george w. bush: i too am here to urge you to give to this fine find, and i want to thank -- all ofnd i want to thank the volunteers. i speak for the folks when i say we admire and love george h.w. bush. [applause and cheers] >> c-span's washington journal, live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. sunday morning, newt gingrich

will discuss president trump and his relationship with congress. georgetown university's associate professor will be here to talk about his path to prison and georgetown law. university of texas professor will talk about the real reasons why nfl players neil during the national anthem. c-span'so watch washington journal, live at 7:00 p.m. eastern on sunday morning. join the discussion. >> close your eyes for a moment. stretch -- close your eyes. i see you. [laughter] trust me. empathy. i want you to stretch your imagination. [noises of a car accident] >> open your eyes.

that is how fast it happens. in a blink, no warning. q&a, the night on executive director of paralyzed veterans of america sherman about hisunior talks own paralysis and his work to help paralyzed vets. >> i am trying to tell them that this is the problem. this is what i see from a patient and policy perspective, you have to empathize. that is what will make the ba the ideal provider for veterans who have gone to combat and sacrificed. >> sunday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span's q&a. >> on friday, first lady melania trump donated her inaugural ball ground to the smithsonian's natural -- national museum of history. this is 15 minutes.

>> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome mr. john gray, director of the smithsonian national museum of american history. [applause] >> the 13th secretary of the smithsonian institution, dr. david skorton. [applause] >> and the first lady of the united states, mrs. melania trump. [applause]

john gray: good morning and welcome. i am john gray. and i have the privilege of being your director of your national museum of american history. we are so honored to extend a very special welcome to first lady trump. it is a thrill to have you with us, and we are so privileged to have this donation ceremony in our flag hall. the secretary of the smithsonian, dr. david skorton, and the designer of the dress, herve pierre. to our board chair, ambassador nicholas townsman, many members of our board who are with us, and to all of our distinguished guests, we welcome you and thank you for your support. millions of americans, and so many other visitors from every corner of the world, walk through our first ladies galleries each year. they experience not only the importance, grandeur, and elegance of the first ladies,

but they reflect on how in our american democracy transitions of power are celebrated peacefully. exhibitions and collections like the one that will house mrs. trump's gown require this skill and passion of our extraordinary staff at the national museum of american history. they create what the public sees and loves, creating the transformative experience that only history can offer. and we thank all of the staff who have worked on this. just behind us lies the hallowed star-spangled banner, preserved for future generations with our stories of america. and to my right is the iconic statue of george washington offering his sword and the power it represents back to the people. these two national treasures reminds us of our responsibility to foster the strongest and most vibrant democracy.

later this morning, mrs. trump's inaugural gown, our newest national treasure, will be installed in the first ladies exhibition, another beautiful symbol of the enduring power of our democracy. mrs. trump, it is a tremendous honor to have you and your guest to join us at the smithsonian in a tradition that goes back more than 100 years, the presentation of the first lady's inaugural gown to the smithsonian's national collection. and we thank you. [applause] mr. gray: here at the national museum, we preserve a collection of national treasures on the behalf of the american people to demonstrate the power of american history, to help us make sense of the past, and shape a more humane future. we are working to bring the nation together around those fundamental american ideals and

ideas like freedom, opportunity, and democracy that join us as a people. mrs. trump, we are grateful to you for entrusting us with this magnificent gown. and we assure you it will be cared for in the same spirit and with the same it attention as all of our national treasures. in just a few hours when the gallery reopens to the public, the nation and the world will share this moment forever. it is now my pleasure to introduce the 13th secretary of the smithsonian, dr. david skorton, who embodies so many fundamental american ideas. a first-generation american, cardiologist, flutist, university leader, champion of arts and humanities, and an advocate for the most important issues of our time. secretary skorton. [applause]

david skorton: thank you, john. thanks everyone for joining us. mrs. trump, thank you for donating this and being part of the smithsonian. thank you. distinguished guests, welcome to the smithsonian's national museum of american history on the national mall of the united states. this museum, as director gray said, has been collecting gowns for the first ladies collection for more than a century. and it is and remains, one of the most popular exhibitions in the entire smithsonian. on behalf of the smithsonian, i want to thank you again, mrs. trump, for allowing us to add to this collection. i began with my thanks and admiration to you, mr. pierre, for the design of this beautiful gown.

since its opening in 1964, this museum has embodied the smithsonian's dedication to telling america's story to millions of national and international visitors every year. we tell that story through the words and actions of people, both famous and obscure. we inspire students through educational programs that reach them here in our museums and in their homes and classrooms across the nation. and objects and artifacts help put that history into sharp focus and context. this gown is the height of fashion, something that pleases us aesthetically with its beauty and craftsmanship and elegance. the aesthetics that drive artistic endeavor also captive -- also captivate us. it is our uniquely human response. designer martino prada said fashion is instant language. these gowns tell us much about the accomplished women who wore them. each first lady left an

indelible mark on the white house and this nation. and now mrs. trump's inaugural gown will take its rightful place among the collection that includes martha washington's pink handpainted silk gown, michelle obama's white silk chiffon gown, and many others. yearour nation's 241 history. and because this is an inaugural gown, like many others in the first ladies collection, it also helps underscore our values as a nation. this gown as director gray said is emblematic of the peaceful transition of power that is the hallmark of this democracy. it reminds us that our ideals still resonate over 200 years later. that for all of our flaws this nation is founded on a government by the people, for the people, and will endure. thanks to the administration, and congress, and everyone here at the national museum of american history for helping us

in our mission to educate and inspire. and now it is my honor to ask you to join me in welcoming the first lady of the united states, melania trump. [applause] mrs. trump: thank you, so much. thank you for your warm welcome. it is an honor to be here today. i want to start by thanking director john gray and secretary skorton for the wonderful introduction. the staff here at the smithsonian has been a true pleasure to work with. thank you for everything that you do to preserve part of our nation's history. as historians and curators, you have such an important role on

behalf of our country. while i may be the one on stage, i want to take a moment to introduce you to the person behind my gorgeous couture piece, the designer, herve pierre. thank you, herve. please stand up. [applause] mrs. trump: thank you, herve, for all that you did to create such a wonderful piece. you are a true artist and a real professional. as most of you know, before being elected president, my husband was never in politics. so you can imagine after he won, we were very busy with all that goes into preparing for a new administration, and all of the changes that we, as a family, would be facing.

to be honest, what i would wear to the inaugural ball was the last thing on my mind. in fact, by the time i got around to thinking about my wardrobe choice, poor herve was only given two weeks to design and produce this couture piece. we had never worked together before, but i knew of his stellar reputation and wanted to work with someone who would do more than just design a dress. i wanted someone who would be willing to collaborate with me. and herve exceeded my expectations. i have had a passion for design from a young age, and had a very precise idea of what i wanted for such a historic evening. when sitting down with herve to discuss my vision, i expressed a

desire for modern, sleek lines, unique and unexpected look. i must tell you that it is a daunting task to choose an outfit that will be memorized and become part of our nation's story and forever history. i was so pleased with our end result. and is now my hope that this piece is one of the many great beginnings to our family's history here in washington, d.c. the president, baron, and i love living here, and we are honored to represent this country. the smithsonian has the unique honor and ability to freeze time and tell future generations the story of our nation's history. i am so honored and grateful to become part of this history, and thank you all for being here with me today.

god bless you, and god bless the united states of america. thank you. [applause] [applause]