Transcripts For CSPAN2 Archivist 20240705

Founding documents of our country for an occasion you will all over remember, as i will the rest of your lives. Despite my name is jim blanchard, i happen to the chair and president of the national foundation. I want to welcome you on behalf of the foundation to this ceremony commemorating and the oath of office for the 11th archivist of the United States, dr. Colleen shogan Colleen Shogan. So now its my pleasure to introduce the archivist of the states. Dr. Colleen shogan Colleen Shogan. Now its my pleasure to introduce the chief justice of the United States supreme court, john roberts, jr. And now another pleasure to introduce the first lady of the United States of america, dr. Jill. As we start this ceremony, i would ask that everyone please rise for the presentation of the colors by the navy color guard, followed by the singing of our anthem by Millicent Scarlett Millicent Scarlett. Paul. Pardon. Oh, say hey, can you see. Oh, is it also elongate or what . So we hit at the top. Its a classically meaning whos broadcast stripes and bright. Is three oh plus eight or the three points we searched worse to leave in. Boosting me group. Three the late that often was still there. Oh see it stands tall spangled. It will even or those. Easy you see. In the. Thank you again Millicent Scarlett. And once again on behalf of National Archives foundation, i want to welcome to this very, very special, our foundation. The National Archives foundation has been the nonprofit partner of the National Archives for over 30 years. And we are the ones that support, promote, plan and help execute Public Program exhibitions, civic education, resources and, much more. All these which are a wonderful gift by this great that we offer to our country and the world. And i want to acknowledge our Foundation Board members, please, you can get seated everybody else. But excuse me, im not to im not used to preaching. Preaching the pulpit lately, but i want our board members, Foundation Board members to please stand up. All right. Thank you. And also Staff Members of the National Archives itself. Those of you are here. We thank for your service and please stand up some of you are very modest and youre in the back. We appreciate what you do. Also with us as United States senator from west virginia, shelly capital here. I believe were also joined by chairman and congressman Stephen Womack of arkansas. Congressman, thank you for being with us. Thank you. Our previous archivist and our dear friend ferriero, the 10th archivist of the United States, is here on hand. David, where are you anyway . Thank you. Anne. And most recently during very difficult and challenging times, the acting archivist before, dr. Kogan, deb wahl. Deb, thank you again. Your service. And the vice chair of our foundation, rodney slater. Rodney thank your leadership. I think most of you know that the National Archives is a truly unique Government Institution by. The way its an independent agency created Franklin Delano roosevelt in the in the thirties. We contained billions of documents within, these buildings and other buildings, and each them tells part of the american story. We are obviously the archives is tasked with preserving our past, but it must do with an eye to the future. So we celebrate that future today as were gathered for this ceremony, were celebrating new beginnings and new leadership and its exciting day as. We all know now. It is my pleasure to introduce the first lady of the United States, dr. Jill biden. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you so. Thank you. Governor blanchard, and thank you for your dedication to the National Archives and senator capital. You were a champion, dr. Shogun, in the senate, so thank you for everything you did to make this moment possible possible. 22 years ago today, the horror of 911 changed us in some way. We must always remember those lost that day in the aftermath. And we will keep their families always in our hearts. We stand with them today and day. The history of a day ocracy belongs to its people and we must preserve it with care for future generations as far back as the Constitutional Convention, our leaders recognized the power of our founding documents and the importance of keeping them safe and accessible. This expression in democracy hinged the people and their ability to claim their and hold their elected officials accountable. That power could be made real with access to history, unfiltered and uncensored. So in the 250 years since we have collected these records, first in the hands of george washington, later at the department of and now in the National Archives, each one is a snapshot time tracing the history of a young republic, our republic from its nascent beginnings to who we are today. The greatest, most country on this planet planet. The constitution and the declaration of independence the Louisiana Purchase and emancipation proclamation, the 13th and ninth, 18th amendments. Harriet tubman, civil war, pension claims. Thomas edison light bulb patent a letter. Annie oakley to president mckinley in 1898 volunteering the lady sharpshooters for the span the american war, the transfer of power. Between 46 president s. Each of these of paper tells a story. The story of a country and its people zigging and zagging through history. Imperfect matching marching toward a more perfect union. Conversely sometimes thats story is a dark one. Man office of slave ships. President roosevelts executive order on japanese internment. The supreme courts dred scott decision. Its the story is we must learn the most from its these that must study for past is prolog as one of the statues flanking this building proclaims as an educator i know this will that our present and our future are inextricably linked to our past and that we must learn from the past or be bound to repeat it. Thats why, as first lady, ive been so to upholding these sacred institutions so they may continue to the American People and teach the next generation about our shared heritage. These National Archives have captured our complicated story for nearly 100 years, and for that entire period the archives have been led by men. You. You know where im going today. Im so honored to be part of this ceremony. Ive the first swear in, the first woman ever to be appointed archives of the night states. Yes. Give her another round. Applause. Its the history. We preserve the stories, elevate the voices we are shaped by the person at the helm of this institute houston. The store is are all of our stories men and women of backgrounds. Ages increase what we choose to, preserve and whose voices we deemed worthy of placing in our national memory. Thats why this milestone the first woman head of the National Archives Records Administration is so momentous dr. Shelton, congratulations on becoming the 11 archivist of the united. Your immense highly qualified with a Sterling Record of service, a clear commitment to preserving our nations unique history, and a respect for this countrys founding principles. I cant wait for the next generation of stories that be housed within these walls under your leadership. Thank you so much congratulations. Thank you very much, dr. Biden. And thanks again for being with also in our audience is the 14th librarian of congress dr. Carla hayden. Were all right. As. We get ready to have the chief justice the oath. I do want to say a couple words about our honoree here today, dr. Colleen shogan. Weve said the 11th archivist of the United States. She happens to be the first woman archives as well, thanks to president joe and the us senate. Thank you, senator capito. Shes a proud native of pittsburgh. Shes a recognized. Well being from detroit. I can relate to that prior to appointment, she was Senior Vice President , director of the David M Rubinstein at the white historical White House Historical association. She also served as legislative assistant in the United States senate, and she was a Senior Advisor and executive at the Library Congress in. She was vice chair of the womens Centennial Commission and is chair of the Board Directors of the womens suffrage National Monument foundation. She brings to us, in essence, writing chapter in our history. And so now its my honor to introduce the chief justice of the states, john roberts, jr and the 11th archivist of the United States of america dr. Colleen shogan. Please raise your right and repeat after me. I Colleen Shogan do solemnly swear. I colleen rogan, do solemnly swear that. I will support and defend the constitution of the United States that i support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that i take this obligation freely, that i take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, without mental reservation or purpose evasion. And that i will. Well and faithfully discharge and. That i will well and faithfully discharge duties of the office on which i am about enter the duties of the office which im about to enter. So help me. So help me god. Congratulations. Thank you again. Thank you so much. Thank you. Please let i. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you so much thank you. Thank you. Dr. Biden chief Justice Roberts members of congress. My family members, distinguished guests, the National Archives foundation and the dedicated staff of the National Archives. Today, as we gather in this rotunda, we remember and honor the lives lost. On september 11th, a solemn of our resilience of as a nation and the enduring power of unity and compassion. Everyone today has played a role in supporting me and the National Archives. And i appreciate each of you for your friendship and for support. It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 11th archivist of the United States. Its not lost on me today that im the first woman appointed to serve in this role. You might have guessed it that it matters to me what im wearing today. I wore white today to recognize those who made it possible for me to stand here today and take oath. The suffragists didnt sign the declaration of independence or the constitution, so they arent on these murals behind me. But theyre a contribution to the vitality of our democracy is no less meaningful. Along with many other inspiring leaders. American history. They believed the principles enshrined in these documents and claim as their god given natural. The fulfillment of those rights which continues, is why these documents arent simply pieces of parchment. They are living promises to hold our government accountable. Why is accountability important in a democracy. Its a fair question. Shouldnt we expect our government do the right thing and to make decisions promote the common good . The answer is yes, but important to remember that that representative democracies require hard work not just from politicians but from every citizen. At the end of the Constitutional Convention in philadelphia, a woman asked then franklin if the proposed would result in a republic or a monarchy. Dr. Franklin famously replied, a republic, if you can keep it. Franklins quip packs punch. Any government which derives its trust powers from the people requires vigilance. Engagement and knowledge. After all, the prevalent condition in human is not democracy. A rights based government. Rather, the default is autocracy and tyranny. Where might makes right. With little regard to individual freedom or pursuit of happiness. What prevents us from falling back into the classic pattern of is right. Indeed, our responsibility to hold our government accountable. Thats what makes the National Archives so important. Without the National Archives and the continued fulfillment of its mission, a healthy democracy cannot be sustained. Our task is straightforward, but it grows in complexity every day. The National Archives preserves protects and shares the billions records in its custody. With the citizens of this great nation. We do this to Cultivate Public participation and to strengthen our democracy. To meet the evolving requirements of that mission. The National Archives will need to transform itself for the digital age. Change is never especially for an organization rightly steeped in history and tradition. But as a political scientist, i know the critical inflection points in the long trajectory, an institution are almost always moments of unprocessed identity, opportunity we will need to embrace to meet our mission in ways that might make us uncomfortable at times. New ways of doing things will challenge our second nature. Make our second nature. Habits and processes. But if we are going to succeed, we must move forward boldly. Timidity will not be our friend. As records continue to proliferate at exponential rates, the National Archives can collect digitize and preserve. But without enhancing how we share the records, the papers, the pictures, emails, the films. Then i ask you, whats the point in new creative ways, we will share the records. The National Archives with Many Americans as possible. I want all to find a connection with history. The National Archives, whether its a personal scholar, early genealogical or, creative endeavor, all should feel welcome here. I want as Many Americans as possible to visit us in person here in the rotunda or at one of the many National Archives across the country. And for those who cant come to us, i want to take the National Archives to them online and around United States. We also have a obligation to help kids who are learning about American History. Civics in, this respect. Our nations report card is deficient. The National Archives should be a first stop for all teachers and students, and we will double down on creating useful, engaging materials for the classroom. Understand American History and government should be treated as an afterthought. And engaged and informed citizenry is a critical for the health of our democracy. And we need to treat it as. These are not ordinary times in our nations history. We are faced with fundamental questions about how we think critically about our shared past. Debate about these interpretations can invigorate our democrat institutions. If executed it respectfully and rationally. However, let not forget our north star, which guides us in all of our spirited exchanges. This, of course, is the declaration of independence, which i tried to visit every day that i come to work this building. It contains perhaps the most audacious statement in the history of the world that all men are created equal. Although this truth is selfevident, we know from our almost 250 years of American History that it is not selfish. Persecuting it is our job to uphold these principles and protect them. I invite all americans to join me. This critical task. Thank you again for being here today. I look forward to working all of you to ensure we meet our obligation to the nation. Thank you. Doctor biden. Chief Justice Roberts. Dr. Show again, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for celebrating what will always be one of the most memorable occasions in your life and ours. This. Our program. We invite you to celebrate with us behind you in the National Archives galleries. Well see you down there. Thank you