. >> i'm david ferreiro, and i am happy to welcome you here today. for years the only copy of the magna carta has been under sight, undergoing conservation treatment. we're showing you the result of our staff's painstaking work, displayed in a new encasement designed and fabricated by the national institute of standards and technology. the 700-year-old document looks better than ever. when the magna carta is back on public display beginning on february 17th, interactive displays will enhance the educational value of viewing the record. visitors will be able to read an annotated translation and learn how the magna carta influenced america's founding charter, the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the bill of rights. the connection between the magna carta and freedom and the effects to secure liberty and law over the centuries have inspired a new gallery which will be the future home of the magna carta. this new permanent exhibit will allow visitors to examine important records of our evolving ideas about who has rights and to see the l

archives has its own status and stature in society, and tonight as a result of the leadership of david ferreiro who has recognized the unique relationship between the designer of the eisenhower memorial and the great president that we are honoring. in a nutshell, one of the great transitional leaders in american history was dwight david eisenhower. last president born in the 19th century, among other things the first president to look at reconnaissance photographs taken from satellites in space that he put there. a transitional leader with many other levels, and tonight we have the privilege of hearing from another great transitional leader in architecture, frank gehry arguably has brought the architectural level to a whole new level of understanding itself. this great architect along with his collaborator we have the opportunity to share with us the creative process which will enable and result in this great memorial is a special privilege to all of us. so, i'd like to turn the microphone back to the archivist of the united states, and thank you, david, for making this possible. >> so, i'd now