Hello im David Rubenstein at the library of congress in washington, d. C. As part of the National Book festival and we are pleased today to have Washington State bob gates whos written a book called exercise from power which ive read and recommend. We are going to talk about this book and a little bit about bobs career. I should point out we worked together along time ago about four decades ago in the Carter White House when i was the deputy and bob gates was executive assistant. So in those days, did you ever think you would become one of the most famous secretaries and have this career, did you ever think about that when you worked as executive assistant . We are both in situations today that we never dreamt about in the late 1970s. But i joined the cia in 1966 i was recruited out of the institute in indiana university. And to do my bit in the cold war i never dreamed in those days that i would end up being the director of the cia at the very time the soviet union collapsed. So it wa
I first took my seat in the ancient bodin the spring of 1769. I must tell you, your excellency, you were already a legend in my family when i was a young boy. My father, peter jefferson, spoke very highly of you. He as you well know was a surveyor commissioned by the western authority surveying lintz of virginia and beyond. Lands of virginia and beyond. He was a young major. I believe you both sat together in the Virginia House of burgesss, just before he passed away. He passed away in 1757. When i came to the house 12 years later, i had already known of you as a boy that attended the old World College in williamsburg, william and mary and george whiff and practicing law in williamsburg. In fact, general, i do not know whether you remember, but when i was a young man, a good 25 years of age, i had already become a de devote of theater and never missed an opportunity when virginia burg performed in the theater and i believe mrs. Campbell was quite the destiny for you. You enjoyed her oc
How have you been. We call ourselves partners in crime. That we are not going to talk about the crime part of it, just to the partner part. What has been interesting since ive been in the position of library of congress is the fact that people ask me what does the National Archives do. What does the archivist do a and then theres a confusion around the history and the role of each of the institutions, and ive learned a lot about that even in coming up to reclaim the declaration of independence, the bill of rights. We call it the constitution. And that was held by the library of congress and the type of thing. It wasnt until the 1930s the United States got serious about its records. Iwas Franklin Roosevelt was passionate about records and that we actually created and he signed the legislation that created the archives. The charters had been in the custody of the state department independent of library of congress when the archives building was built, a beautiful tabernacle was created f
Scholarship on the mother of George Washington, Mary Ball Washington. This popular event was set up some time ago, to help us understand the world, the time, the experiences of Martha Washington and other women of the 18th century. One of those women is of course Mary Ball Washington. The library hosted this event in womens History Month in the month of march but because of the closure here we are tonight. I want to mention a couple of things. One important thing i think everyone in the audience probably knows by now but i cant say it too many times, mount vernon is open. With open to audiences come to visit i should say to come to mount vernon and you have an opportunity to stroll the grounds to see the museum and education center. Quite soon we will open the magic but thats not ready yet because of the particular challenges the United States faces. But continue to support mount vernon in that way. Another thing only as an upcoming event. On july 8, that is coming right up right aroun
We have opened to audiences to visitors to come to melbourne and you have an opportunity to come strolled around, see the museum and Education Center and soon we will be able to open the mansion but better yet with particular challenges, maybe not a safe space for visitors, come visit and continue to support mall burning in that way. Another thing ill mention is an upcoming event, on july 8 coming up around the corner, using book talk, we will feature judge ginsburg who is the host and creator of the miniseries on the constitution but hell be interviewed by someone who is important and knows whats right, please join us for that conversation with justice ken briggs and david rubenstein. In the exploration. Tonights event is going to involve three panelists and i wont describe to you but i do want to introduce our guests and moderator doctor karen wolf in the director of the institute of American History and culture, professor of history of william and mary in a recent watch library foll