a group, and it was a senator from michigan who was very much involved with the district of columbia, everything in the district of columbia. he really cared about the city. and one of the things he wanted to do was to bring some design organization to it because largely by 1900 the plans have been ignored. and then he waited until they were out of town.

they counted. the congressional maneuvering ultimately appointed a commission, and it included the designer of the chicago world's fair. fred olmstead and charles mckeown. two of the most brilliant architects including -- and you have the son of the man who was the most brilliant and foremost landscape architect.

it was certainly a part of it. they went to europe and studied all the great cities of europe all these guys great capitals of europe. very hard they were all in paris, but he had to go off to a meeting with james cassatt, and cassette was also head of the pennsylvania railroad, and he did not want the railroad

where it was. and burn them shorted not wanted where it was. what they arranged this for a tunnel basically to go under capitol hill to the south and then they would build union station so that the trains would terminate there. and i think i have exhausted all my knowledge. >> the origin of the residency. >> excuse me? now you have got me started. the origin is in the constitution of the united states. article one section eight, clause 17 which says that this is a part from the country. and that is where it began.

but i think you might want more. it has been reinforced. no one knew how to govern the city. congress did not want to govern it. and so they allowed for a man and then the mayor was elected, etc. it came up 1871. 1871, i think. therefore it had a territorial governor. it did not have any elected officials at that point. that is when alexander shepp

had for rain. i don't want to get into shepherd. a man who lies the rebuild the city, very controversial. what happened after that because of some things he did my great claims of malfeasance of funds 1874 they decided that it would not have a territory. it would not be allowed to have a mayor. they would have three people that would be appointed to run the city. to would be appointed by the president. but one, the 3rd was always reserved for military

man. that is what thomas lincoln casey could build the washington monument. well, this is all very well, but it lasted as the citigroup from about maybe 65,000 at that time to well over 800,000 during the 2nd world war. and what you had was three commissioners, usually cronies of the president often cronies of the president when marion anderson, and this will give you an example of government dysfunction, when marion anderson 1st wanted to use the daughters of the american revolution all

constitutional she was refused. did not allow a black performer. then what about the school? well, the schools turned her down. roosevelt was dying to do. and the other was more interested in the easter seals campaign and passing out certificates to get drivers. things like that. that was preposterous what was going on.

and this situation existed for a hundred years from 1871 to 1971. >> i have a speculative question. if the jefferson view of the city prevailed how would that have changed the city? >> i want to broaden the question. if jefferson and prevailed how would that have changed our history? that was the outer limit and he said things like of new

york which was then the largest city. i think washington wanted a very different world from jefferson's. he chose a man who created a huge city brought him up for the capitol is an outline the city for him. and what it would entail and you have to understand that george washington had never left the shores of the united states was a person who really understood the land of this country. and he understood the land beyond the alleghenies.

and he was worried about what was going to be happening beyond the alleghenies. but those territories taking their goods down the river to new orleans and through a spanish area into the world command that was something that was terribly worrisome to him. that is why he pushed for a canal from washington. through maryland in order to get the country into the west to expanded. and it is interesting to me the capitol itself faces west. i think that is very important. i am afraid i have evaded your question but maybe not. >> thank you so much. [applause]