And also were here with cspan, booktv. And so we have a National Audience as well as a oregon audience. So im going to tell some stories, and you oregonians may know some of the stories, and you may not know others. But ill start with how i came to this story. And, actually, whats surprising about it is how this story was very well known in its day. In 1836 when Washington Irving was commissioned by John Jacob Astor to write the story of these events 20 years after they occurred, irvings book also called astoria, was a best seller of 1836. And those events have been largely forgotten in the american consciousness. I think you in oregon know a little bit more about them or im sure some of you know a lot more about them. But in the national consciousness, theyre largely forgotten, except among historians and people who really follow western history. So it is a really important story. Its historically significant, and its a great adventure story. And thats partly what attracted me to it.
Next, astoria by author john jacob. This an is hour and 14 minutes. Thank you powells books and thank you for being here. Normally i have a more formal presentation. I have a reading i show at readings. But tonight is a special night so i am going to do something different. And i want to tell stories a little bit more and, of course, i will do some readings. It is special we are at powells books, we are in oregon, astoria is nearby and we are also here with cspan so we have a national and oregon audience. I will tell stories and you may know some of them and may not some of the others. But i will start with how i came to this story. And actually, what is surprising about it is how this story was verywell known in its day. In 1836, when Washington Irving was commissioned by john John Jacob Astor to write these, irvings book also called astoria was a best seller in 1926. They have been forgotten now. I think some of you know about them. But in the National Consciousness they are largely
Risking their lives instead of staying at home on the ohio river and risking their lives a little bit less. So pike makes the same request of congress. He forged letters from jefferson and dearborn and secretary of state James Madison and things like that in congress, the committee reviewing the request votes in favor of granting him this but by this point the expedition is inextricable from the politics dividing congress over jefferson and burr and wilkinson in general and Congress Never votes. My guess, there is no record of why they dont vote. No one made the decision not to vote but the last evidence we have in the congressional record as of the Committee Voting to bring it to a vote on the floor and then it just disappears until the 1840s when we have a comments by his widow clara who is requesting that the reward be paid to her. By this point she is destitute. Then she dies before they do anything. My guess about whats going on is twofold. One is burr is acquitted and he has a lo
And, actually, whats surprising about it is how this story was very well known in its day, in 1836 when Washington Irving was commissioned by John Jacob Astor to write the story of these events 20 years after they occurred. Irvings book, also called astoria, was a best seller of 1836. And those events have been largely forgotten in the american consciousness. I think you in oregon know a little bit more about them, or im sure some of you know a lot more about them. But in the national consciousness, theyre largely forgotten except among historians and people who really follow western history. So it is a really important story. Its historically significant, and its a great adventure story. And thats partly what attracted me to it. And its also a story that i i feel needs to be told because its had, those events have had a big impact on the shape of the north American Continent and on the course of american empire, these events that happened over these three years from 1810 to 181. 1813.
Zumba structure staring you down with a beautiful set of teeth smiling, you tend to do the same. I have taken up smiling and i want to give you this. Its signed by dozens of men and women thanking all of who is fantastic, i understand she works for you and december who comes from san mateo. Thank you for this program. I really enjoy myself. Its a really wonderful opportunity to come together. Happy holidays . Okay, we are now at our 15minute limit for general Public Comment. We are going to item 5 which is the consent calendar. 5 h is off calendar. Well hear that in just a moment. I do have two Public Comment cards for the consent calendar, robin andance anastasia. Hello again. You may think this is inevitable. I first became aware of knapp driving by the park. A San Francisco alliance a huge amount is being spent without park users. Expand the playground and add a new entrance. In the process they have destroyed nearly every tree surrounding the billion building and the slope around t