only a few of the many examples of the high praise earned by the afternoon's keynote speaker nigel hamilton. we are so grateful to have him here to mark this special d-day anniversary. professor hamilton is a senior mccormack graduate school at the university of massachusetts boston. he is the author of an impressive and a very long list of books. many of the multi volume works and most of them biographies. he has a singular passion. his first major biography was published in 1978. followed three years later by the making of a general, 1887 -1942. the first in a three volume work. american presidents have long been a subject of professor hamilton's research and writing. he authored the critically acclaimed jfk reckless youth which inspired a television miniseries. bill clinton was the focus of a two-volume biography. professor hamilton's key interest in biography led to the the biography .ookshelf in the mid-80's through his efforts, the british institute of biography and the first center for biography in britain was established. two of his books reflect his great enthusiasm for the study o

these join me in welcoming our d-day 70th anniversary keynote speaker, nigel hamilton. [applause] >> thank you very much. for that charming introduction and although i am now an american citizen, i hope you will forgive my lingering british accent. [laughter] i call my talk " d-day, 70 years ago" i begin by saying that yesterday, on the 70th anniversary of d-day, president obama traveled to normandy as our commander in chief. and the head of state. the commander-in-chief of our armed forces. which is only right and proper. the number of veterans who took part in those historic landings is diminishing by the day. we want to honor their courage as well as the supreme sacrifice of those who never came back alive. when i was as to visit with you in the eisenhower presidential library i felt equally honored. -- deeply honored. as a naturalized american it is for me and a special privilege. for i have a special connection with d-day. my father to part in the d-day invasion, big coming in youngest british infantry battalion commander at the age of only 25. my childhood summers

only a few of the many examples of the high praise earned by this afternoon's keynote speaker, nigel hamilton. we are grateful to have them here with us today to mark this special d-day anniversary. professor hamilton is a senior fellow in the mccormick graduate school at the university of massachusetts boston .president is the author of an impressive and a very long list of books. them are multivolume works and most of them are biographies for which he has a singular passion. wasfirst major biography published i78