This concludes our program. I would like for you to join with me in one final applause in recognition for our honoree tonight who brings us great honor with his presence, great honor with his work, and great honor how he helps the next generation of americans. Thank you. [applause] this week on q a, historian ron chernow. Area he talks about hamilton and the consulting work he did on it. Linmanuel miranda based the musical on mr. Chernows biography of Alexander Hamilton. Brian ron chernow, when did hamilton, Alexander Hamilton first get on your radar screen . First get on your radar screen . Ron well, i started writing it back in 1998, brian. It seems rather comical because the reason that i chose to do Alexander Hamilton, aside from the fact that it was the most extraordinary personal story among the founding fathers, was that he seemed to be fading into obscurity. People were coming to regard him as a sort of secondtier founding father. Most americans knew he was on the 10 bill, mayb
With him, is in those cases where he felt obliged to use dramatic license, he would always try to incorporate as many authentic elements into the scene as he could even if he had changed something. Brian if you get on the website today, first of all, you cant buy tickets. Theyre sold out for how far are they sold out . Ron sold out as we talked, through january 2017. Brian so all of this year and then january of next year. Ron yeah. Brian but if you get on and get on these resale websites, 1000 might get you a ticket. Ron yeah, i mean and people have been scalping tickets for 1,500 to 2000, 2500 a ticket. They are certainly routinely scalping for 1000 or 1,500 a ticket. Brian what do you think of that . Ron well, you know, its been frustrating for us because we didnt create this show exclusively for Hedge Fund Managers and private equity [laughter] people, and we have been doing what is within our power to try to offset that. For instance, theres a lottery every night, where the entire
Alexander hamilton aside from the fact that it was the most extraordinary personal story among the Founding Fathers was that he seemed to be fading into obscurity. People were coming to regard him as a sort of second tier founding father. Most americans knew he was on the 10 bill, maybe that he had died in a duel with aaron burr, but that was about it. It seems comical that i was, felt as if i was lifting him out of obscurity. Now his name is on the marquee of a broadway show. Brian where were you at the time . What were you doing . Ron i just finished writing my biography of john d. Rockefeller, titan, and what happened i had done a series of books about moguls of the gilded age, and i found that when i would go out to give lectures, people in the audience would start shouting out, do vanderbilt next. Do carnegie next, and i really felt that i was becoming terribly stereotyped as this biographer of gilded age tycoons, and i decided that i wanted to switch periods. And so, Alexander Ha
Can you hear me ok . Thank you so much for being here today. We are really excited to have this book. Michael and i go back a few years now. I have been a big cheerleader of his for several years. It is exciting to have this conversation with you to learn more about this book. First, michael, why did you decide to write this book . I think that is the biggest question. Michael first, i want to thank the museum of American Finance for hosting this and organizing this. Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, is the most fascinating and remarkable founding father. Yet there is so much of his life that is uncertain, controversial. I started by just reading about hamilton, and i learned about all this controversy. What year was he born . What battle did he fight him . All the stuff we did not know. I basically read every book there is. I went to all the primary sources to determine what the truth is, and wrote it down. When you learn the truth, his story is even more remarkable than what you read in
I just hope that you periodically in your career keep circling back to the american news. Because i think many biographers over the years would say the same thing. Who really did feel like we are reaching young people. I feel like when i go on doing a lecture or book signing typically the audience is about 35 or 40 years 40 years old and up. Sometimes 60s, 70s and 80s. Lynn seems to have this magical connection with people of all ages. Believe it or not a friend even told me that she took her threeyearold to see the show and the little girl was bouncing and swaying in her seat. I have seen the show were people in their late 80s who are as starry eyed as that trial. Lynn is worth his weight in gold in terms of stimulating young people to read American History. Cspan how important to the success of the shows his and back in 2009 in the white house the first lady and the president . Guest from a personal standpoint it was very helpful because you have to understand that six or seven years