even set out wanting to write about james garfield, i wanted to write about alexander graham bell and i found out that he invented some thing called an induction to try to find a board in garfield and i thought i wonder what james garfield is like ~ so early into the first term and he's largely been forgotten so i started researching him and he was extraordinary and brilliant, kind of guy instrumental in bringing about black suffrage and was a decent modest human became. that's what i tried to do with all of my books. in the history of the roosevelt administration and then in the very guess object from a distinct ideological point of vi view. >> absolutely. >> my question, i came awayy>> after reading this thinking that we missed out on the potentially great president so i just wanted to hear your thoughts on its garfield hadn't been assassinated what typ this typef president do you think he would have been. >> he would have been one of our great presidents and i think that he was an inspiration because he had come from such poverty and to bring the country together in a way. they wer

send out wanting to write about james garfield. i was wanting to read about alexander graham bell and i found that came into something called an induction mask to find a bullet in garfield. i thought i wonder what james garfield looks like. he was still so early into his first term and he/they been forgotten and so i started researching him and he was extraordinary, absolutely brilliant. he was kind, instrumental in bringing about lack suffrage. he was a descend, modest human being and i was impressed with him, but i didn't start out thinking i want to make people think he's an extraordinary man. i took them as they found him and that's what i try to do witi all my books. >> if i might interject, i know what he's complaining about, not to pick on one person, but arthur schlesinger junior given this multivolume incomplete history of the roosevelt administration and then in his various writings on jack kennedy was spreading from a very distinct, ideological point. that may have been bending history to suit his ideology. >> absolutely.

even set out wanting to write about james garfield. i wanted to write about alexander graham bell and i found out that he invented something called an induction balance trying to find the bullet. james garfield was killed so early in his first term and largely been forgotten and so i start researching him and he was extraordinary, absolutely brilliant, he was kind, he was instrumental in bringing about black suffrage. he was a decent modest human being and i was impressed with him but i didn't start out thinking i want to make people think that he is an extraordinary man. i took him as i found him and that's what i tried to do with all of my books. >> i might interject. i know what he's complaining about, not to pick on one person first in multi-volume incomplete history of the roosevelt administration, franklin roosevelt and various writings on jack kennedy was writing from a very distinct ideological point of view and may have been bending history to suit his to ideology.absolute >> absolutely. >> i loved it and i came away after rea

. >> host: you have written about teddy roosevelt, james garfield, what drew you to their stories? >> guest: i love to read biographies but as a writer, i like to tell a tighter story, more personal story where i can spend 5 years focusing and digging in, and what i hope is eliminating, the time in which we live, and often when we look at history, we are drawn to a big public moment, and infamy, what interests me are the more private moments of struggle when someone like james garfield or terrified, instant churchill, and in those moments it is true for all of us that we all share, and your true nature is revealed. >> host: specifically what drew you to winston churchill? >> guest: he actually began history in south africa covering the national congress, and 25 years ago mentioned to me do you know that winston churchill is a prisoner of war in south africa, i thought you were -- how do i not know this, stayed with me all these years and after i turned in the manuscript for my second book, do you have any ideas for the next book? winston churchill -- yes. >> host: reading your book

do you know who james garfield was? >> no, ma'am. >> you know who william mckinley was or what he did? they were presidents killed while in office. and what about abraham lincoln? do you know what he did? >> he won the civil war. he abolished slavery, ma'am. >> that's right. thank you. bobby, please tell them i want to focus on lincoln, not his funeral. a.o.: this movie is about an assassination and transfer of power. it is also about a marriage. what did you come to think about -- this is a marriage that has been dissected and talked about endlessly in books and articles and we might think we know all the secrets of it, but with you feel like you learned about jack and jackie? natalie: well, it is one of the most interesting aspects of the story to me because she was a woman who really defined herself sort of in that era through her husband and took that role on for herself and thought the most important thing in her life was to be her husband's wife and to be the best wife to him as possible. she says come and we have

within do you know who james garfield was? >> no ma'am. >> do you know who william mckinley was or what he did? they were both u.s. presidents killed while they were in office. and what about abraham lincoln, do you know what he did? >> he won the civil war. he abolished slavery, ma'am. >> that's right. thank you. bobby, please tell ben i want the-- about lincoln about his funeral. >> this is -- this movie is, i mean it's about an assassination and a transfer of power. but it's also about a marriage. and what did you find out or how did you come to think about, i mean this is a marriage that has been digs sected and talked about and written about endlessly in books and articles. and you know, we might think we know all the secrets of it. but what do you felt like you learned about jack and jackie in the course of making the film? >> well, it's one of the most interesting aspects of the story to me. because she-- she is a woman who really designed herself sort of in that era, through her husband and i'm-- and took that role on

life the famous historical figures in previous books she gave us teddy roosevelt and president james garfield her latest book hero of the empire makes the notables list for its great storytelling, it's careful research and fine deta detail. [applause]

she givest teddy roosevelt, james garfield.her latest book, treated to mix the "washington post" process for its great storytelling, careful research and its fine detail.

former chairman including some who went on to become speakers of the house and in the case of james garfield, president of the united states. adding his portrait to his distinguished group is the continuation of a century old tradition and many house colleagues, including speaker ryan, were on hand to mark the occasion. it's a well deserved tribute to a man i've been honored to serve alongside for many years and to have known for even longer. i first met hall rogers several decades ago and later worked with him during the 1971 kentucky gubernatorial campaign. while the republican candidate that year did not win the race trks was clear to me after -- it was clear to me after getting to know hall he was destined for great things. born in a small town of barrier, kentucky, he became first a country lawyer in the town of somerset and then the commonwealth's attorney for the region. he was first elected to congress with the reagan revolution back in 1980 and is now the dean of kentucky's congressional delegation. chairman rogers is legendary in congress and back home for his relentless focus on t