>> hey, frank. >> bill coleman, my right here right there, he was -- i know i'm going to tell -- [inaudible] >> i know, sir. i was about to say, i don't have nothing to do with affirmative action. [laughter] >> i got there on merit unlike you young negroes. i know that, mr. secretary. >> that's why he's a republican. [laughter] >> and one of my heroes. [laughter] >> you say you have this trouble with the segregated poor it's because franklin roosevelt. that he was the one that -- when he created public housing, it was all black. and those democrats did more to hurt you than us republicans. [laughter] >> well, there's a theory. now, let me go back to jack's question. jack, i don't know. there's different surveys. scholars write -- have drawn different conclusions from the surveys of inner city black kids. i can only say that -- i can

only look at the results. and i don't think -- in my opinion, and it's not my area of expertise, but in my experience, and perhaps i'm just being romantic, but this generation lacks the passion for education and the belief in deferred gratification than that we had. a broad swath of black people had. i never heard anybody trashing the value of education when i was growing up, you know? never. not in the black community, no matter how poor they were. people believed in education. >> let me end it with beverly, right? >> yes. >> thank you, walter. a political question for you to ponder given the complexities of lincoln that you've outlined here, how comfortable we be in today's republican party? >> well, i asked the panel last night if lincoln could even have gotten elected because of his religious beliefs. if the christian right -- abraham lincoln by his own

wife's own admission was never a christian in the sense that we define christianity. he was nondenominational. i mean, he seems to have changed democratically because of the cost of the war. there's a new book about darwin and lincoln. >> and lincoln. >> so i don't know the answer to your question. but nobody would say he's a standard christian in the sense we understand that today. >> the book is "lincoln on race and slavery." it's available for skip to sign. and there's probably other books out there. thank you very much. [applause] >> henry lewis gates is the

w.e.b. dubois professor at harvard university. mr. gates is author of "colored people" coeditor of encarta of africa. he's received many honors including a mcarthur fellow and the national humanities medal. for more information on the author, please go to dubois.fas.harvard.edu. >> george mcgovern, the one-time democratic presidential nominee and former senator from south dakota greets members of congress and signs books at a

private home near the u.s. capital building. many of those attending the party got their start in politics during his 1972 campaign. this event is 40 minutes. >> i'm a big fan of lincoln's. you read that book i sent you, lincoln's sword. >> oh, yeah. i quote it in the book. you're responsible for that. >> for that quote? yeah, i think that that book is brilliant. [inaudible conversations] >> welcome, congressman. it's great to see you. >> how you. >> it's a nice place. >> thank you very much. >> bernie robinson.

>> okay. now, we got the eleven signed and we got these. >> yeah, that's tom's. >> okay. oh, these are yours here? okay. >> if i can stick these in the bottom. >> how are you? nice to see you. >> how is the hand holding up? >> you'll never see an author that isn't glad to sign books. >> congressman, bernie robinson, good to see you. thank you for joining us. >> i apologize for not having introduced myself when i came in. but jim had just almost fallen so thank you. >> you'll never, ever have any trouble finding me it's

because -- do you know mark lindsey? >> good to see you. >> thank you. sarah, congressman emerson who inspired the program. >> that was actually fabulous. thank you so much. >> your daughter was an intern in rome. >> yes, she was. >> this summer. >> absolutely. she paved the way. >> that's wonderful. did she love it. >> i'm a teacher now >> okay. >> and one of my -- one of my colleagues -- >> patrick? >> right. >> where are you teaching? >> booey high school >> oh, yes. >> that's my student right there. >> do you know that i -- when i was at northwestern as a graduate student, i tutorerd the

football team to keep them academically eligible. >> well, i appreciate that, too. that was in -- when was that? >> 1950. when they won the rose bowl that year. >> you were there for that. >> i was there for the losing streak. >> first off, is there anything you know what you knew now would you, a, do it all over or is there anything that i would change. >> i would do it all over again. i would be more careful about outlining my positions so that ordinary people would identify them a little closer than was the case last time. i think maybe i talked over the heads of too many people. that i'd try to change. >> thank you very much. >> thank you for getting a book.

>> if you don't mind. >> great. thank you. >> thank you very much once again. [inaudible conversations] >> thank you very, very much. >> senator? i just wanted to pay my respects. good to see you. >> i signed a book for you. >> i got it. >> good to see you again. >> good to see you. we'll look forward to reading it. >> good. thanks, charlie. >> hey. >> i'm congressman elliott engel and i voted to nominate you at 2:00 in the morning as a youth delegate for mcgovern in 1972. >> good for you. >> and i told you i would come here and look what i have.

>> well, look at that. >> i saved these all these years. i had two of them in my basement. so you could sign them, i'd be grateful. >> just sign across here. >> sure. >> how are you enjoying the congress? >> could you use this pen to write to elliott. >> two ls. one l and one t. >> uh-huh. like that, uh-huh? >> that's great.

these flair pens are the best. >> i like them. >> if you could do the same here if you don't mind, i'd appreciate it. thank you. >> hey, jim. how are you. >> the new attending physician, i want to give him this present. it's dr. brian monahan. >> you're dealing with people that you really want to be at their best. >> right, right.

>> and he's really, really nice. you know, we've eliminated so many of the perks in the 20 years i've been in congress. >> is that right. >> but this is one of the perks they haven't eliminated. so i want you to know that all the things i would ever do in my political career and my personal career, you will always have the very special place in my heart because you really got me started. it was your inspiration. you know, when we were -- when we circulated petitions in new york to be your delegates, you were 2% in the polls and everybody laughed at us. we were a bunch of kids in our 20s. >> and we got all the delegates out of new york. >> and we wound up sweeping the entire congressional district. and i met my wife on that campaign so god bless you. >> turn around. >> okay. here we go. >> okay. is that good? one more?

>> many things. i appreciate it. >> thank you. >> hey, jim. how are you doing? >> i'm doing okay. let me get through here. >> i got quite a fancy desk here. >> we got a few people here for you. >> i think we're going to sell 200 books here tonight. >> this one is for me, lisa, patrick, george and molly. >> look at that. >> are you doing fine? >> i've never been better. >> i think this book is going to do well. you've got such a nifty family. they're going to stop by later tonight. you'll see them a little bit later. >> one more. >> can you look a little more animated jim. this is the best i look.

>> the guy got you elected to the united states house, by god. >> oh, i got a good one. fabulous. perfect. >> we'll get it to you. >> we'll see you a little later. >> all right. >> senator, i want to introduce you to janice mckinney whom i am marrying this year. >> how about that. >> i'm very lucky. >> congratulations. it's a pleasure and an honor. would you autograph this to bernie, please. >> okay. >> and senator, will you date us february 11th, 2009. >> how about that? >> please. >> it's hard to believe it's 200

years since lincoln came on the scene. february 11th, 2009. many, many thanks for opening up your house here. >> senator durbin is on his way and then i thought we would do a little program while he's here and then you can start signing again. we want you to have fun. we want to move as many possible. >> do you think dick would want to say a couple of words? >> and you're okay. >> you're not too tired. >> no, no, i'm feeling fine. well, barbara -- >> don't get up. >> yes, i got to get up for you. >> how are you? >> thank you for coming. >> oh, i'm -- tim just has too much trouble with these streets out here. >> well, he's right. and all these steps up here, too. >> you know. >> i had trouble getting up myself. >> yeah.

>> how do you think he's doing? >> i think he's doing really well. >> i think he ran a really good campaign. >> oh, thank you. >> it was so positive. >> it was so nice to run a positive campaign. and everybody loved that. but he just gets better all the time, you know? >>ntdy that's good. he's going to be around a long time. >> i was just at his office. he's in a wheelchair, you know, he zips around. he just looks like so much like his old self. >> that's good. well, give him my very best. >> i will. i will. he's so sorry he couldn't come tonight. >> listen, i didn't expect him to be here. he's got -- he's got to take care of himself and not worry about me. >> he thinks so highly of you. he would love to be here. this is for both of us. >> g3h4jdtqi rñ senator mcgover

you. i work for senator johnson but i'm going to give my book to my grandma wholñy shares -- >> is this her name. >> i'm steve cohen, congressman from memphis. >> well, good to see you, steve. >> i look forward to reading your book. i'm going to take this on the plane to afghanistan this weekend. >> thank you. it's nicemk to meet you. i see references all the time. it'sy/v nice ó meet you. >> jerry austin worked with you and he managed my campaign in memphis. >> you live in memphis. >> it's an interesting city. >> lou's barbecue and elvis and >> didn't john grisham write a novel. >> several. i was in a couple of those movies.

>> uh-huh. >> i was an extra. have you watched the nixon/frost -- >> did you watch nixon/frost, the movie. >> i thought it was really good. >> i thought it was excellent. $re so many parallels to bush and cheney. >> weren't there, though? >> the president does it, it's okay. the war. thank you, sir. in the long run, you're the winner. >> well, thank you. thank you. thank you so much for coming. hi. >> hi, senator, mark palmer. it's good to see you again. >> yeah, you too. i should have known. >> are you doing all right? >> no complaints. >> no. that's great. you're looking fantastic. >> well, i feel good. is this your birthday.

>> i'd figuredkqx i had spend m 36th birthday and i'm one dayh; shy of president lincoln's you know, i have a little place down in st. augustine, florida. >> i know. that sounds fabulous. how is that going? >> it's going good. >> it's a beautiful town. >> and it's right on the ocean. >> oh, that's great.

>> where are you in school these days? >> sid well friends school. >> good for you. >> yeah, they're the best, i think. >> i'm going to be the most unpopular person in the room. and of all of them i'm going to say sign faster, talk later because we have a long line. >> shall i stay here. >> you've got a long line of people and i'll say a few words. >> sign fast. >> duvery much for coming. >> thank you for your service to the country. how are you doing? my gosh, i should have had the beautiful tie on that you gave

me. i've worn it. >> how do you remember things. >> i don't forget gifts like that. i know what a wonderful tie costs these days. >> i now hooked up with teresa. she and i partnered and so if you could make -- she couldn't come tonight if you could make one out for her. >> does she have a h. >> no, t-e. she's stuck at work at tony's firm. she said she's really sorry she couldn't make it. >> okay. well, you give her my love, would you? >> i will. and then her son, henry is, putting on a play in new york. so if you could make it out to henry -- he's doing a play on lincoln tomorrow night in new york city. >> oh. >> nice to see you. >> can i have everybody's

attention, please. can we have everybody's attention, please. shhh! everybody, shhh! >> speech! speech! >> i'm congressman jim mcgovern from massachusetts. [applause] >> and i want to welcome all of you here today. everybody who has come up to me to tell me how much they support my father, i want to say thank you very much. my father owns a liquor store in western massachusetts. keep on supporting him. i worked for george mcgovern and i worked in his senate office when i was in college, and i have great admiration and affection for the man. he is like a second father to me. and i want to welcome all of you here today. i want to thank the incredible bernie robinson for lending his wonderful home here and for his hospitality. [applause] >> i want to thank laurie fulton

for getting everybody here today. and i want to acknowledge some of our -- my colleagues in the congress who are here. congressman engel was here, congressman stenholm was here and congressman bob clement was here and steve cohen was here a little while ago. we have barb johnson who's the wife of senator tim johnson one of our great leaders of the united states senate. [applause] >> and a wonderful friend. and former congressman dennis ratell from michigan was here. >> dick durbin. >> i haven't got to him. >> it was going to be a surprise. [laughter] >> we are all here, you know, because we admire and revere abraham lincoln. [laughter] >> and, you know, abraham lincoln -- when you read george mcgovern's book which is an

incredible book and i already read it was not only a great leader but a great human being. a man of incredible decency. and when i think of those things i think of george mcgovern. you know, abraham lincoln appealed to the better angels of our nature. so does george mcgovern. and i'll tell you, this country and this world would have been a hell of a lot better had he become president in 1972. [applause] >> but having said that, he has been dedicating his life these last several years to ending hunger here in the united states and around the world. and he will end it because this is a man of incredible dedication and commitment and compassion and that is why -- this is an incredible crowd here tonight because we love the man. now, we have a couple of people that i want to introduce who will say a few words. just to show you that george mcgovern is a bipartisan kind of guy we have my colleague from missouri, joann emerson, who i

should tell you has been an unbelievable leader to combat hunger and her and i have teamed up and the one-two punch like george mcgovern and bob dole have done in the united states senate but we have tried to improve not only the food and nutrition programs here in the united states but around the world and she's a dear friend and i'm proud that she's here and i want to introduce congressman joann emerson. >> thank you very much. thank you all. now it's important for me to say to y'all that i would be here even if you hadn't written this wonderful book about abraham lincoln who was of my party, i might say, but i'm here really to honor you, george, because you have been -- not only for my late husband but before me but also you have been an inspiration to me to really get my hands dirty and work across the aisle and jim and i have been become dear, dear friends as a result of what you and bob dole did, whether it was with

food stamps, whether it's the global education school feeding programs. but you have made it impossible for us not to try to work as hard as you. i mean, we just try and try. we'll never be able to walk in your shoes. but certainly you have set an example for us and for the world and for people and our colleagues who really also need to be educated about the very big challenges facing hungry people all over. so i want to thank you for your leadership on that. i actually think you would have made a great president, i will say that. [applause] >> and i have such great admiration for you. thank you so much and thank you for honoring us by not only sharing your thoughts and your stories about abraham lincoln but sharing them for the entire world. >> thank you. >> thank you, joann. [applause] >> and before i introduce our next speaker i want to acknowledge the fact that there

are a lot of people here who have worked on george mcgovern's staff, not only in the presidential campaigns but in his senate staff and there are a lot of mcgovernites who got into politics because we were inspired by george mcgovern and i want to acknowledge their presence here today because all of your children have gone off and done incredible things to try to make this country and this world a better place. and now i have the great privilege of introducing one of my heroes of the united states senate, a champion for all the things that i think are important. out in front on the issue to combat hunger and so many other important issues of justice and peace. i want to welcome our friend, senator dick durbin from illinois. [applause] >> thank you. thanks everybody. i know many of you are waiting in line to get george's autographs and there's a lot of royalties coming with your way

and my contact with george mcgovern goes back to 1972 when i cochaired the hearing for george mcgovern. and the other cochair insisted to be my cochair. there were two of us and we were determined and we knew from the start that we were supporting the best candidate. not just because of the party affiliation but because we knew who this man was. and as i look at the parallels between george and my hero, of course, abraham lincoln, i think midwestern roots, which is a good thing to start with us. jim, i'm sorry for being parochial. >> midwestern, massachusetts. [laughter] >> and also plain-speaking. we know george mcgovern has throughout his political career spoken out clearly, plainly and honestly about the important issues facing our country whether it was the war in vietnam or hunger today. and i looked at the parallel in

this regard, too. abraham lincoln, whose service in the military was very limited during the indian wars, was thrust into a position of president of being the commander in chief during the deadliest war in american history. it took a terrible toll on him personally as you can see the photographs of him serving in office. but he faced his responsibility he showed real courage and kept our union together. and then george mcgovern, who faced a similar challenge in his service of our nation in world war ii risking his life over and over again flying those missions on behalf of our country and i still have to pause and reflect on the fact that when he ran for president, i didn't know that. because george mcgovern didn't talk about that. that was his service to our country and he was a candidate for the president and he didn't believe he should be boasting about his service. that says a great deal about this man and it says -- it's one of the reasons that many of us have fared today to honor not only his public service but his continued commitment to public service. jim and i saw a little article

in the "washington post" -- it's been a few years back now that george wrote suggesting international school lunch program. and we both responded immediately. i called senator mcgovern in rome and said i think this is so much sense not only showing america's compassion but to bring children to school in developing countries and especially the young girls who will then go to school and their lives will be so much better because of it. this was george's inspiration and thank goodness he came up with the idea that became a reality more than eight years ago and will continue to make certain that people around the world have a fighting chance. it's the story of his public career. it's a story of george mcgovern as a person. it's the reason we're here tonight, not only to acknowledge his reflections on abraham lincoln but to acknowledge that he is, in fact, one of america's political heroes. george mcgovern. >> thank you, dick. thank you. [applause] >> well, i want to thank

everybody who is here tonight. if i had known i was going to get that kind of praise from these people who are on either side of me here tonight, i'd written that book a lot earlier. [laughter] >> but i do want to thank bernie for opening up his beautiful home here tonight for us. and to thank jim mcgovern, who along with laurie fulton were the principal instigators of this whole program. i know this is a difficult time in the life of the country with the exception of lincoln, no president ever faced a more difficult situation on assuming office than has been the case with barack obama.

i guess you would have to say that lincoln inheriting the civil war, a man with peace who thought that you could solve all problems by reason and commonsense and who literally ached for peace, that he had to preside for four years over the bloodiest war in our history, if for no other reason than everybody who died in that war on each side was an american. so he was -- he probably had the supreme court challenge of any president and one that he met very, very well. he wasn't perfect. he lifted the writ of habeas corpus during the war. i don't think personally that a president should violate the constitution even in the midst of a terrible war. if we're fighting for liberty,

we don't want to sacrifice liberty in the process. i think it was a mistake to close down several newspapers. that were critical of the war effort. but aside from those factors, i've never studied a person that held my admiration in a growing way as much as abraham lincoln. sometimes, as dick has indicated here, he was a sad person. he suffered terribly in what we would call clinical depression. in his day he referred to it as melancholy, but that's a terrible affliction. it can leave you not only despondent to the point where you can't eat, you have no interest in life. you go to bed at night hoping maybe you won't wake up.

in the morning and there was no lithium, there was no prozac, there was no paxil, none of those things and one of the reasons i admire lincoln is that he had that terrible affliction throughout most of his adult life and yet with his own determination, he stayed on top of it. he quit carrying a pocketknife for fear he might slit his wrists or his throat. he talked frequently, even as a young man, about suicide, but thank god he had the willpower and the courage to keep fighting in spite of that terrible illness. i also admire lincoln for his humor. one of my favorites is the way

he answered an opponent who accused him of being two-faced and he does the gentleman really think if god had given me two faces i would wear this ugly one that i have on today? i like that kind of -- i like that kind of humor. we're in a tough time now. so i give you a quote not from lincoln but from mark twain. god takes care of little children, drunks and the united states of america. [laughter] >> jim, i sometimes wish my dad had been running a package liquor store. >> there's always a demand. >> yeah.

>> my dad was a methodist minister, and there's more than one day when i would have traded him in for a guy running a package -- >> i was popular in high school. [laughter] >> i think some of you here know what they say about us methodists. methodism will not save you from sin but it will take the fun out of it. that's what i had to put up. [laughter] >> i knew i was a sinner, but i also knew that some of the edge -- the joyful part of it was taken off by what i learned in sunday school. and in the king james version of the bible. anyway, i appreciate all of you coming out here tonight. jim has been my dear friend for many, many years.

i think he's a great member of congress, just as i think joann is a great member of congress. and dick durbin, what can i say. >> don't say a thing. [laughter] >> he's a role model for all of us on what a senator ought to be. where is laurie? >> i'm here. >> oh, here she is. laurie daschle fulton is with the great law firm of williams and mcconnell? >> connelly. >> williams & connelly and she and jim have been the moving spirits behind this very successful book-signing. so i thank them especially but i thank all of you for coming here tonight. [applause] >> is that enough? >> get back to signing some more books. >> i haven't seen you since the '72 campaign in new hampshire.

>> great to see you here. >> we're here in d.c. now. jim dickenson and jake nelson and i have a lunch group we would love to get you to come to lunch with. we've got a bunch of journalists. >> maybe we can do it. >> i'll give you a call and a note. it's on the third thursday of each month. >> how are you doing there, sweetie? >> how are you, senator? >> i didn't know you were here. >> i came late. you said i never sat at my desk. >> you were always there. how are you? thanks for coming tonight. i signed a book for you. >> okay. thank you so much. i want to know when the autobiography is coming? >> five years from now. >> all right. >> four or five years. >> this is tim. a good lawyer from a different law firm. but a good lawyer, nonetheless.

>> i'm sure you hear this all the time. yours was the first campaign i ever worked on when i was 18 years old. >> thank you for that. >> in massachusetts where we won. >> that's right. >> and it was an honor. it was a real honor. >> can i tell you the rest of my story. my wife work for you and i worked for you in '72 but we trace our relationship in that campaign. >> we did something that year. >> you certainly did. >> wonderful as always. >> thank you. >> hi, i'm going over to sign some books here. >> that's good. >> so nice to see you again. >> nice to see you. >> hey, how are you? >> central new jersey. >> central new jersey in congress. he's a physicist. >> are you? >> i am, yes. >> i appreciate you coming, congressman. thank you for being here. >> hey, sweetie --

>> don't get up. don't get up. >> yeah, i got to give you a kiss. how are you doing there. >> great to see you. >> you too. >> but i wanted you to know that i stopped at the grave site and left something. >> i appreciate that. teri is there. >> i know teri as well. i wanted you to know that i stopped. >> well, thank you. >> i appreciate that. >> you said hi to eleanor? >> i said hi to eleanor. >> that's okay, senator. >> george, can i ask you one other thing? >> uh-huh. >> will you put jill at the top. >> okay. >> i love what you wrote. thank you. >> i'm trying to see how -- >> you can do comma, jill.

>> take a picture through the window. >> both of my parents are buried at aberdeen? >> oh, really. my goodness, where at. >> at the main cemetery. i can't think of the name right now. >> you met sarah, didn't you? >> how are you? >> that was so much fun a year and a half ago when we did that. >> wasn't that great? >> this is my son, daniel erman. >> nice to see you. >> peaches? >> are you married to herb. [laughter] >> the girl on the bus in '72. >> hi. fine, how are you? >> pleasure to meet you. this is to david. >> okay.

>> thank you so much, sir. it's a pleasure to meet you. >> it's nice to meet you. >> george mcgovern's "abraham lincoln" is part of the american president's series. for more information or to see the other books in the series, visit u.s. mack millan.com/series/theamerican presidents. >> this summer, book tv is asking, what are you reading? >> i'm amy the reliable source columnist for "the washington post." and i'm looking forward to my summer reading list. a lot of people think that summer is the time for light reading as far as i'm concerned, summer is the time to read the big heavy books. last year i tackled the fountain

head over my summer vacation. this year i am looking forward to finishing anna karenna. i tried to read it at 15 years ago and couldn't do it and they came up on a new translation in february chipping away through it and i'm halfway through and probably on vacation will be able to finish most of it. olive kitteridge by elizabeth strike out my book club has picked that one. i'm going to finally read manhunt, the lincoln history by james swanson which has been out for a few years now. and a couple other things. either the story of edgar sattelle or america, america by ethan canin. engine, i guess light reading is called for and i look to tackle twilight by stephanie meyer. i loved the movie and they said the book is even better.

>> to see more summer lists and other program information go to our website at booktv.org. >> how is c-span funded? >> private donations? >> taxpayers? >> you know, grants and stuff like that, you know? >> public television? >> donations? >> i don't know where the money comes from. >> federally? >> contributions through donors? >> how is c-span funded? america's cable companies created c-span as a public service, a private business initiative, no government

mandate, no government money. >> daniel wolf explores how 12 influential americans were educated both inside and outside of the classroom. mr. wolf presents his thoughts on the different ways that people like benjamin franklin, w.e.b. dubois, henry ford and elvis presley learned and the elusive definition of a good education. r.j. julia booksellers in madison, connecticut, hosted this event. it's 45 minutes. >> thank you. first of all, it's great coming to this bookstore. i was saying that it's great to have this independent bookstore. i actually don't believe they're a dying breed. i know the statistics say that but i think in the hard times to come, this is going to be the kind of place people are going to support and want to be part of and when someone says, do you agree to that other chain store, they'll say, no, i don't do that anymore 'cause i want to do my hometown bookstore. i think that may be the way it's going and turning arouow