Would like to welcome everyone here to the installation of the 14th secretary of the smithsonian, lonnie bunche. People here are associated with the smithsonian in one form or another, work at the smithsonian or on a board so forth . Ok. How many came to the smithsonian as a child . Ok. How many think the smithsonian is the most unifying organization in washington . [laughter] ok. [applause] so, we can all use a little unification. The nationals do a pretty good job, but nothing, nothing is as good as the smithsonian. There is nobody that doesnt like the smithsonian. And that is true because of so much of the work all of you have done. Let me acknowledge the presence of our congressional regents who are here, senator lahey, congresswoman matsui. Thank you very much for coming. And let me acknowledge the presence of our regions and former regions who are here. Thank you for all you have done to make the smithsonian such a strong organization. I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Museum Directors and Research Directors as well. Thank you for everything you have done. I would like to thank all of you who are otherwise connected to the smithsonian, for coming to this important historic event. This has only happened 14 times in our countrys history. We have had 45 president s, but only 14 smithsonian secretaries. I will let you judge which is more important. [laughter] the most important people i would like to recognize in front of me are a few people some of you may not know. Two of them are the daughters of lonnie bunch. Could they stand up, the daughters of lonnie bunch . Could they stand up . [applause] thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And Lonnie Bunchs brother . [applause] and the most important person, Lonnie Bunchs mother. [applause] thank you very much. So we are all here today for an incredible event that all of us has waited for for some time, the installation of somebody we all love. You will hear more about him in a moment from steve case, my successor, and i hope all of you will feel that today was a very historic day for lots of reasons that will be apparent soon, and you will feel this is something well worth your time, to be here. Now i would like to have the , academic procession begin with the Smithsonian National honor guard. [silence in the room] [footsteps] david ok. I would like to thank our leaders of the various parts of the smithsonian for getting out their academic gowns. [laughter] if you have an academic gown, you usually only get to wear it to commencement. We wanted everybody to amortize their use. [laughter] so thank you for getting those out of your closets and wearing them. One final comment. I think Everybody Knows the smithsonian is a unique institution. It has essentially no people anywhere in the United States that dont like it, and people around the world love it. But think how close it came to never actually existing. As some of you may know, James Smithson died, and in his will he left money to the United States to create an institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge, whatever that meant. And that is the conventional story, and that is true. But what was in his will was this. He left all of his money to his nephew, and only if his nephew did not have any children, would the money revert back to James Smithsons estate and then go to the United States for this institution. What is the likelihood that his nephew, who was in his 20s at the time, would never have children . Well, i think his nephew decided this institution was more important than his having children. [laughter] so he died with no children, ensuring this institution would be started and would prosper. So i want to thank James Smithson, and his nephew, [laughter] for making it possible for this institution to start. Thank you. [applause] please welcome senior curator from the smithsonian american art museum, dr. Eleanor harvey. [applause] dr. Harvey good afternoon. On behalf of the over 6000 Staff Members and equivalent numbers of volunteers and interns at the Smithsonian Institution, i offer you, secretary lonnie bunch, a warm greeting and our congratulations. Many of us know you, some of us quite well, and as such, we greeted the announcement of your appointment as the 14th secretary with enthusiasm and joy. It has been over 60 years since the smithsonian was officially led from within. You are one of us. Over the course of your distinguished career, you have been a curator, scholar, educator, administrator and a museum director. With your background in the humanities, you bring a different perspective to the leadership of the smithsonian, one that spans multiple disciplines and is reflected in the multifaceted mission of the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture, a museum that brings together the arts, history, culture, and the sciences, a kind of microcosm of the breadth of the institution that you know now lead. It is that breath that defines James Smithsons otherwise nebulous desire for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. In your various roles here at the smithsonian, you have encountered all of us, from capital leadership to curators, Research Scientists and historians, to the men and women who protect of the collections, maintain the buildings and grounds, and the multitude of people who support every department in every location at every level. That provides you with a head start on grappling with the complexity of this organization. We hope that your years of experience at the National Museum of American History at the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture will ease the inevitable learning curve associated with your new position as its secretary, because with our enthusiastic support for you comes high expectations. [laughter] the smithsonian is more than the sum of its parts. Separately, we are the Worlds Largest collection of museums, libraries and Research Centers. We have expanded dramatically from the institutions origins, but the concept of one smithsonian, a kind of E Pluribus Unum for the institution is still on the horizon. Together we have the capacity to harness our very strengths and provide an unparalleled opportunity to fulfill the smithsonians mandate. We stand at a moment where truth or expertise are sometimes questioned. The smithsonian exists to champion those qualities. To uphold our mission requires a shared commitment to use our reputation and resources to be a voice for knowledge, knowledge derived from firstclass research, groundbreaking publications, compelling exhibitions and robust outreach through our Educational Programs and our worldwide digital presence. We believe we are in good hands under your leadership, and look forward to your vision for the smithsonian. Thank you. [applause] host please welcome the vice chair of the smithsonian board of regents, mr. Steve case. [applause] steve good afternoon. I want to introduce one person. David rubenstein is awesome with his introductions, but he skipped on one this time, and it is an important one. Lonnie was getting squeamish in his seat. [laughter] i would like you to welcome somebody lonnie met 40 years ago, his wife, maria. [applause] im honored to serve as the next chair of this Great Institution, truly delighted to be part of the festivities as we officially install lonnie bunch as the 14th sec. Of the smithsonian. I look forward to working with secretary bunch to work on the smithsonians storied past while helping to usher in a more glorious future. As lonnie has said so well, it is all about balancing tradition and innovation. It starts with celebrating this institutions amazing history, particularly as we head to our 175th anniversary, and being appreciative of all that is amazing about the smithsonian. But it is also about dreaming of new possibilities for the smithsonian. Imagining an institution that can have greater reach, greater relevance, and greater impact. It is about envisioning a smithsonian that is more digital to reach more people in more places, more agile so we can experiment more frequently and get things done more quickly, and more collaborative, so we can live up to the promise of that great african proverb, if you want to go fast, you can go alone. But if you want to go far, you must go together. And together, create an institution where, just like this great nation, the whole can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. A great example of these ideas coming together is the american womens initiative, uniting as one smithsonian to tell the often hidden stories of women who have played a pivotal role in our country and our world. As we think about the next chapter for the smithsonian, our aim is clear, we seek to move this Great Institution forward by creating a more virtual smithsonian, more entrepreneurial smithsonian and a more networked smithsonian. Some say this expensive vision for theive vision smithsonian is a tad unrealistic, suggesting it will be hard to move such a complex organization, with so Many Disparate parts and constituencies come into the future. But we will see about that. I am reminded just this week of the saga of the washington nationals. Just [laughter] just six month ago, the experts said the nats had a one point 5 chance of winning the world series. In other words, a 98. 5 chance they would lose, but they beat the odds and won, and tomorrow the city will celebrate the nats willing to stay in the the fight and achieve what most thought was unachievable. [applause] i am also reminded that when lonnie bunch set out to build a new museum, he had no money, no collection and no site. Most people said it was a fools errand indeed, the title of his book. But lonnie didnt listen to doubters, he assembled a coalition of the willing, believers, and moved forward, and that museum now sits proudly across the mall as a testament to the possibilities of the seemingly impossible. [applause] so the bottom line is this. There is no better person to help the smithsonian be more virtual, more agile, more collaborative, to lead the way forward and do the impossible, than lonnie bunch. Indeed, lonnie has the potential to be the most transformative secretary in the smithsonians 172year history. Lonnie knows and loves the smithsonian and is loved and trusted by the 7000 people that make up the smithsonian. He is the perfect leader to strike the right balance, as we seek to celebrate what next the smithsonian so special today, while we strive to lean into the future, creating the smithsonian of tomorrow. But much as i have a tough act to follow succeeding David Rubenstein as chair in january, lonnie has a tough act to follow as well, succeeding david skorton. David put the Strategic Plan in place, leading a 1. 9 billion dollar capital campaign, and strengthening leadership of the smithsonian, in part by insisting on more inclusive recruiting. David was a very strong advocate for lonnie to succeed him as secretary. The smithsonian board conducted a very wide search, talking to hundreds of people, but ultimately we landed were david predicted we would, selecting lonnie bunch as the next secretary. We were sorry to see david lead us but also grateful for his service to this event sony and in the country, and also thankful that he only moved across the mall. So we still get to see him from time to time, including this afternoon. So please join me in welcoming back the 13th secretary of the smithsonian, david j. Skorton. [applause] david speaking of a fools air errand, they told me i was supposed to talk about what it takes to make a secretary of the smithsonian. I feel silly, but i will tell you what i think anyway. The number one thing it takes to be secretary of the smithsonian is love. Love of learning, love of inquiry, love of the truth, love of staff, love of the willingness to look beyond what we think we know right now. It also takes humility. Folks, i hope you dont mind im really talking to lonnie here. Lonnie, the staff will keep you humble and if there are days when the staff doesnt get the job done, the regents will jump right in. [laughter] it also takes enormous curiosity. It takes unending, unslakable thirst for knowledge, and always wondering the answer to the next question. There is never a final answer to anything. There is only a slight journey a half a step to the next question. Courage is important. As was mentioned, we are in an age right now where there is some decrying of the facts and science and the truth. And lonnie, one of your many, many attributes for this job is that you have never shirked from finding the truth, sharing the truth and being motivated by the truth. Finally, i want to go back to the issue about love. As David Rubenstein said eloquently, as he always does about everything, the smithsonian is in fact a unifying presence, not just for the city of washington or new york and the other places we have professionals, but for the whole country. All of our differences, all our various stripes go away once people cross our thresholds. And you have done, in the various parts of this smithsonian you have served so well and led, done a terrific job of making sure that when people cross that threshold, they know they are in for Straight Talk and truth, and some love as well. That was the first question. The second question was, they said please do the proverbial passing the baton remarks. I looked through the collection of 155 million objects, and there is no baton that is supposed to go from secretary to secretary. [laughter] i thought about this and asked my wife, and she said, it is just figurative, you idiot. So figuratively speaking, im going to pass the baton to you. I have had great joy of passing batons to people in many different positions i have held over decades. I have never had an easier want one to pass than the one i am passing today. Lonnie, you are the genuine article, and i think you know this i mean this sincerely, i think you will be the standout secretary of the 14. I believe you will get it done, you are the genuine article, and we are so, so lucky and happy to have you here. Consider the baton passed. [applause] now i want to get something off my chest. I have the floor, so there isnt much you can do but listen. It has to do with charlie young, the music director of the smithsonian jazz masterworks orchestra. Charlie asked me when i first became secretary to sit in with the group. I rehearsed with him for one hour before the performance. He gave me two numbers, i played the first one, did the solo, said, charlie, what do you think . Charlie is head of the mental jazz program at howard university, teacher a professor. , he said, yeah, you did fine, like that. I did the second one and i said, how did i do, charlie . And he said, well, the performance is tomorrow. Lets put it this way. You keep practicing, we will pray for a miracle. [laughter] that is exactly what he said. Said, you have to introduce the jazz masterworks orchestra. Charlie has apparently lost my cell phone number, because he has not called me back to appear with them. Charlie, it is [gives phone number] and besides your difficult attitude, you are my hero as a music director and alto sax player. It is an honor for me to introduce the septet. Worldclass collections, scholarship, concerts, exhibitions and programs, the smithsonian jazz masterworks orchestra explores and celebrates the American Experience through the transformative power of one of the real, original art forms to come from this country, and that is jazz. Jazz is a very important bridge between our nations identity, our shared history, and our communities. And we are committed to stewarding this connection for all audiences. I hope this is accurate, charlie, but i have been told the performance will be gregory is here, by horace silver. Members of the smithsonian jazz masterworks orchestra. Enjoy [applause] [septet performing] [applause] david some of you may be wondering how you get to be selected as secretary of the smithsonian. Anybody here wonder about that . Some of you may be saying 25 years from now, maybe i would like to be secretary of the smithsonian. How do you get selected . I cant tell you what will happen in 25 years, when lonnie is probably finished in 25 years being secretary. But let me tell you how we selected lonnie. My successor is an extraordinarily wellqualified person to be chair of the smithsonian board. Steve has been a terrific regent and i appreciate his willingness to step into this role. It is a highly paid position. [laughter] and there are no challenges to it. Steve, thank you for doing it. [applause] my hair was completely dark when i took that position. [laughter] we had a Search Committee, and i want to make sure people know how this came about. We had a Search Committee. Steve, as my likely successor and i thought we should chair it because we were leaders of the Smithsonian Institution, but we had a very Diverse Group of 11 people on the committee. How many people on the Search Committee are here . Raise your hand. Thank you for your service on the Search Committee. We met many, many times in steves office and liked doing it because he served very good food and we gained a little weight. But we interviewed many good people, outstanding people. And almost anybody we interviewed could do a reasonably good job, but it was clear lonnie was the best. Everything he had done before in his career was terrific. There was one problem. The problem was, his wife worked at the smithsonian. And he had always told me, his wife was the boss. [laughter] so how could lonnie be secretary of the smithsonian and be boss of all the employees there, if his wife was the boss . We debated that and decided that she could be the boss most of the time. Thank you for what you have done. [applause] for those who are not that familiar with the smithsonian, we have nine citizen regents and six congressional regents. But we also have the Vice President of the United States and the chief justice of the United States, and the chief justice serves as a chancellor and is really in control. There are no 54 votes among the nine. [laughter] everything is unanimous. When the chief says, this is what he wants done, we recognize he has ultimate authority. And we are pleased. The chief justice of the United States, i always look up to the looked up to the chief justice when i was younger. I got disappointed when the chief justice was younger than me, which john roberts is, what i look up to the chief justice, he is an extraordinary legal talent. In any generation there is an extraordinary legal talent that comes along, summa cum laude at harvard, harvard law review editor, a clerk for judge friendly on the second circuit, one of the finest judges of his generation, clerked for Justice Rehnquist on the supreme court, worked at the justice department, white house, d. C. Circuit court of appeals, and picked at the age of 50 to be chief justice of the United States. And taking his responsibilities very seriously, he comes to every single meeting he is supposed to, runs the meeting, and could not be a better chancellor. We are privileged to have him serve as chancellor. I would tell you one story. I did an interview of the chief in front of members of congress and asked, did you always want to be chief justice of the United States . He said, when i was growing up, i didnt think about it. No, i really didnt think about it. And did you want to be justice of the court at all . No i wasnt thinking about it. Did you want to be a judge of any type . No. What about a lawyer . No, i didnt want to be a lawyer either. Well, what did you want to be . I wanted to be a historian. All i cared about was history. My father said, john, that is nice and you will read a lot of a lot of books people probably wont read, lead a may be very boring life. Are you sure you want to be a historian . And he said, that is what i care about, history. John went off to harvard college, which he graduated from in three years. While he was there, he came back for spring break one time and landed at Logan Airport in boston and said to the cabdriver, can you take me to cambridge . The cabdriver said, are you a student at harvard . Yes, i what are you majoring in . Am a. Majoring in history. The cabdriver said, when i was a student in harvard, that is what i majored in also. [laughter] so john thought maybe his father had some good ideas there. He did stay as a history major, but he did think law may be might be a good profession. Our country is much better off for his having been a lawyer and a great justice of the super court. He would have been a great historian as well, but it is my privilege and honor to introduce the 17th chief justice of the United States, john roberts. [applause] chief Justice Roberts thank you, very much. I think i would have been a good cabdriver too. Lonnie bunch, at the opening of the africanamerican museum of history and culture, scheduled me to give remarks after a musical performance by stevie wonder. [laughter] apparently, this is an ongoing tradition with lonnie, to appear after a very moving musical presentation. Let me add my welcome to all the members of the smithsonian community. It is an honor to be here. With distinguished guests, on what really is a momentous occasion. The installation ceremony today is our formal recognition of the Smithsonian Institutions new secretary, an individual who has made the institution his calling and his home. Lonnie bunch earned the title of secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by rising to the the ranks of historians and museum professionals, including three prior stents at the smithsonian, first as an educational specialist, then as a curator at the museum of africanAmerican History, and most recently as founding director and driving before us behind the reagent of force behind the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Lonnie has earned renown for his tireless work in creating that special place on the mall, a place with a high purpose of telling stories of the africanAmerican Experience that all americans need to know. Lonnie has grown accustomed to referring to the africanAmerican History and Culture Museum is simply, the museum, an understandable habit, and one i know he is trying to break now that his responsibilities reach many museums in addition to that special place. In that regard it is important , to recognize that lonnie brings to the secretarys office handson experience in the daytoday work of employees throughout the smithsonian, employees who are the foundation of the institutions success. We all know that lonnie has already done much to further the smithsonians mission for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Today he receives the reward for his tireless and successful hard work, a call from the regents that he do more. By unanimous vote we have placed our trust in lonnie g. Bunch iii to be the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Secretary bunch, i have the privilege of presenting you with a ceremonial key. Prior secretaries have held this key in turn, as each secretary labored to make the smithsonian greater still. I know the key will have significance for you. I have heard the story of how, when you were appointed to lead the creation of the new museum, you went to inspect your office space and found the door locked. [laughter] through the applied force of your new jersey ingenuity and a borrowed crowbar, you managed to open that door. [laughter] i am sure you have relied on your determination and Life Experience to figuratively open many doors, for yourself and others. Our hope is that this key will remind you that we are entrusting you, like your distinguished predecessors, with the responsibility to open the smithsonians doors to new visitors, to new ways of visiting the smithsonian, to new learning, to new ideas. And perhaps the key will also remind you that if you find any doors locked, please just call the building manager. [laughter] we will charge you for any damage. [laughter] and we join you with pleasure and great anticipation on a continuing journey forward toward an even stronger, more vibrant and engaging Smithsonian Institution. Congratulations, mr. Secretary. [applause] [crowd cheering] secretary bunch man, this is a long way from jersey. [laughter] just want to make sure you all know, i am not ralph bunch. [laughter] dear colleagues, members of the board of regents, distinguished guests, and that rowdy group of my cousins over there, [laughter] thank you all for joining us, joining me to share this special moment. Because, as you know there is no , place i love more than the smithsonian. Let me thank chief Justice Roberts, chancellor of the smithsonian. You have been a fervent supporter of this institution, and your steady leadership has made us stronger. Thank you so much for that. To members of the board of regents, i am humbled and think thankful for your confidence and support, and for entrusting me with this amazing institution at what i believe is a time of great possibility. While this is a time that we should look forward, as a historian i cant help but think back and revel in the memories of the events and the people that have shaped this journey. I think so much about a trip my i think so much about a trip my family took, going to visit my mothers family from new jersey to her family in North Carolina in the mid1960s, when everybody was celebrating the centennial of the civil war. As we passed museums and battle sites in virginia and North Carolina, i begged my father to stop, but he had kept driving, we had to get gas. On the way back, i asked him to stop again, and he just found reasons not to. And rather than go straight home, we turned into washington dc. He pulled in front of the smithsonian, and he said to me, you could visit the smithsonian and not worry about being turned away for the color of your skin. I have never forgotten that moment, which told me the smithsonian was a special place, that the smithsonian was a sight site of knowledge and education, that the smithsonian was a place that welcomed all to learn, to marvel, to imagine, an institution where anyone, regardless of who they were, could become something more than who they had been. I could never have imagined that a temporary job that was only supposed to last six months at the national air and space museum would lead me to a calling and a career. I was so fortunate to work with so many gifted colleagues at the museum of American History and be part of the team to found the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. But, candidly, i am at a loss, i am humbled at this moment, this culmination of this unexpected and unlikely journey. Who would believe, i worked for six secretaries, and now i am one . [laughter] especially in the early days, i never even knew the smithsonian had a secretary. [laughter] it is really humbling to be here. And obviously i have to thank my family. My daughters on this journey who had no choice but to come with us. My wife maria, who knew more about museums than i ever will, and especially my mother. Mom, thank you for being here, who taught me to believe not only in myself, but to believe in this country. [applause] i am at this moment because of the many amazing colleagues here at the institution who mentored me, who challenged me, who embraced me. I recognize i am standing on the shoulders of too many people whose names i cant mention, but i am standing on the shoulders of people like solomon brown, who was here in the 19th century as an africanamerican, working for almost 50 years at the smithsonian. I stand on the shoulders of john cunard, and lou parnell, one of the first curators of the air museum. Air and space museum. And i am here because of someone who knew nothing about museums, and hired them. And i am here because of my dear friend, the 13th secretary of the smithsonian, dr. David skorton. Thank you, david. [applause] a long and proud history undergirds the smithsonian. As a historian, i appreciate the weight of this legacy. Well we should read back and revel in the past we must never , be trapped by our traditions, the smithsonian has always been a forwardlooking institution, a site to shape, capture and share innovation with our audiences. We supported early experimentation in rocketry. We developed the forerunner for the National Weather service. We helped the nation understand and celebrate its bicentennial. We worked to save coral reefs, and recently captured the firstever image of a black hole. I am deeply proud of this legacy, but i am even prouder about the work that is yet to come. I have always been moved, impressed by the productivity of my colleagues, from our worldclass exhibitions and collections, from our pioneering environmental and scientific research, to our preservation of Cultural Heritage and our innovative education and audiencedriven initiatives. It is an impressive portfolio. But imagine our impact if we worked as one smithsonian, that allowed us to rise above our silos to find common, collaborative ground that amplified our impact. I was struck during a recent visit to the smithsonian astrophysical observatory in cambridge, that wonderfully powerful image of the black hole was only made possible i collaborative effort to get telescopes from countries around the world pointed for a single moment on a single issue, to be able to create that image. I want the smithsonian to have those laser focuslike moments to allow us to leverage our assets, to be transformative capitalize on our strengths and , rethink our possibilities, and work to be that evolving, innovative, 21st century institution. When we value the contributions from every corner of this is ,ony and of the smithsonian when we think and act creatively about crossing boundaries when , we use our resources to the fullest potential, man, we are so transformative. And through that transformation, the smithsonian can have greater relevance and a more profound impact that is such a great part of our Strategic Plan. I echo something steve said. It is essential we develop the virtual smithsonian that complements and amplifies our collection, our expertise, our exhibitions in a way that was in a way that was unimaginable , just a few years ago. Through this robust digital strategy, we should aim to touch every home and be in every school in america. Everyone should have the opportunity to explore the wonder of the smithsonian, and even if they never come to washington, that shouldnt be a barrier. We should be much more aggressive and strategic in using important resources like the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition service, and the wonderful partners we have through the affiliates program. Thus the smithsonian moving forward virtually and traditionally, can reach millions. It is important that we continue our efforts to make the smithsonian even more relevant in a world full of challenging issues and partisan debates, our gifted researchers may curators contextualize, bring reason and bring knowledge that speaks directly to contemporary issues, such as the social impact of changing technologies, climate change, shifting notions of culture and national identity, and even more. Ultimately we should provide our audiences with tools that help them navigate the challenges of this vastly evolving world. One of the areas or i think we can make one of the greatest contributions is in education, marrying Digital Access coupled with strong educational and programmatic offerings housed in our museums and Research Centers. We can contribute mightily to the challenge of providing equal and effective education to all our children. I have been moved by things we already do, by the smithsonian learning lab, where teachers can find the resources to allow them to create and curate their own materials. And im intrigued by the collaboration with the district of columbia public schools, that will become a model i hope, for museum and Committee Partnership heard ultimately, i believe the smithsonian will always be a place of lifelong learning, but we must contribute everything we can to improve the lot of those kids from prek to 12. We must find ways to use our expertise to ignite wonder and spark the joy of learning. In the last few months, i have been often asked, what do i envision for the smithsonian . The key to my success the key to our success will be if we, and i emphasize we, if we come of smithsonian, can build on this legacy to become an institution that this country deserves and needs. We, the smithsonian, will be a Research Driven audience centered institution committed to contributing to the greater good. We, the smithsonian, will be that hub of learning and innovation that will bring together Diverse Voices to grapple with the key contemporary challenges of today. We, this is sony and, will be the place that america looks to to understand itself, their history and their world. We must be the glue that holds the nation together. We, the smithsonian, must become much more comfortable working outside of our silos, reaching across museums and Research Center boundaries to maximize our creativity and our impact. And we, this is sony and, must be a more nimble organization that embraces innovation as the key to understanding the 21st century. We, the is sony and smithsonian, must strike the balance between tradition and innovation, using technology to expand our reach and vision that we are to reach places we have yet to imagine. We must be open and accessible. We must be an institution that allows every person regardless of race, age, gender, background or ability to experience the wonders and joys of this smithsonian. The smithsonian. Ultimately we will be an that makes our country stronger. An institution not just visited and venerated, but valued for our contributions to the community and nation we serve. Let me continue as i began, by looking back. In 1852, the smithsonian refused to let the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass speak in the smithsonian. When he was asked, did he despair for this country, for the racial issues that divided us, he said, my hopes were never brighter. His optimism came from a belief in america, in their institutions, and most importantly, in their ability to change. Today, we are here speaking in a place as an africanamerican where Frederick Douglass could not speak, but we are a different institution. We have made great changes and continue to do so. Nothing is impossible. I ask you today, to join me in sharing his optimism for the future. To realize that we, the smithsonian, can bring to the nation and to the world the richness of understanding, the resources to meet our challenges, and the courage to make lasting change for the benefit of humanity. With your support, as douglas wrote, my hopes are never brighter than they are now. Thank you all for a day i will treasure. Thank you for trusting me in the institution we all love. Thank you so much. [applause] please welcome member of the board of regents committee. Lavizzomourey good afternoon. The first time i met lonnie, it was obvious he had not only vision, but the knowing of the why and how our people should celebrate its people. You probably dont remember, but we met at least the construction site for the National Museum for the africanAmerican History and culture. In the trailer that used to be the gate. It was a rainy, cold morning. And we all put on hardhats to walk through the museum, stepping over cords and makeshift flooring as we listened to lonnie tell us about the various artifacts he had collected. It was clear to me that he had a vision not only of where they would be placed, but cords and makeshift be placed, but a reverence for them and for the people that had represented those artifacts. Wewe were enthralled to listen to you as you described how you are particularly excited about the Southern Railway car that was soon to arrive right from renovation, crated and was going to be seated right where we would explore segregation. And the museum will be built around it. The rest of the museum on that day, this small group got to see and experience your vision and a bit of you. Just is much larger group as this much larger group has gotten to see your vision today. We also got to hear why you saw the smithsonian to be the very heart and soul of this country. I must say, as we are sitting here, this venue is a little more comfortable than that venue was at that time. The smithsonian tells the stories of our ancestors. Whether our ancestors are from millions of years ago, thousands of years ago, a few hundred years ago, or just a few generations ago. Its it strives to tell the stories of all of our ancestors. The stories he wants to hear, as well as the stories you often tell us we need to hear. Because its all of those its all of those stories that have gotten us to where we are today. In his book, secretary bunch describes hearing this truth from a man in a houston airport as he completed his ritual of getting his shoes shined before he got on the plane. We all have a quirk or two. On that day, this man, who had just signed his shoes, gave him a donation of nine dollars, and instructions to tell the story of his ancestors in a way that would make him proud and all of us proud. Lonnie has a vision for the smithsonian that it will strengthen the connections and respect that all of us have for one another. As people of this remark about country. Remarkable country. He is doing that by invoking and exploring the connections and respect between us through the arts and humanities, just as museums have done over time. Without those connections and respect, it is difficult to use the science, history, knowledge, the very tools of the smithsonian to converse and confront difficult issues of the day. The best part of the smithsonian and lonnie gets this, it is the power to inspire and spark curiosity in all of us, but especially our children. You heard him talk about the impact the smithsonian had on him as a child. I get this. It has become a tradition for me and my family, for my grand daughter and me, to spend her spring break here at the smithsonian, with thousands of other energetic, enthusiastic and loud children. [laughter] its a wonderful experience. I always leave exhausted. But also, hopeful about the future. Lonnie knows how to harness this hopefulness along with an eloquence and a compassion that motivates us all to continuously make the institution better. Lonnie, you are now officially installed as the leader of the entire smithsonian. Let me close with a quote from one of my favorite books. It is called bless this space between us. It is a book of lessing, of poems, by John Odonoghue that this one has to do with leadership. May the gift of leadership awaken in you and keep you mindful of the providence that has called you to serve. As high over the mountains as the eagle spreads its wings, may your perspective be larger than the view from the foothills. Readou have the wisdom to time clearly and no when the seed of change will flourish. May you know the wisdom of deep listening, the healing of wholesome words, the encouragement of unappreciative gaze. May leadership be for you a true journey of joy and growth. Congratulations. Me in welcoming back to the stage mr. Kenny lattimore. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise, remain standing
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