I mean, theres never been a culture or civilization without not anymore than without music or drawing. But you know, in many ways, we are still wrestling with the question that are confusing the ancient greeks and sumerians and egyptians. We have expanded a circle of knowledge to a large extent but there is much more we dont know. What is an example of that . What do we know you . An example in the news lately, weve known for thousands of years that theres infinite melonie numbers like 215 and seven in 13 that cant be factored. Basically items if you like. But here is the thing we dont know. I mentioned five and seven, only to a park right to each other. We dont know if there is infinitely numbers that are two apart. Whether these twin prizes go on and on forever or eventually stop. People have wondered for hundreds of years and we get closer and closer and a couple of years ago we still dont know. We might find out tomorrow. We magnify now for out for 50 years. We may never find out.
Bit, reflect his evolving views, is it fair to think of him still as the father of the constitution . I dont know that he was the father of the constitution, but the thing i came away with was how terribly important the document is. Not as an object of record but for as a way for us to understand how difficult that task was that they face. I came away from the whole project with enormous respect for how close the country was too falling apart, and a much different people with different opinions struggle to try and hold it together, how remarkable the document was that was written in philadelphia, but how different it looked to them that it looks to us. As i say, this is not the document base of what theyre writing. The fact end up on playing cards would be a great surprise to all of them. Let me make it a couple things about the building. We have a place where you will see a lifesize models of the framers. So you will see how short James Madison was, which may be a real victory for sho
Is the nations capitol. He knew to take metro onto reletting night. [laughter] and he came down from saratoga springs. Despite the fact that he is a new yorker i should say that no less a local source than the Washington Post saying he succeeds in showing us the human face of washington, and too often perceived as faceless, that is achievement enough. Tom lewis. [applause] thank you very much. Im glad that you knew microphone. Take the metro. I will be getting to it. I am glad that you knew to take the metro. I want you to no that i invited several people to come tonight, as my guest. And i have been in the back of the green room and have gotten frantic messages saying, we are stuck in traffic. And i said, ditch your cars, grab a metro, and get off at federal triangle. They will be coming in late, and i expect others, too, will be will be that way as well. I want to thank rebecca very much for her introduction and think the Smithsonian Associates for inviting me. Delighted to be here,
If you dont cannot be you dont turn up your phone then i ask you to follow up on facebook and twitter and instagram. If you havent already please take a minute and sign up for our email newsletter. As promised we will not spam you and you can find out about the great offensive things we have going on in the story. Pick up one of our events calendar. We have postcards and above that if you could grab one of those and come back and see us again. Thank you again so much for coming. My name is sarah and on behalf of the entire staff im happy to welcome you. Im so pleased to welcome j. D. Dickey for his new book empire of mud the secret history of washington d. C. Empire of mud unearthed and untangles the root of our capital story and explores how the city was tainted from the outset. From becoming the proud citadel of the public the George Washington envisioned more than two centuries ago. J. D. And i were talking about his background which is really fascinating. He is the author of the ro
Can tell us something about the city in which we live. Most of us passed through the strict of columbia daily and get lost in our routines. Many of us do not even take the time to perhaps look at the capitol zone and appreciate what it is as we have a chance to pass by it. Some things, of course, are missing. The baltimore and Potomac Railroad station, for example. They must location. Those who know the history of d. C. Know that is where president garfield was shot. We know where ford the writer is, but you never see anything about the garfield assassination. Thats because you have to go through the West Building of the National Gallery to be standing on the ground of that original location. Progressivism and architecture in the district in the turn of the century as well, and that building was torn down. You might pass by on h street the wonderful little bistro wok and roll. If you like chinese food, that is probably a nice place to stop in. Please make sure you read the plaque on th