There i got into flight training. I became a naval aviator, and low and behold in 1958 nasa was formed and they were looking for astronauts. So i was one of the original 110 people selected to go for interviews. Lets go back to your Naval Academy days, you almost didnt go, is that right . That is right. I had two years at wisconsin. I informs a Naval Aviation program after world war ii. Have been the most important project in this century. I became the first alternate that usually doesnt make it, are and i got orders for the physical to be inducted into the academy if you so desired. And then i said should i go to the academy, they said dont do that, you two years of college, you have Naval Aviation, if you go back you have to start all over again, you might not get back in aviation, but there was an old captain there and he said if you want to make the navy your career, get yourself to the academy, that is what hatppened. I term paper, my first term paper, i wrote on the development o
Explosion on board. The interview is from the Oral History Program at the Johnson Space center. This is the Johnson Space Center Original history project, may 25th, 1999, at the Johnson Space center. When you were a little kid, you saw a rocket go off and you said i want to do that . Is it that simple or that complex . You know, i was interested in rockets and astronomy long before the glenns and the shepherds of the world could spell rocket. I was interested in it way back in high school. I went to try and build some rockets. I wanted to be a rocket engineer, as a matter of fact. I wrote to the American Rocket Society at that time which is now the aaia or Something Like that, and i said i want to be a rocket engineer, and they wrote back and said you need to go to i. T. Or cal tech, and i couldnt afford either so i got an rotc appointment to wisconsin and then from there i went to the Navel Academy and then i got the flight training. I became a naval aviator, and low and behold in 195
On frank lin in washington about the relationship between Benjamin Franklin and george washington. Watch book tv this week and every weekend here on cspan2. Robert and eileen are here with us today. She recently retired as director of corporate social innovations and president of thef caterpillr foundation. With philanthropic arm of this manufacturing giant, caterpillar inc. In addition to the 30 year career holding various leadership positions at the company, she recently helped transfer form the foundation into one of the worlds most influential corporatel foundations and launch a collaborative platform that together stronger a catalyst for prosperity, unites businesses, nonprofits, government, and citizens to combine their strength to alleviate povertys for millions of people worldwide. Please give a warm savannah welcome to michele sullivan. [applause]. Michele thank you so much and and thank you so much to this fabulous event. And savannah, my first time here i absolutely love it
Good evening, everybody. Im bradley graham, coowner of politics and prose along with my wife, lissa muscatine, and on behalf of her but here welcome your think you very much for coming. We are very y pleased to have pl richter with us here this evening. Paul and i crossed paths a lot when i was a journalist with the Washington Post covering the pentagon and he was reporting for the Los Angeles Times based in washington. Over several decades paul wrote about National Security and Foreign Policyy on both the pentagon and then the state department beat come and heal other important assignments for the times before leaving the paper about four years ago. Paul was seen as one of the journalistic prose of reporting in this city on National Security affairs and in his new book, the ambassadors, he applies his Extensive Knowledge of americas National Security establishment to highlighting the valuable roles played by some veteran diplomats. He singles out four in particular, ryan crocker, robe
[inaudible conversations] all day here at the library of Congress National book festival we are recognizing and celebrating the importance of reading and authors and books. The library of congress mix it seem easy to do this each year but the truth is the National Book festival is a huge undertaking. Its a huge financial undertaking. And it has been made possible by generous support from our sponsors. You can see who they are in the programs and video monitors around the Convention Center but they ca tend to take for granted that this will continue to exist. So id ask you to consider making the contribution right now using your cell phone and you can send a text to make a onetime gift that will be added to your mobile phone bill. The details are on the screen and on the back of your program. Once you are to please silence your cell phone. Onto the main event id like to introduce the cochair of the National Book festival, david rubenstein. [applause] we are very honored today to have on