i think donna race at monticello who are two women who divorced the tour guide at monticello who had given this hour-long tour that was really quite direct about jefferson and moral inconsistency, about his relationship to slavery and the fact thathe enslaved over 600 people over the course of his lifetime . and these women were so clearly unsettled by what they were hearing and they were like, i had no idea jefferson owned slaves. i had no idea monticello was a plantation and these were folks who bought plane tickets, who went to the car and got who hotel room and came to monticello as a pilgrimage and had no conception of the fact that this place was a plantation and the person who lived there and slaveshundreds of human beings . i think that's a microcosm for how so many people in this country have such a, have such little understanding of what slavery was , how to shake the founding of this country and consequently how continues to shape every part of our social political andeconomic infrastructure . >> is funny you say that because i was thinking about them a lot . i was thinkin

i had no idea that monticello was a plantation. these are folks who bought plane tickets, rented a car, got a hotel room, came to monticello almost as sort of the pilgrimage and had no conception that this place was a plantation and that the person who lived there enslaved hundreds of human beings. that's a microcosm for how so many people in this country have such little understanding of what slavery wise, how it shaped the founding of this country and subsequently how it continues to shape every part of our social, political and economic infrastructure. >> it's funny you say that because i was thinking about them a lot. i was thinking very hard about those women in monticello since i've been reading the book. they are kind of innocent shock about what's going on, and it did feel some compassion for them but almost seemed to be almost, it's hard to believe. it's hard to believe and approve his essay i will see the part about that world, and i can continue to do so. why are you telling me? then i thought let's assume these are inno

i was actually really thinking very hard about those two women in monticello since i've been reading the book and there kind of innocent shock this about what's going on and i did feel some compassion for them, but it almost seemed to be almost. hard to believe it's actually hard to believe in the privilege of saying i will not see that part about that world and i can continue to do so and why are you telling me and then i thought okay. let's just assume that these are innocent people who just didn't know because schools didn't teach it to them and it was kind of shocking to me because when i was 16 years old part of my history class at the bronx high school of science was to read kenneth stamps peculiar institution, so i read the entire book when i was 16, and i was a new american i came to america when i was seven. so after nine years of speaking english, i read that entire book and it change the way i think about slavery right and when i became a history major in college, it was a very easy thing for me to understand because and kenneth stamps book, which you quote quite a bit in

her books include the pulitzer prize national book award-winning monticello and "on juneteenth. >> host: on the anniversary of 1776, we often tell ourselves we are or here. >> guest: we are certainly trying to be. >> host: in what way? >> guest: i think there are a number of people in society who are sort of working to make the ideals of the declaration a reality. the ideals that are expressed in the preamblesu about equality ad about the pursuit of happyness. so we have that idea and we are trying to reach that potential. >> host: this is one of those silly questions but would the founders recognize who we are today? >> host: of course not. [laughter] some aspects they would but most of it anticipating in politics, blacks participating in politics, all those kind of things would have been of course and the power of the united states at the time we are talking about 1776 this is the colonies in the middle of nowhere. they don't have the power and we have become an empire.av so i don't think that they would have seen all that had happened to the united states up to this point. >> veprofe

the second in '08, the hemingses of monticello. won both the national book award and the pulitzer prize for that book. and her most recent along with a co-author is most blessed of the patriarchs. why did jefferson refer to himself as most blessed of the patriarchs? >> guest: well, that was how he thought of himself, you know? he was comparing himself to patriarchs of bulls. he had a farm, he had enslaved people and, you know, he had power and he had all these kinds of things. he was the patriarch of this particular area. he saw himself that way. and, of course, we looked at that as, like, what? that's why i insisted that we put that in quotes on the book because we didn't want people thinking that we were calling him that, but this was his identity. now, we look at this as negative, and, you know, that's why i didn't want to be, i didn't want to be associated with calling him that. but he saw himself as a personning who had responsibilities. that's what he meant. we look at the slave holder and all of those things, the father whos

read other age-appropriate about monticello and a time to think about slavery as well. here is a person who wrote the declaration of independence to do that. what is that about? so my interest started in school and u it continued up until now i guess. >> host: was your school segregated at that point had you been integrated? >> guest: integrated this particular school the schools of my home town condor, texas. by the time i got to the third grade things hade changed. there were more black kids in the school. i did not do it by myself at first. but then there were supreme court cases and so forth that required sort of an immediate integration of all the schools. they were more blacks at anderson which is where i was written my first biography about jefferson. the person who started that in town. but without the police escorts. that is a police escort, my parents, the school district not the school newspaper, the town newspaper decided we would make a big deal about it. they wouldn't make a big deal about it i would just go and it would be nothing were unusual here. of co

monticello and the recently published, "on juneteenth." host: annette gordon-reed 245th anniversary of 1776 are we that exceptional nation we tell ourselves we are? >> we are certainly trying to be. host: in w what way? >> there are a number of people in society working to make the ideals of the declarational a reality. those are expressed in the preamble about a quality and happiness. so we have that idea trying to reach that potential. host: it's a silly question but with the founders recognize who we are today? >> of course not. [laughter] some aspects they would that women participating in politics, blacks, all of those thingsrs would have been foreign to them and the power of the united states. at the time we talk about 1776, 13 colonies in the middle of nowhere they don't have an empire i don't think they would have seen that up to this point. >> have you weighed in on the 1776 versus a 1619 debate? >> i've heard and passing but i haven't written anything maybe if you stray tweets but no in-depth essay. host: what are your initial th

the hemingses of monticello: an american family, came out in 2008. that won both the prettier and the national book award -- pulitzer and the national book award. andrew johnson, her biography, came out in 2010. most weesed of the patriarchs: thomas jefferson and the empire of imagination came out in 2016. "on juneteenth" calm out this year. and annette gordon-reed has also co-authored a book with vernon jordan, the late vernon jordan, which came out in 2001. and she has edited race on trial: law and justice in american history. this is an interactive program, and your voices are very important. we want to hear from you. here's your chance to talk with professor gordon-reed. 202 is the area code. 748-8200 if you love in the east and central -- can love in the east and central time zones. 8201 for the mountain and pacific time zones. you can also send in a text. if you do, please include your first name and your city, and this is for text messages only, 202-748-8903. now, you can also contact us via social media, facebook, twitter. just remember @book

prize-winning books include hemmings of monticello, and her latest book, on juneteenth. as gordon read will be taking your calls, facebook comments, e-mails and tweets. arch book tv on "c-span2", this weekend. the house financial services committee held a hearing on crypto currency in the effect on the u.s. financial system and the committee look at how the crypto currency boom may have affected retirees and whether relations are needed to protect consumers and financial markets. [inaudible]. >> good morning. i'm al green. it is my honor to call the oversight investigation subcommittee to order. the title of today's hearing is america on fire,

her prize-winning books include the hemmingses of monticello. she will be taking your calls, comments, emails, and tweets. watch book tv on c-span2 this weekend. >> c-span's washington journal, every day we take your calls live in the air in the news of the day and we discussed policy issues that impact you. historians richard norton smith, douglas brinkley, edna greene medford discussed the results of c-span's historian survey of presidential leadership. watch washington journal live at 7:00 eastern sunday morning and be sure to join the discussion.

name is andrew, i'm the >> thank you for joining us i and the director of the jefferson studies at monticello. is my pleasure to introduce it will be discussing his new book saratoga and the american revolution and the very useful appendices. it is often regarded as the turning point of the revolutionary war. it was a victory one it is generally believed to ally with united states kevine has produced one of the most comprehensive accounts it is a particular interest as a for me on - - former army officer of service the graduates of west point to combat deployments and a professorship of military very and strategy of the war college in carlisle pennsylvania. his previous book weekends tragic admiral. was awarded the william colby award. he has agreed to do this program in an interview format like a conversation followed by questions from the audience. i would be grateful iff audience members can put any questions in the q&a at the bottom of their screen. kevin thank you for joining us. >> thank you andrew i appreciate the invitation and everybody out there attending. >> i want to begin by aski

she talks about american presidents, slavery and emancipation, her books about the hemingses of monticellond on juneteenth. on c-span two this weekend. ♪ >> c-span is your unfiltered view of government, we are funded by these television companies and more including charter communications. >> broadband is a force of empowerment, building infrastructure, upgrading technology, empowering others in communities a and small. charter is connecting us. >> charter communications supports c-span as a public service, along with these other television dividers even you a front row seat to democracy. >> house speaker nancy pelosi has announced that mississippi congressman will chair the committee that will investigate the january 6 attack on the u.s. capitol. this is 25 minutes.

she talks about america's presidents, slavery and emancipation, her books include having south monticello latest book on juneteenth. she will take your pulse, facebook comments, e-mails and tweets watch book tv on c-span tooth this weekend. ♪♪ >> ahead and book tv, three biographies. first, conservative intellectual promise and fate supreme court justice, ruth bader ginsburg. former first lady, nancy reagan. >> it's a pleasure to be with you, we have been together on my radio show, you have made a number of videos and i review in the "wall street journal", you are pretty and be greatest in my life, i just want you to know that. >> thank you. good to be here. >> you have done a service to the intellectual life of america by writing a biography of thomas soul andad i began in an odd wa, how do youee explain, i think i know the answer, nevertheless i want your answer, how do you explain that one of the finest minds of thee last half-century unknown to half of america. [laughter] >> i guess to use today's ball on, he was canceled along time ago. he was a conservative's, and way back in the 19

about americans presence, slavery and emancipation enterprise willing books including lemmings of monticello and her latest book, on juneteenth.

her prize-winning books include the hemmingses of monticello. she will be taking your calls, comments, emails, and tweets. watch book tv on c-span2 this weekend. >> c-span's washington journal, every day we take your calls live in the air in the news of the day and we discussed policy issues that impact you. historians richard norton smith, douglas brinkley, edna greene medford discussed the results of c-span's historian survey of presidential leadership. watch washington journal live at 7:00 eastern sunday morning and be sure to join the discussion. >> on friday, president biden and first lady jill biden delivered remarks at the national education association's annual meeting. joining the bidens on stage was becky pringle, president of the nea. this is about 25 minutes. ♪ [applause] >> hello. you know, last year, i told you if joe became president, you would have one of your own in the white house. [applause] and here we are. you helped make this real. so, thank you nea. [applause] i have never been more proud to call myself an educator. i hope

she talks about america's presidents, slavery and emancipation, her books include having south monticellobook on juneteenth. she will take your pulse, facebook comments, e-mails and tweets watch book tv on c-span tooth this weekend. ♪♪ >> ahead and book tv, three biographies. first, conservative intellectual promise and fate supreme court justice, ruth bader ginsburg. former first lady, nancy reagan. >> it's a pleasure to be with you, we have been together on my radio show, you have made a number of videos and i review in

her prize-winning books include the hemmingses of monticello. watch book tv on c-span two this weekend. >> arkansas senator tom cotton discussed issues of race and the military at a virtual event hosted by the heritage foundation. he talked about his time serving in the military and service member recruitment. mr. wood: senator, thank you so much for joining us today on this very important topic. i know it's carving time out of your schedule, but you've really taken a tremendous effort to address and challenges facing the country and in the military, in particular, and i'm talking about critical race theory and how it might be implemented or is being implemented in various training sessions in the military. ns in the military. but i'd like to acknowledge that you serbed the country in uniform, in the u.s. army, from what, 2005 to 2009? if i've got my dates correct on that? earned the army ranger tab, served the 101st airborne division, two tours in after depan stan and served also at the old guard at arlington national cemetery. i'm fwessing you

her prize-winning books include the hemmingses of monticello.atch book tv on c-span two this weekend. >> arkansas senator tom cotton discussed issues of race and the military at a virtual event hosted by the heritage foundation. he talked about his time

our prize-winning books include the hints of monticello, her latest book, on juneteenth. she will be taking your calls, facebook comments, e-mails and tweets. watch booktv on c-span2 this weekend. >> president biden and vice president harris held a briefing on wildfire readiness for the 2021 season. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible] >> we have -- [inaudible] >> thank you all again for being here in this important meeting, so thank you, thank you, thank you. and, governor newsom, you trying to make us feel bad, listening in that magnificent background you have over there, and while i'm sitting in here in the white house? god love you. anyway, it's good to see you all, really. thank you. for years, the president has received a briefing at the beginning of the hurricane season, looking at the trends that are coming to get a sense of what's coming so that the country can be better prepared. and when i received that briefing this year, i asked for a second briefing that does the same thing, but now we're doing it about wi

jefferson memorial or tearing it's -- we've heard it in one down monticello, we're not talking about moving mount vernon, a very obvious narrow superspecial story to plantation or removing monte obtain. and it's just good to complicate it. it makes for monticello a very disguised great drama, it makes for great plantation, but a plantation, nonetheless, characterized that some classical who are awe. and beautiful. but we have to do the printing. i'm not suggesting going into gettysburg, and knocking off stories, and makes for great all the statues of robert e. lee, let's leave it. there are exhibitions. he'd go to lanita appropriate places, nothing will be lost in the story unless we have the kind of regional museum there, i mean, this is by no means a picnic. and yet, the fact that it produces these feelings and you horrific wholesale, you know, sovi style cleansing of the system and we're not about that. americans are strong enough to figure out how to tolerate the good and the bad. it's -- we've heard it in one narrow superspecial story to are amazing, our transformative obtain. a

hemingses of monticello and the recently published, "on juneteenth." >> host: annette gordon-reed on the 225th anniversary of 1776, are we that exceptional nation we often tell ourselves we are or hear? >> guest: well, we're

about american presidents, slavery and emancipation, prize-winning books include the hemmings of monticello and latest book on juneteenth. she will take your pulse, facebook comments, e-mails and tweets. watch book tv on c-span2 this weekend. ♪♪ >> good evening, everyone. i am tina i'm joined here with wilson's historical society. if you have any questions, popular into the q&a box and we will read them at the end. i'll turn it over to my colleague. >> thank you, tina. the historical society is pleased to cosponsor this but that does dedicated historian with new information and new theories especially that of thes southern strategy. we love that because local historians especially here in connecticut, many important figures of the american revolution came from as well as a few battles fought and farmers who fed the continental army, we always want to horn more. john is professor at the university of west georgia where he enjoyed a mom career teaching courses on the revolution, america's founders and u.s. military history. he's been 13 books and many journal articles on thehe polits of the a

we're not talking about removing mount vernon a very obvious plantation or removing monticello a very disguised plantation, but a plantation nonetheless characterized as some classical hoo-ha and beautiful, but we're we got to do the pruning. you know, i'm not suggesting going into gettysburg and lopping off all the statues of robert e lee the battlefield there. let's let's leave there's an appropriate places. nothing will be lost in this story unless we have the kind of horrific wholesale, you know soviet, cleansing of the system and we're not about that. we're americans are strong enough. to figure out how to tolerate the good and the bad it's just for very too long. we've permitted just one very narrow superficial story to obtain and it's it's just good to complicate it. it makes for great drama. it makes for a great stories. it makes for great exhibitions you go to lonnie's original museum there. i mean, this is by no means a picnic. and yet the fact that it produces these feelings in you are are amazing our are transformative and not just for african-americans, but for all of us

my name is andrew, i'm the director of the international jefferson, monticello.is my pleasure to introduce kevinvi who will be discussing w book, the complete victory saratoga and the american revolution, published by university, a splendid petition with color illustration, an excellent map and very useful ways. the battle at saratoga is often regarded as it turned on the revolutionary war. it was a victory one by americans, generally believed that the victory persuaded grant with the united states. kevin produced one of the most comprehensive accounts of the battle. it is a particular interest because he's a former army officer 28 years of service. a graduate of west including two combat deployment and professorship in military theory and strategy of the war college in pennsylvania. his previous book, lincoln's -- the lifeif of samuel was awarded to william toby award. kevin has agreed to do this program in an interview, conversations which will be followed by questions from our audience. i'd be grateful if audience members would put questions in thens q&a at th

hemingses f monticello and the recently published, "on juneteenth." host: annette gordon-reed

her books include the hemmings of monticello and her latest book on juneteenth. she will be taking your calls, facebook comments, e-mails and twitter tweets. watch book tv on c-span2 this weekend. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> c-span is your unfiltered view of government funded by television companies and more including charter communications. ♪♪ >> charter communications supports c-span as a public service along with these other television providers giving a row seat to democracy. >> good evening. i'm the executive director of the washington library cap map burning man coming to you from the library for an exciting evening book talk with patrick. i want to thank the company for sponsor not just this talk but many talks over the years, a great series where we have authors talking about the newest work and it doesn't get any newer than this because this the book release for this exciting book. i want to mention one program, june 9 our third lecture, richard bernstein's new book, the education of john

talks about american presidents and emancipation, her prize-winning books include "the hemingses of monticelloand her latest on juneteenth. she will be taking your comments, watch book to c-span two on sunday. >> american history tv on c-span3, exploring the people and events that tell the american story, every weekend. sunday at 6:00 p.m. eastern on american artifacts, the arrival of the reconstructed french ship at the 18 century port of yorktown, virginia, designed after the french vessel that brought major general marquita lafayette back to the united states and -- marquis to lafayette after the united states, watch this weekend on c-span3. >>

her prize-winning books include the hemmings of monticello and her latest book on juneteenth. will be taking your calls, facebook comments e-mails and tweets. watch book tv on cspan2 this weekend. >> historic synagogue in washington d.c. recently hosted a virtual event with the best-selling author and new york staff writer malcolm gladwell where he discussed his latest book on the development of precision bombing. >> the three major technological feats of the second world war, the american effort. the first was the most expensive and the hardest was of course the manhattan project for the second biggest project was the b29 bomber. the third was this little computer called the norton bomb site 55 pounds mechanical device a bunch of knobs and buttons and gyroscopes and pulleys that was intended to solve a problem since the first bombs were dropped from airplanes. which is how do you make sure the bombs at land it is supposed to land? it's an insanely difficult problem. your plane going tutor miles an hour and you are 6 miles up in the air. the wind is blowing at 75 miles an hour

her prize-winning books include the hemings of monticello, and her latest book, on juneteenth. ms.f gordon-reed will be talking your calls, facebook comments, e-mails and tweets. watch booktv on c-span2 this weekend. ♪ ♪ >> c-span landmark cases explores the stories and constitutional drama behind significant supreme court decisions. sunday at 9:45 p.m. eastern, the landmark case miranda v. arizona. ernesto miranda was arrested for suspicion of kidnap and rape, and he signed a written confession. the supreme court ruled the confession was inadd misbl because he was not notify before being requests about his fifth and sixth amendment rights against self-incrimination and rights to an attorney. watch landmark cases sunday night at 9:45 p.m. eastern on c pan, c-span.org or listen on the c-span radio app. ♪ mr. ..

hemingses of monticello" and her latest on juneteenth. she will be taking your comments, watch book to c-span two on sunday. >> american history tv on c-span3, exploring the people and events that tell the american story, every weekend. sunday at 6:00 p.m. eastern on american artifacts, the arrival of the reconstructed french ship at the 18 century port of yorktown, virginia, designed after the french vessel that brought major general marquita lafayette back to the united states and -- marquis to lafayette after the united states, watch this weekend on c-span3. >> next, retired general david petraeus, former director of the cia, on president biden's plan to withdraw u.s. forces from afghanistan. this is 40 minutes. david: welcome to washington post live. i'm david ignatius, a columnist for the post. this summer, u.s. troops will withdraw from afghanistan after a war that's lasted two decades. we will be taking a close look this morning at that withdrawal and the implications for some of the afghans who have helped us in that war. in a bit

her books include the pulitzer prize national book award-winning monticello and "on juneteenth. >> host the anniversary of 1776, we often tell ourselves we are or here. >> guest: we are certainly trying to be. >> host: in what way? >> guest: i think there are a number of people in society who are sort of working to make the ideals of the declaration a

hemmings of monticello, and her latest book, on juneteenth. as gordon read will be taking your calls, facebook comments, e-mails and tweets. arch book tv on "c-span2", this weekend. the house financial services committee held a hearing on crypto currency in the effect on the u.s. financial system and the committee look at how the crypto currency boom may have affected retirees and whether relations are needed to protect consumers and financial markets. [inaudible]. >> good morning. i'm al green. it is my honor to call the oversight investigation subcommittee to order. the title of today's hearing is america on fire, fire being financial independence retire early. will the crypto currency leading to financial independence and early retirement or financial ruins read without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess of the subcommittee at any time. without objection members of the full committee not on the subcommittee are advice to participate in today's hearing i would like to note that in mr. brad sherman who was a part of the fu

smith international -- of the jefferson studies at monticello.ook, "the complete victory," published by oxford university press, it's a splendid edition with color all straights and excellent maps and very useful appendices. the battle of saratoga is often a regarded as the turning point of the revolutionary war. it was a victory won entirelily americans -- entirely by americans. it's generally believed that the victory persuaded france to ally with the united states. kevin weddle has produced one of the most comprehensive accounts of the battle. it is of particular interest because he is a former army officer with 28 years of service. a graduate of west point, his service included two combat deployments and a professorship in military theory and strategy at the war college in carlyle, pennsylvania. his previous book, "lincoln's tragic downfall," was awarded the william e. colby award. kevin has agreed to do this program in an interview format more like a conversation which will be followed by questions from our audience. and i'd be grateful if a

about american presidents, slavery and emancipation part a price when books include the hemmings of monticelloher latest book, on juneteenth. miss gordon reed will be taking your calls, facebook comments, e-mails, and tweets. watch book tv on cspan2 this weekend. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ on june 13 covid 1970 when the "new york times" began publishing the pentagon papers. classified history of the vietnam war. this event subsequently led to the creation of a special investigative unit in the nixon white house which became known as the plumbers. author michael dobbs formally of the "washington post" has written a book titled king richard which takes a look at that special unit which eventually resulted in the resignation of the president of the united states. fifty years later writer dobbs focuses on that time in our history and event that is well known today as watergate. swick michael dobbs in this episode of book notes plus. wherever you get your podcast. here is a looks on the best-selling nonfiction books according to books in nashville. topping the list are two essay collections, area lara philpott i miss

her prize-winning books include the henningsen monticello, and her latest book on juneteenth.he will be taking your calls, facebook comments, texts and tweets. watch booktv on c-span2 today. >> now on booktv's "after words" program former senate majority y leader bill frist republican of tennessee talks with author andy slavitt former senior advisor in the biden administration about u.s. response to the coronavirus pandemic. >> host: ante, it's great to be with you today and so, so many ways to talk like a great book. >> guest: great to be with you again, senator tremor , lm excited to talk about your book just out, "preventable: the inside story of how leadership failures, politics, and selfishness doomed the u.s. coronavirus response" a great book. it's an insiders account behind the scenes look to say painful at times but a real eye-opener. there's so much we can talk about but let's jump right in and start with the big picture. what is the top line overview, 30,000 foot look, and why why did you write this book? >> guest: well look, handling to find in his heart and we all

the former director of the robert h smith international center for jefferson studies a month at monticello my pleasure to introduce kevin wessel who will be discussing his new book the complete victory, saratoga the american revolution. published by university press and it's a splendid addition with color, illustrations and excellence maps. it's very useful

the former director of the robert h smith international center for jefferson studies a month at monticelloeedit it's my pleasure to introduce kevin wessel who will be discussing his new book the complete victory, saratoga the american revolution. published by university press and it's a splendid addition with color, illustrations and excellence maps. it's very useful appendices. the battle of saratoga is often regarded as the turning point of the revolutionary war. it was a victory one primarily by americans. it's generally believed that the victory dance to ally with the unitedstates . wessel produced one of the most comprehensive accounts of the battle. it is a particular interest because he's a former army officer with 28 years of service. >> .. >> kevin, thank you very much indeed for joining us. >> thank you, andrew. i appreciate the invitation, and thanks for everybody who is out there attending. >> i want to begin by asking you to discuss how your military background influenced your writing of the book. >> okay. i think first of all, it is important to -- you don't have to have a mi

i the director of the smith center for jefferson studies at monticello. it's my pleasure to introduce kevin weddle who will be discussing his new book, "the compleat victory" ." published by oxford university press and it is a splendid addition with color illustrations and excellent maps, and very useful tendencies. the battle of saratoga is often regarded as the turning point of the revolutionary war. it wasar a victory one entirelyy americans. it's generally believed that victory persuaded france to ally with the unitedd states. kevin weddle has produced one of the most comprehensive accounts of the battle. .. with 28 years of service. granger of west concluded two combats and professorship in military theory and data of were college in pennsylvania. his previous book, the life of samuel was awarded to william toby

her books include the pulitzer prize winning the hemingses of monticello and the recently published, juneteenth." >> host: annette gordon-reed on the 225th anniversary of 1776, are we that exceptional nation we often tell ourselves we are or hear? >> guest: well, we're certainly trying to be. >> host: in what way? >> guest: well, i think that there are a number of people in society who are working to make the ideals of the declaration a reality, the ideals that are expressed in the preamble about equality and about the pursuit of happiness. so i think we have that idea, and we're trying to reach that potential. >> host: would the founders -- and this is one of those silly questions, but would the founders recognize who we are today? >> guest: no, of course not. [laughter] i mean, some aspects of it they would, but some, women participating in the politics, blacks participating in politics, all those kinds of