so i feel like carol hardy. now, some of you may recognize that name. if you're a boston red sox fan, you should recognize that name. carol hardy was the only baseball player who ever pinch-hit for the great ted williams. on september 3rd, 1960, williams was at bat and fouled the ball off his foot. badly injured. he couldn't continue. the manager called on carol hardy to go up at bat. he hit a double play. hopefully, i won't have the same results. i'll try to do better. but we'll carry on and fortunately, like the boston red sox in the 1960s, they finished 32 games behind the new york yankees. i don't have to worry about winning because i have a better team here to carry on. it's my pleasure to represent the u.s. capitol historical society at this event, which we are proud to cosponsor during our 50th anniversary year. our anniversary theme is your capitol, our mission. 50 years promoting informed citizenship. so it is very appropriate that we take a look in this program at some of the historic firsts and the history of democracy's messengers, the capit

i feel a little bit like carol hardy now because you're probably expecteding to see cokie roberts up here to moderate the panel discussion. unfortunately, a family illness has made it impossible for her to be here. earlier, jerry had asked me if i had been willing to pinch hit for her. feeling that that would never occur, i said sure. now, some of you may recognize that name. if you're a boston red sox fan, you should recognize that name. on september 3rd, 1960, williams was at bat and found the ball off his foot. the manager called on gerald hardy to go up at bat. hopefully, i won't have the same results. i'll try to do better. but we'll carry on and fortunately, like the boston red sox in the 1960s, day finished 32 games behind the new york yankees. ir don't have to worry about winning because i have a better team here to carry on. it's my pleasure to represent this during our 50th anniversary year. our anniversary theme is your capitol, our mission. 50 years promoting informed citizenship. so it is very appropriate that we take a look in this program at some of the historic firsts