robert h. smith lecture in american democracy. robert h. smith was, among much else, the visionary developer of crystal city just outside washington, d.c., which is today one of the district's most fabulous, young, hip and hopping neighborhoods. but bob smith was above all else a grateful american who did an enormous amount of good for institutions like ours and like the benjamin franklin house. it was he who first brought our two institutions together, and i know that he would have been really, really pleased to know that tonight's lecture is taking place here in this auditorium, which he very much envisaged as being used precisely as we're using it this evening, for a lecture that will surely engage us in the enjoyment of learning about american history. and i can surely say surely because walter isaacson, journalist and biographer, is our lecturer this evening. we're pleased indeed to welcome mr. isaacson back to the new york historical society. he is the president and ceo of the athens institute,

robert h. smith lecture in american democracy. robert h. smith was, among much else, the visionary developer of crystal city just outside washington, d.c., which is today one of the district's most fabulous, young, hip and hopping neighborhoods. but bob smith was above all else a grateful american who did an enormous amount of good for institutions like ours and like the benjamin franklin house. it was he who first brought our two institutions together, and i know that he would have been really, really pleased to know that tonight's lecture is taking place here in this auditorium, which he very much envisaged as being used precisely as we're using it this evening, for a lecture that will surely engage us in the enjoyment of learning about american history. and i can surely say surely because walter isaacson, the celebrated journalist and biographer, is our lecturer this evening. we're pleased indeed to welcome mr. isaacson back to the new york historical society. mr. isaacson is the president and ceo

robert h. smith lecture in american democracy. we're proud indeed to partner with london's benjamin franklin house in bringing this lecture to our institution. benjamin franklin house is the only surviving former residence of benjamin franklin. today a marvelous museum and educational center that inspires and motivates young londoners as well as general visitors through the example of our great american founder and innovator. the museum is a george january tourist house centrally located so on the next visit to london, i know you will want to stop there. i'm very glad, indeed, to recognize and congratulate the museum's founding director who's with us this evening, representing benjamin franklin house. thank you. [ applause ] and i am also very glad to recognize and thank for all of her efforts on behalf of this institution, as well as benjamin franklin house, benjamin franklin house trustee anita wing. thank you. some of you might be curious object the coincidence of names, this beautiful space, the

smith: the robert h lecture in democracy. we are proud, indeed, to partner with london's regimen franklin house in bringing this lecture to our institution. is then franklin house only surviving former residence of benjamin franklin. today, a marvelous museum and educational center that inspires and motivates young westerners as well as general visitors through the example of our great american founder and innovator. the museum is a georgian house very craven street, centrally located, so on your next visit to london, i know you will want to stop there. glad, indeed, to recognize and congratulate the museum staffing director, who is with us this evening, representing benjamin franklin house. thank you. [applause] i am also very glad to recognize and thank for all efforts as well as for benjamin franklin house, benjamin franklin house trustee anita. thank you. [applause] louise: some of you may be wondering about the names, including the auditorium and the house. know, h smith, as you may was among much else a visionary develo

robert h. smith, as you may know, was among much else a visionary developer of crystal city just outside of washington, d.c., which is today one of the most young and hip neighborhoods, and robert smith was above all else a grateful american. he did an enormous amount of good for institutions, like the benjamin franklin house. it was he who first brought the institutions together, and i know that he would have been really, really pleased to know that tonight's lecture is taking place here in this auditorium, which he very much envisioned as being as we are using it this evening, for a lecture that will surely engage us in the enjoyment in learning about american history. and i can surely say "surely" because walter isaacson, the author, is here. we are pleased to welcome him back. mr. isaacson is the president and ceo of the nonpartisan aspen institute. during his prolific career as a journalist, mr. isaacson served as chairman and ceo of cnn and as the editor of "time" magazine. please do join me in