benjamin henry latrobe and the madisons decorate the white house. this image right here on the very front is actually the earliest known published image of the white house from a travel book. at this time when the madisons came into the white house, only part of the white house had been finished before the british came, marched into washington and ended up burning the city to the ground. its original architect, irishman james hoban, won the competition set forth by washington and jefferson in 1792 to build what washington envisioned for the president's house, i would design a building that should look forward and execute no more of it at present than might suit the circumstances that shall be first wanted. a plan more than executed in a future period when the wealth population importance of it shall stand upon a much higher ground than they do present. so washington really understood that the white house, it may evolve just as the united states may evolve. the city's commissioners went to france looking for adequate builders. in their commission to

. >>> benjamin henry latrobe worked closely with president james madison and first lady dolly madison to refine the look and function of the early white house. mr. latrobe's partnership is the subject of the talk at the american historical society by leslie jones, collections manager at the white house historical association, which is headquartered in lafayette square across from the white house where mr. latrobe once labored. this program is 45 minutes. >>> good evening, folks, if i could ask you to find some more seats. i think there are some empty seats around. if you would all try to get a seat that would be great and we can start. good evening and welcome to the 2012 francis scott key lecture series at the maryland historical society. we are excited to celebrate the bicentennial or war of 1812. this is the first program in that long celebration. this evening's talk, oh, the terrible velvet curtains and the madisons decorate the president's house is being presented by leslie jones of the white house historical association. before i introduce our speaker, i want to point out the it

henry. >> it turns out israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu brought a gift to president obama with abtle message. the book of esther. traditionally read on the jewish holiday that tells the story of jews fighting off genocidal plot by persians. netanyahu aides telling the jewish daily forward this was background reading for the president on the current nuclear threat from iran. the prime minister hammered home in an exclusive interview with fox's greta van susteren. >> it's something that must be stopped. sometimes people don't see a danger coming out until it materializes. >> this comes as the president appears to be back sliding ever so slightly from a sunday declaration that netanyahu pounced on monday. >> the american policy you reiterated yesterday in your speech that israel must have the ability always to defend itself by itself, against any threat. >> by tuesday, solo news conference the president was edging away from the declaration by suggesting that support did not mean he is giving israel a green light to launch a unilateral strike. >> it was not a military doctrine we wer

benjamin netanyahu. both men say they are vitally concerned about the prospect of iran developing a nuclear weapon. ed herniary has that story -- ed henryouse. we update the fallout from contraception fall-out. rush limbaugh apologized to the law student. james rosen has that. that's at 6:00 p.m. now back to my colleagues at "the five." ♪ ♪ freddie welcom >> greg: welcome back to "the five." according to a slink at cor nel university, citizens are incapable of understanding democracy. david dunning says smart ideas will be hard for people to adopt because most people don't have the sophistication to recognize how good an idea is. translation: unwashed primitives, leave everything to us. we're gathering in the teachers lounge to make every decision for you. relax, we've got this. someone find my bong. researchers like dunning must not be smart enough for democracy. luckily the way things are going he won't have to be. the federal government will make every decision for us advised by the ivy league professors from carnel no, doubt. academics miss the freedom of choice without assessing the alternative. i'll do this for them. what happens

henry shows us what happened today. >> the relationship has been rocky. but at the start of two intense hours in the oval office with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahuesident obama said the bond is unbreakable. top u.s. officials are paying great pains in private to say they have a healthy relationship. as the president insisted he will have israel's back. >> my policy is prevention of iran obtaining nuclear weapons. when i say all options are on the table i mean it. >> reporter: what is remarkable, president still has to convince netanyahu he means it. despite over three years of close consultation. senior u.s. officials flat out admit the point of the speech understood in apec in part was to reassure netanyahu about the president's seriousness of purpose. >> iran's leaders should have no doubt about the resolve of the united states. as they should not doubt the sovereign right to make their own decisions. >> reporter: the last part was jumped on by netanyahu saying israel should be the master of its own fight. all but suggesting he has unilateral green light for launch. >> israel has the right, sovereign right to make its own decisions. >> reporte