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Joining us now on book tv was representative tom cole a republican from oklahoma. Congressman kobe have asked you this question before, you have always had a large reading list. What is on your current reading list . I have just finished the splendid and the vial by erik larson. A wonderful of churchill and his family. Really in the worst year of the war. Right after he becomes prime minister, may 10 of 1940, really the day of the german invasion in the low countries of france. And basically what it was like to stand alone consulting germany until june of 41, the russians are in the war. And then by december of 41 United States is in the work. Its an extraordinary book. Until wonderful read by a guy i considered the greatest person of the 20th century. The supreme ordeal of a long and brilliant career. Then ive also been reading, i just picked up grade story by the name of Jean ....
Like against nazi germany, in june 1941 the russians are in the war and december 41 the United States is in the war. Its an extraordinary book. Its a wonderful read about a guy that i consider the greatest person in the 20th century, the supreme ordeal of long and brilliant career, and then ive also been reading, the greatest story of gene edward smith, great biographer. I read biography grant and eisenhower. The best eisenhower biography ever written and theres been some good ones. He died in 2019, so right now just got into what may have been his death book on fdr, the best book of the year, back in 2007. Its been around a while. Its one of those books that has been sitting on my book shelf and i just had not gotten to it. 6700 page read. You know, we lost smith last year, about a year ago, september actually, so almost precisely a year ago. And i happened to, you know, just think about that and pulled out the book and ordered hi ....
I want to start first by thinking everyone for being here. We are all here to discuss a moment in Howard University history, and a lot of you were here in the our zoom tonight, were direct participants in that moment so we invite you to use the chat in the q a to share reflections as we engage in dialogue. After our dialogue well take questions from now. And then finally this is being simulcast via youtube so share the link and those who may not be able to join us here can also view the program. April r. Silver commented that there are two howards. But she left it there. Almost as if to signify that what is known aint got to be reminded me of the famous score activist and former dean, kelly millers statement in the 1916 Howard University yearbook, quote, those who feel it know. Theres a howard hidden from view that nevertheless comes to the surface often and forcefully ....
I look at you at home a lot. Youve helped us really improve our business by the things you do. We have really had to have an experience with back and forth oh been, closed, up and down, happening with everybody across the country. We take a little step forward and then have to back up a little bit. Think that is the mold of the day as they would say. When we shut down we pivoted right away to online sales but it took a little while for that to happen. We quickly moved ourselves to online sales and began to excel through the online website. In addition to that, we also have added the phone calls, emails, instagram, facebook requests as well, which was really a big surprise for us. Alyson has really managed all of the online sales, which means we are sending books out from the store directly to people then we kind of moved toward having people pick up the door because the governor did lift some of our restrictions and allowed for curbside we call it door pickup because our curb is full o ....
Well wrap up other countries neutralities. But were going to focus on what neutrality looked like and meant for the americans, especially in the first half of the war. So the thing that i want you to understand the most, and this is really vital, because its its a very different understanding of neutrality than we have today. Neutrality at the beginning of the war did not mean inactivity. It did not mean passtivity and it most certainly did not mean impartiality. If it doesnt mean those things, then what does it mean . The definition differs with each country. Some, like belgium, will say they never gave up their neutrality. So they were aggrieved against as a neutral country. Others like switzerland will say, were neutral and to prove it, dylan, im going to hold your wallet, and im going to hold your wallet, and thats how im neutral. In the case of the United States, neutrality will for the most part mean that they will do busines ....