although others contributed to his invention, bell won out because of america capozzi patent laws. -- america's patent laws. >> thank you for coming to tonight's program. can you hear me? now? tonight. for coming out of courtesy to the speaker, please turn off your electronic devices, he gets even though we are talking about telephones, we do not actually to hear them during the program. [laughter] >> like this? ok. thank you. the 1800s were a time of rough and ready idealism in the united states. washe federal era transformed into a template for what we know now. it was a time in which are learning to cope with the , steel andught steam electricity and laid the foundations for the 20th century. it was a time when customs were argued over and formalized into laws. among the types of folk heroes generated during these times, was that of the loan, genius inventor. from the founding of our country, americans have been obsessed with creativity. it is possible to become a famous and rich to be the first person to invent something useful. privileges of this exalted status has been the grant