wayne clough.tion program which includes the construction of the smithsonian's 19th museum, the national museum of african-american history and culture for which we are breaking ground today. with a doctorate in civil engineering from the university of california at berkeley, clough was president of the georgia institute of technology for 11 years. as head of the smithsonian since 2008, he has put the smithsonian's attention in what he calls four grand challenges. unlocking the mysteries of the universe, understanding and sustaining a bio diverse planet, valuing world cultures, and understanding the american experience. it is with honor that i present to you dr. wayne clough. [ applause ] >> thank you. thank you very much. thank you, for that kind introduction. wow, what a beautiful day. it's an honor to be here as the 12th secretary of the smithsonian with president obama, mrs. obama, mrs. bush, all these distinguished guests, and wonderful friends who are here. it is a remarkable day. at the smit

wayne clough, and everybody who's worked so hard to make this possible. i'm so proud of lonnie bunch who came here from chicago, i want to point out. i remember having a conversation with him about this job when he was planning to embark on this extraordinary journey, and we could not be prouder of the work that he has done to help make this day possible. i promise to do my part by being brief. as others have mentioned, this day has been a long time coming. the idea for a museum dedicated to african-americans was first put forward by black veterans of the civil war. and years later the call was picked up by members of the civil rights generation. by men and women who knew how to fight for what was right, and strive for what is just. this is their day. this is your day. it's an honor to be here to see the fruit of your labor. it's also fitting that this museum has found a home on the national mall. as has been mentioned it was on this ground long ago that lives were once traded, where hundreds of thousands once marched for jobs and for freedom. it was here

wayne clough. the construction of the smithsonian's 19th museum. we are breaking ground today. [applause] with a doctorate in civil engineering from the university of california, he was president of the georgia institute of technology in atlanta. as head of the smithsonian since 2008 he has put the smithsonian's attention into what he calls for a grand challenges. -- four grand challenges. unlocking the mysteries of the universe valuing world cultures, and understanding the american experience. it is with honor that i present to you, dr. wayne clough. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you very much. thank you for that very kind introduction. wow. what a beautiful day. it is an honor to be here with president obama mrs. obama, all of these distinguished guests and wonderful friends who are here. it is a remarkable day. at the smithsonian we strive to provide a way for america to see the world and indeed the world can see america. today that picture comes sharply into focus. the national muse

wayne clough.es the construction of the smithsonian's 19th museum. we are breaking ground today. [applause] with a doctorate in civil engineering from the university of california, he was president of the georgia institute of technology in atlanta. as head of the smithsonian since 2008, he has put the smithsonian's attention into what he calls for a grand challenges. -- four grand challenges. unlocking the mysteries of the universe, valuing world cultures, and understanding the american experience. it is with honor that i present to you, dr. wayne clough. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you very much. thank you for that very kind introduction. wow. what a beautiful day. it is an honor to be here with president obama, mrs. obama, all of these distinguished guests and wonderful friends who are here. it is a remarkable day. at the smithsonian we strive to provide a way for america to see the world and indeed the world can see america. today that picture comes sharply into focus. the national

i want to thank laura bush, secretary salazar, sam, my hero, congressman john lewis, wayne clough, everyone is made this possible. i am so proud of lonnie who came here from chicago, i want to point out. [applause] i remember having a conversation with him about this job when he was starting to embark on an extraordinary journey. i cannot be more proud of the work he has done. i promised to do my part by being briefed. as others have mentioned, this day has been a long time coming. the idea for a museum dedicated to african-americans was first put forth by black veterans of the civil war. years later the call was picked up by members of the civil- rights generation. by men and women who knew how to fight for what is right and prescribe for what is just. this is their day. this is your day. it is an honor to be here to see the fruits of your labor. it is also fitting that this museum has found a home on the national mall. as has been mentioned, it was on this ground long ago that lives were once traded. where hundreds of thousands once marched for jobs for freedom. it was here that the pilla

i want to thank laura bush, secretary salazar, sam, my hero congressman john lewis, wayne clough, everyone who is made this possible. i am so proud of lonnie who came here from chicago, i want to point out. [applause] i remember having a conversation with him about this job when he was starting to embark on an extraordinary journey. i cannot be more proud of the work he has done. i promised to do my part by being briefed. as others have mentioned this day has been a long time coming. the idea for a museum dedicated to african-americans was first put forth by black veterans of the civil war. years later the call was picked up by members of the civil- rights generation. by men and women who knew how to fight for what is right and prescribe for what is just. this is their day. this is your day. it is an honor to be here to see the fruits of your labor. it is also fitting that this museum has found a home on the national mall. as has been mentioned, it was on this ground long ago that lives were once traded. where hundreds of thousands once marched for jobs for freedom. it was here that the pi