how the bill of rights were eventually ratified by the new states. The New York Historical society hosted this hourlong event. So tonights program is James Madison, father of the constitution, and its part of our carl menges lecture series in american history. Id like to thank carl menges for all his support and for helping us to create this series and for all he does as a valued member of New York Historical Society Board of trustees, carl, thank you. [ applause ] id also like to recognize and thank trustees lon jacobs, cy sternberg and all our Chairmans Council members with us for all their great work and support as well, lets give them all a hand, too. [ applause ] so the program tonight will last an hour and include a questionandanswer session and there will be a formal book signing
And came for a particular type of freedom and had to Work Together for a first ethically diverse society, ethnic and religious and background diversity truly leads to creativity. It was that sort of bubbling mix there that allows philadelphia to become a place of great commerce, but also, a place of great middle class entreprene entrepreneursh entrepreneurship. Startup and innovation. Benjamin franklin eventually decides after being an apprentice to a printer there to start his own print shop. And goes over to england, buys the type and the found rips and stuff. Back then, philadelphia had i think 11 newspapers and he starts the 12th. It was really great in the days in which it was great competing voices and there were newspapers for the and he kans and for penn family and the propry tories and people loyal to the crown and ben franklin starts the first really independent newspaper, not affiliated with any faction but really being willing to poke fun at all factions and to stand up for
People to come home to. So he has that, and poly is very close to him and comes over when he is dying and comes over when he dies. On social media and other things, Benjamin Franklin believed very strongly that the free flow of ideas and free opinion of spread of ideas would empower people and eventually, in a very raggedy way, lead to more democracy, more liberties, more individual empowerment. He believed if there were 11 papers, there was room for a 12th. He believed nobody should control the free flow of information. He helped instill in americas dna by bringing thomas paine over, for example, and helping paine, you know, print pamphlets and hand them out on the Street Corner. He was able and by the way, thomas paine Benjamin Franklin, they are like the first bloggers in a way. I mean, these are pamphleteers and they are spreading ideas. Nowadays if you look at china, which is once again cracking down on the free flow of ideas, and if you look at what the free flow of ideas is doin
Leading the charge is one of hillarys best friends, our governor, terry mcauliffe. Here we are. The greatest state and greatest nation on earth. Sit down, everybody, its great to be with you. Ive done alaska, montana early this morning but now im here for the commonwealth of pennsylvania of virginia, greatest chair thank you for great leadership. Let me tell you theres no question in my mind, the greatest congressman to ever walk the halls of the u. S. Congress, bobby scott, not even a question about it. And greatest secretary of state in commonwealth of kentuckys history, allison grimes. Kentucky is going to get like virn virginia, make sure we elect democratic governors. I stood before you four years ago and it was no secret i was interested in running for governor best kept secret out there. And i promise you before i get to that, i want to recognize jim no land from the Richmond Times dispatch is here. Today is his birthday. You all know, i like to sing happy birthday because many