george hamilton began working as a counselor here 15 years ago >> when i went to that first group there was an engineer, there was a military person, there was a minister of a large church. and so my impression was shattered because this was not what i thought batterers were all about. >> okay, for the new person, what we'd like for you to do is talk a little bit about the situation that led you to being a part of the program. >> as part of their sentences, these men have been court ordered to attend group sessions for 26 weeks. >> me and my wife got into it pretty much. we got into a fight and now i'm in these classes. and they finally gave my sentencing and i'm doing 365 days of weekend time, which comes out to three and a half years to complete. >> whistles >> is this your first time offense? >> no. >> the group is designed to interrupt the cycle of violence and teach the men new behaviors >> i am powerless to change it. that is probably one of the most challenging, one of the most difficult thing to do. why is it so hard to admit that i can't make this person do what they don't want

he served as a historian and curator for our spectacular institution for alexander hamilton also us receiver of the george washington alexander hamilton and james madison. his most recent book which was released last week as "founder's son" a life of abraham lincoln" and already getting wonderful reviews. i'd like to ask before i invite him to the stage anything that makes noise like a cell phone is switched off now pleased when meet to welcome richard brookhiser to the stage. [applause] >> thanks. i n being adjusted. they did not need this in the 19th century. it is always a pleasure and an honor to be here at the historical society. just my publicist, basic books has done a terrific job they are publishing and well and i could not be happier. roger has done so much for history and particularly was very generous to support the publicity of this book. and lou gave me crucial early a vice when i was trying to find my way ever 15,000 books published now 15,001. and also my friend and agent over 20 years this is our tenth book together restarted with washington and andrew johnson next. we will try to do bett

thomas jefferson alexander hamilton installed two main pillars of george washington's administration there we go? hamilton -- hamilton appeared. so jefferson, i hope i don't -- i don't need to label these guys for y'all. so i didn't. jefferson on the left, hamilton on the right. with these two guys impaled -- impaled? installed as the two main pillars of george washington's administration, the founders' first quarrel -- the founders first quarrelled over hamilton's plan to refinance the bankrupt republic by putting the money in to hands of wall street, chestnut street in philadelphia where the original financial center was. i don't think i'm being -- not trying to be partisan by saying that. that that was more or less literally what he was trying to do. the united states created part of hamilton's program was a privately controlled institution that received the privilege, the vast privilege of holding the government's revenues and being able to make loans on the amount or a multiple of that amount. this generated a huge windfall profit and amassed potential capital for business ventur

alexander hamilton the president, george washington and others of their persuasion who want a strong imperial federal government at the center of the country. and they plan it out. they create a plan for this and eventually it's developed slowly and by 1800 the government moves in. but it's inconvenient that the same year 1800 is on the famous election occurs in which thomas jefferson replaces john adams and becomes the first jeffersonian later national republican also known as democratic president of the united states and that party rules for more than 60 years and they don't have a very firm opinion of washington city. in fact washington city disintegrated in their view because what's the use of federal power when it's all about states rights and implication labor which states rights support at the time so they underfund the city. it's a direct political choice to underfund the capital of the united states for political and budgetary reasons and that's why there are so many problems with the city at the outset. you have the underfunding combined with congress existing and is walled

[ inaudible ] >> i'm teresa from the george mason chapter of the alexander hamilton society. >> you guysre all sitting to the? >> just us two in >> there's just the two of you? >> yes. >> just seeing whether or not we should keep moving the mic down the road. >> that's great. >> there's a whole handful of people from the hamilton society here i think, actually. i had a question about back on the defense spending issues with european and nato dependence on the united states. what's your opinion on whether or not europe should become more militarily independent or whether or not we should continue providing three-fourths of their military capabilities? >> we -- i at one point talking to a bunch of european commissioners, suggested that -- this is early on in the iraq conflict, and i suggested that the united states has the military capabilities to do this sort of thing in spades, at least the conventional part of it. your guys can get shot on street corners just like our guys can so the nonconventional part we need as much help as we can get. but on the conventional side, maybe don't worry

hamilton nine years. we look at our former county executive from prince george's county, jack johnson. he got seven, almost seven and a half years. >> when you look at the letters on his behalf, the argument his family has suffered so much already. does that play into the judge's thinking? >> it does, but remember now, he had sentencing guidelines that are between 10 and 13 years in prison. he's got a lot of time according to guidelines. he's 60 years old. judge spencer has a strong reputation of being somebody that tries to create the right kind of sentence. he certainly is not somebody that goes by guidelines. i do anticipate a lower than guideline sentence, perhaps significantly lower but at the end of the day, thy think is what our former governor is going to be wearing. >> sad state of affairs for virginia. we appreciate your time. good to see you wens again. >>> time to take another look at the facebook question of the morning. it is estimated that this item served in restaurants contains the most germs. is it a, peanuts, b, lemon wedges or c, bread sticks? >> rita maria is going

bout of influenza hit washington, d.c., nearly killed george washington, a precarious time for the country. thomas jefferson runs into alexander hamilton, well-dressed, clean shaven. looking none of those things in front of his house. jefferson said, what's wrong. he said my report to the public credit is going to fail. and what thomas jefferson did was brokered a deal over wine and food and alexander hamilton. madison wasn't going to vote for the plan. but he would not be too strenuous in his opposition. speculation that jefferson found the votes hamilton needed to put them over the tom. he badly needed the bill to select the site for the nation's capitol. this is the first great compromise, the first of three before the civil war. this kept the people, the country together. so what would have been different if monroe had been madison. number one aside from the bill of rights, the power of the executive. he'd gone to war and risked his life. he was not about to vote for a new one to come out in a different name. he was concerned about the power of the presidency. he would not have carried the banner the way madison had. he would have

george washington. it's a very precarious time for the country. thomas jefferson runs into alexander alexander, hamilton, who is usually very well-dressed, clean shaven looking none of those things. jefferson says, what is wrong? what thomas jefferson is he brokered a deal over wine and food at his house, between james madison, the leader of the opposition to this plan, and alexander hamilton. madison wasn't going to vote for the plan but he will not be too strenuous in his opposition. there's speculation that he and jefferson found the additional votes that hamilton needed to put him over the top. hamilton would then turn around and use his leverage with the northern states who badly needed this bill to select 2 the fight for the nation's capital, the first great compromise. and this kept the peace and this kept the country together. what would have different if monroe had been there instead of madison? number one aside from the bill of rights, monroe's biggest objection to the constitution was the power of the executive. he had gone to war and risked his life to destroy a tyrant. he wasn't about to el

americans knew back then that george washington, john adams, benjamin frank and, nearly all the founding fathers were englishmen. alexander hamiltonas scott. as they came so is later as with others from switzerland and all the countries, they came to the melting pot of america over the past 400 years. since the founding of jamestown. my parents took me to the world's fair in 1940. just seven years old. to see many of the country's exhibitions. among them for the first time i saw the magna carta at the british exhibition. the 1215 lincoln cathedral magna carta. on my first visit to britain as a serving officer in 1957, i was returning to america to be discharged after serving in korea. my two of duty had been completed. my first stay in london i went to the needs and to see two things. the magna carta and the rosetta stone. to me they represented the icons of a civilized society. the rules of law and communication. i became a trustee of the magna carta trust 21 years ago when i became the chairman of the pilgrim society. by charter the chairman is the master of the rolls and head of civil law and the u.k.. i have worked with six --

all americans knew then that george washington, john adams, john j, benjamin franklin, sam adams and nearly all the founding fathers were englishmen. alexander hamilton was a scott born in the caribbean. as they came, so later did settlers from germany, france and italy, austria, hungary poland, sweden swiss, russians chinese and all the countries who came to the melting pot of america over the past 400 years. since the founding of jamestown in 1607. my parents took it to the new york world's fair in 1940, just seven years old, to see many of the country's exhibitions and among them for the first time, i saw magna carta at the reddish exhibition. -- british exhibition. it was the 1214 version. as a serving officer in the united states army in 1957, i was returning to america to be discharged after serving in korea. my tour of duty was completed. i first day in london, i went to the british busy and to see two things -- the magna carta and the rosetta stone. to me, they represented the icons of civilization in a civilized society. the rule of law and communication outside the village. i became a trustee of the magna carta trust 21 years ago when i bec

hamilton writes his fiance, he says i wish i could be like andre. andre knows he's doomed. he only has one request. he writes a moving letter to georgehington -- shoot me like a soldier. don't hang me like a common thief or a spy. ast as most of you know, washington hung him in a very emotional hanging indeed. this is a contemporary drawing. benjamin talmidge, a very interesting person. he said he was never moved by any man as much as he was moved by meeting andre who he was in charge of him as a prisoner. he wrote, when i saw him swinging it seemed for a time that i could not support it. all of the spectators seemed to be overwhelmed by the spectacle and many were suffused with tears. washington is severely criticized for this. washington, in clinton's mind, this is premeditated murder. inexcusable and never to be forgiven. a widely read poem at the time said this about washington. oh, washington. i thought thee great and good. nor knew thy nero oh thirst for guiltless blood. severe to use the power that fortune gave. t hou cool, determined murderer of the brave. pretty tough. hamilton wrote to his bride and said, i must inform you

hamilton writes his fiance he says i wish i could be like andre. andre knows he's doomed. he only has one request. he writes a moving letter to georgewashington -- shoot me like a soldier. don't hang me like a common thief or a spy. ast as most of you know washington hung him in a very emotional hanging indeed. this is a contemporary drawing. benjamin talmidge a very interesting person. he said he was never moved by any man as much as he was moved by meeting andre who he was in charge of him as a prisoner. he wrote when i saw him swinging it seemed for a time that i could not support it. all of the spectators seemed to be overwhelmed by the spectacle and many were suffused with tears. washington is severely criticized for this. washington, in clinton's mind, this is premeditated murder. inexcusable and never to be forgiven. a widely read poem at the time said this about washington. oh washington. i thought thee great and good. nor knew thy nero oh thirst for guiltless blood. severe to use the power that fortune gave. t hou cool, determined murderer of the brave. pretty tough. hamilton wrote to his bride and said, i must inform you t

hamilton mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentlewoman from alabama, mrs. roby. mrs. roby:new jersey -- will livingston, david brearley, william paterson, jonathan dayton pennsylvania -- benjamin franklin, thomas mifflin, robert morris, george clymer, thomas fitzsimons, jared ingersoll, james wilson gouverneur morris mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentlewoman from california ms. hahn. ms. hahn k4r0 amendment 1, congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentleman from west virginia, mr. jenkins. mr. jenkins:amendment ii a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentlewoman from texas, ms. jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: read from the third amendment of the bill of rights of the united states constitution. no soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a mann

what george washington did in his first weeks in office, he turned to alexander hamilton, the treasury secretary, and said, hey develop an economic development plan for me. how are we going to grow our economy? and alex came back, treasury secretary hamilton came back and he formed a committee of one, came back with a plan maybe 30, 40 pages, and in that plan was fundamental infrastructure development. he said, the roll of the -- role of the federal government is to make sure that we have roads, postal roads, make sure that we have ports and canals. the infrastructure of the day. and so for those who like to harkin back to the founding fathers i ought to also consider the mothers, but in any case, infrastructure was fundamental. so today i want to talk about infrastructure and i want to do it in a way that will really hopefully excite this body into passing a very robust complete surface transportation and infrastructure bill. president obama and the department of transportation secretary fox have made a proposal called build america. it's a good proposal that covers all of the element

hamilton mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentlewoman from alabama, mrs. roby. mrs. roby:new jersey -- will livingston, david brearley, william paterson, jonathan dayton pennsylvania -- benjamin franklin, thomas mifflin, robert morris, george clymer, thomas fitzsimons, jared ingersoll, james wilson gouverneur morris mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentlewoman from california ms. hahn. ms. hahn k4r0 amendment 1, congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentleman from west virginia, mr. jenkins. mr. jenkins:amendment ii a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. mr. goodlatte: i now yield to the gentlewoman from texas, ms. jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: read from the third amendment of the bill of rights of the united states constitution. no soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a mann