At things like artifacts, serial culture, paintings, fine arts, decorative arts, the white house has all of those things as well. If you are into politics, policy obviously, that is the big one people think about. Even in terms of pop culture, or political culture, understanding the white house is a symbol for american democracy. And how that symbol has changed and evolved over time. It says a lot about who we are, the american identity itself, and i think all of these different ways of studying the white house touches on all of these Different Things that you may not get in a traditional American History textbook. But if you dig deeper, there is an incredible history beneath the surface. Lindsay chervinsky, a white house historian and new in the role there, we will spend time with both of you learning about your work and about the association. I want to ask you to give the elevator speech about the association, how i got started and what its mission is . The association was founded by
American history textbook, but if you dig a little bit deeper, theres an incredible history just beneath the surface. Lindsay, also a White House Historical association historian and new in the role there. Were going to spend some time with both of you learning about your work and also about the association. So im going to ask you to give the elevator speech about the association itself, how it got started and what its mission is. Sure, so the association was founded by Jacqueline Kennedy to preserve and protect the history of the white house and then share that history with the American People more broadly. And since then, weve worked on that mission to try and cultivate the white house, the first floor especially, as sort of a museum for the people to tell the story of the white house and the story of the nation and to try and make it a little bit more accessible for visitors that come through. Why the first floor specifically . Sure. So the first floor is often referred to as the st
President ial library, down in the stacks. We are in the most secure area in our facility. This is the vaults. More thanere we keep 1600 documents written by Abraham Lincoln as well as many of the pieces he owned, objects he owned that he and directed with during his lifetime. I want to show you some books that we have in our collection that were very special to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln whenraham he was elected president in 1860, its not as if he was entirely unknown. He was a four term member of the legislature. He had served a term in congress. He was one of the most prominent politicians from the state of illinois. In large part, that popularity was due to his very successful debates against stephen a douglas, sitting senator on the democratic side in 1858. Abraham lincoln challenged him in illinois for that senate seat. They debated. Onee hourlong public debate several different occasions during that campaign season. Two years later, the same two individuals square off against each
History through a wide variety of perspectives and lenses. If you are interested in the people, you can learn more about the people who live there and the people who work there. The people who built it and repaired it. If you are interested in looking at things like artifacts, objects, material culture, painting, fine arts, decorative arts, the white house has all of those things, as well. If youre into politics, policy, that is something that people think about. Even pop culture or political culture. Understanding the white house is a symbol for american democracy and how that has changed and evolved over time. It says a lot about who we are and the american identity. I think all these ways of studying the white house, it touches on all these Different Things. You may not get this in a traditional, American History textbook but if you look deeper there is an incredible history on the surface. We are going to spend some time with both of you and your work and the association. I am goin
Who repaired it. If you are interested in looking at things like artifacts, serial culture, paintings, fine arts, decorative arts, the white house has all of those things as well. If you are into politics, policy obviously, that is the big one people think about. Even in terms of pop culture, or political culture, understanding the white house is a symbol for american democracy. And how that symbol has changed and evolved over time. It says a lot about who we are, the american identity itself, and i think all of these different ways of studying the white house touches on all of these Different Things that you may not get in a traditional American History textbook. But if you dig deeper, there is an incredible history beneath the surface. Susan lindsay chervinsky, a White House Historical , a new role, we will spend time with both of you learning about your work and about the association. I want to ask you to give the elevator speech about the association, how it got started and what is