Following us on twitter at booktv or facebook, facebook. Com booktv. Booktv 48 hours of nonfiction books and authors, television for serious readers. Now were going to kick off this weekend with author Jesse Hollins talk about the lives of slaves in the white house. Ill begin by saying that im delighted to welcome Jesse Hollins as he presents his second book invisible young story of africanamericans in the white house. Hollins is a highly Media Authority who has contributed hundreds of articles of aron american history, politics, news, and makes regular appearances on washington journal. Abc news now, using egg exchange and political reporter for Associated Press and one of the Supreme Court correspondents and in his first black black men built the capitol he pointed out structure, monuments including capital statue u of freedom and latest offering he has his focus on extense and historically overlooked role of an africanamerican that played in the history the white house. Of our first 12 president s of our country ten were slave owners. Each brought slaves with them to the call toll. Here he represents experiences of these men and families and 1600 pennsylvania and profile early chief executive attitudes towards race. Bryson author of its a black, white thing praises hollins for making visible, courage, expertise and fort tiewt calling them a contribution it a complete history of our complex nation, one that is worth savoring. And publishes for answering many hard historical questions and revealing how little tribute has been given for the contribution of enslaved person to the normal functioning of our early american institutions. Without further pause i present Jesse Hollins. [applause] good evening everyone. Say everybody about the snow [laughter] im so glad to actually be here tonight. This is actually going to be my first time talking in public about this book. I made a couple of presentations to friends, and even it a group of peers. But this is first time im taking this film on the road basically, and a little nervous. But im glad everyone actually came out to sit and listen tonight. Well as you already heard the tights of the book is the invisibles untold story of africanamericans in the white house and its a project ive been working on since 2008, 2009. It actually started out as an idea i had while i was writing on the campaign bus of then senator barack obama. We had we were back if in chicago where he had gone for a weekend, a weekend stay at his housing. And i remember sitting on the campaign bus and thinking what am i going to write next . I had just finished up my first bock called black men built the scoi africanamerican history in and around washington d. C. And i knew i wanted a followup. And everyone was talking about the historic Barack Obama Campaign if he wins, he would be the first black president. Hed be the first africanamerican president to live inside the white house. And i knew there was something there but i couldnt put my hands on it. I sat there and thought an thought. And then it hit me. Part of what had i did in any first book was talk about howive slays helped build u. S. Capitol in the white house. And then my mind went a little further. Well if they helped build the white house, then may must have helped the White House Run because those president s slave holders in their home plantation they didnt stop when they moved to washington. They must have brought some of them with them. There had to be a sorry there. That meant that barack obama wouldnt be the first black man to live in the white house. He would just be the first president. But no one knew who these people were. And i i knew i had right then and there thats what i was going to write about the slaves who lived in the who i say. White house. After i had that i remember being so excited that i had this idea. I remember calling my ed or to and saying this is what i want to write. This is what i want to do. She said calm down. Make sure it is something that you think is worthy of spending time on. After i wrote my first book i knew i wanted to become better at writing book so i actually went back up to college and made this people here. Yeah. And so the invisibles started out as my thesis so ive been working o on this since i entered in 2012 and came out in 2012, and the thesis is frankly the first part of the book and i kept writingen on it or for a couple of year. I would to acknowledge here one person by the way before i go any putt because all of the time i took wring this book would have been imonl if not for the support of my wife carol is sit right there none of this none of this would exist without her. But what the book does, invisibles, i hope restores some of the dignity that these people lost through their circumstances. They were slaves of the u. S. President. But everyone though they lived at the most famous address in the United States, very little is known about their lives. And even to this day, motion most of what we learn about them coming from what other people thought. Because to the people in their times, they were property. They werent worth recording their lives werent worth recording outside of ledgers, letters, so hopefully what this does is bring the a little bit of that dignity back to them. There are a couple passages froe book i want to read to you tonight. And ill start with this one. Over the last few weeks theres been a curfuffle about a Childrens Book in the publishing world about George Washingtons slaves there was a Childrens Book that was going to be published called a birthday cake for George Washington. This was a book that was going to talk about how happy two of George Washingtons slaves were for making a birthday cake for George Washington. And as you might might not be surprised people werent very happy about the fact that they were going to write the book about how happy these people were to be enslaved and a birthday cake for George Washington. Well when i heard about this, im like wait a minute. I know that name. That person that they book ftion going to be about was a slave named hercules. Hercules was one of these white house slaves that i write about. And i want to read you a little bit about him because as you can see from the reading hercules wasnt very happy to be a slave. To set this up, George Washington never actually lived inside the white house. He live inside executive mansion in both new york and philadelphia. And this at this time period George Washington is getting ready to end his second term of president. And hes hercules is with him in the executive mansion in the president s house which is still will in philadelphia so ill pick up there. Hercules was a clear favorite of the washington family. Who described him in glowing ternals for years afterward. Quote, he was a dark brown man, little if any. On usual side yet possess of such muscular power to entitle him to be compared with his name sake of fabulous history. Set upon him, upon the death, Martha Washington ordered that hercules be given three bottles of rum to bury his wife and skills and discipline in the kitchen were legendary. This quote, the chief cook gloried in the cleanliness and nicety of his kitchen under his iron discipline. Woe to his underlean. Respect, respond to be discovered on the table or dressers or if utensils did not shine like polished silver. Offended these particulars, there was no arrest or punishment for judge in execution went handinhand he said. Because of his skills hercules got privileges other slaves could only dream of. They were tickets to see a play in the southwest threat or or and spectacular acrobatics at the circus according to account bocks. Herk lose allowed to on his own business in philadelphia and keep the money he made. Slaves sold the kitchen slop, leftover foods like animal skins, used tea leave and rendered tallow not used in the president s meals to outsiders to make money of his own. Apparently with the washington familys blessing. And for a slave who was unused to having any money of his own, herk hercules Side Business was one or two hundred declares year. They reported, what did hercules do with his money . He decided that he was tired of the clothes that washington provided him and went out and purchased all new clothes of his own. His, quote, his linen was unexception whiteness and waistcoat shoes polished with large buck covering a part of the foot. Velvet collar a long wap chain dangling from his fog, a cuffed hat an gold headed cane completed the grand costume of the celebrated dandies. For there were dandies if those days of the president s kitchen he said. Herk hercules became known or for his wardrobe and stroll proudly down the streets of philadelphia to see and be seen. Many were not surprised on beholding such extraordinary a personage while others who knew him would make a formal and respectful bow. That they might receive and return the salute of one of the most polished gentleman ins various dandy of nearly 0 60 years ago. They said, devolted him to the top of the Slave Society and in the eyes of the White American society. Theres a portrait believed to be of hercules by stiewrk same art white house did the most famous painting of George Washington. Hercules gave it across history, quote, a large cinnamon colored man in e mac lack chef white and a toke saying Jessica Harris author of the welcome table. Africanamerican heritage cooking. But despite his fancy clothes, and woundous Culinary Creations for the president , with hiss family an their bests. Hercules was still a slave one of the frequent back and forth trips to mowbt vernon required to ensure that its philadelphia slaves never became free. And then only judge escaped from the white house that changed washingtons attitude toward his beloved slaves. They had loyalty to thaib master and hercules tried to quell any doubt that washington had about whether he was thinking about following judges example according to lear, washingtons secretary in 1791. Quote, some day i presume somebody i presume insinuated to him that the motive for sending him home so long pfer you was expected there was to preskt has taking advantage of a six month resident many in this place. When he was possessed of this idea he appeared to be extremely unand and although he made not the least objection to going, yet he said he was mortified to the last degree that it could be entertained of his fidelity. So much he was touched that left no doubt his sincerity and to show him that there was no apprehension of that kind entertained of him knew that washington told him that he should not go to that time but remain into the expiration of six months and then go home to prepare for your arrival there. Hes continued here till this time and tomorrow takes us us departure for virginia. And then there was richmond herculess son was clearly not a fan of washington. 14 when he cam to philadelphia richmond lasted one year and sent back to mount vernon in 1971 and washington got his first i inkling he might not bes content in captivity as he thought. Richmond caught stealing money at mount vernon in november 1796 according to a letter washington september while the president was w apping up his affairs with pfltd. Washington clearly hoped that hercules had nothing to do request it but decided to just incase slave cook was concocting something with its son, quote, i hope richmond would make an example of for robbery he committed on. I wish he may not have put upon it by his father although i had no i had any us pis of honesty of the lat for the purpose of a journey together, washington said in a letter to william pearce, on november 14th, 1796, quote, this will make a watch. With it being suspected by or of them, necessary, nor would i have suspicion to communicate to any other less it produce more harm than good. Richmond was demoted to simple laborer. But now washington was worried about herk lose so during final months in pfltd when he sent his slaves back to mount vernon to ensure they stayed his property he ordered that herk hercules left behind when it took time back to philadelphia. This had to have come to a shock by now become accustomed to city life. Herk hercules suddenly found himself that november in the course linen and woven of a field slave. Washington ordered him place out in the field with the other slaves digging clay for 100,000 bricks. Spreading dung, grubbing bushes and smashing stones into sand to coat houses on the property. According to farm reports and a november memo from washington farm manager qoapt that will keep them out of idleness and mischief, washington wrote. By february hercules had had had enough. Before dawn on february 22nd, 1797 slaves chef made its break of freedom from mount vernon. Interestingly enough, hercules chose George Washington 65th birthday as the day his escape. Perhaps hoping that the festivities around the president celebration would mask his disperns or perhaps thinking that anyone who saw him out in ohm roads would assume that well known chef was schismly out for curing an item for washingtons party. Regardless of reasoners herculessen play was successful. He simply vanished with no no one the wilder. Theres not been found any evidence of a man hunt or even acknowledgment. Weekly farm recover discovered recently by mount vernon historian mary b. Thompson says hercules abskonded so maybe getting stuff for that birthday cake. Thfsz what life was really luke when people very trying to write a book saying that George Washington slaves were happy to be there and glad to be bake him a birthday cake. Well, you know, i dont think hercules is very happy to be there. There are stories like this all throughout the white house slaves. A lot of them were victims of circumstance and they were born into slavery. A lot of them didnt like it. And made the best of the circumstances as they could. Thats not to say everyone who every slaift who worked in the white house wasnt happy. Most of them werent. There were exceptions, though. Out of all of the slaves lives ive looked at in the white house, there was at least one person i found who actually wouldnt escape even when given a chance. He decided that it was better to be a slave in the white house than to be free. And i want to read you a little bit about him. This is someone named a lyrics alias pope. Because of his popularity after jane polks death we know a little bit more about his life outside of the white house. He was born in North Carolina in 1805 and moved to tennessee when he was just a baby. Pope would brag for rest of his life that he encountered every president from John Quincy Adams through grover cleeferld include Andrew Jackson who made a great impression on the young slave, quote, it was his delight all his life to tell how famous sol orier noticed him. General jackson thought that kernel pope live newspaper wrote in later life when he was ready to leave and around for his horse a great gray magnificent animal. Reared back in his majestic way and putting his hand in his pocket pulled out a six and four pen that he gave the 7yearold fellow. Pope was given to the future president when he was a 12yearold child and james polk was headed to college after serving as a valet and body servant he became a tradition of driving his master to washington, d. C. During his political career. And staying it in the capitol with him. Having spent his had entire adult life with pope he became very attached and wouldnt leave even when given the chance. While on his way to washington for the first time as president , they were riding onboard steam board china had it docked in sins gnat tree and a group of ab abolitionists and asked if e they have them onboard because their intent was to free them. A friend of polk went to the president elect to tell the president elect what was happening. And sent back this message wish you to know his coachman and coachmans wife are at present he thinks eating their dinner. He say that youre at perfect liberty to interview them and offer them whatever inducements you luke. He says further more that should his servants wish to go with you, they are free to go. But according to author aromo slaves were not ready to go expecting to be hailed as delivering angel and thanked with shouts of hallelujah, praise the lord they were first bewildered and then irate. They could not persuade the pair to leave their master he said in the book the president and the anything and could have a complete ugg u uncle tom a black man more in love with captor than the idea freedom he he proved over and over where his loyalties were even with a chance given to be free. Quote, television custom to drive his master in his carriage to washington. The first journey was made in 1826 when james k. Polk elected member of congress on one of these trips after the tennessean had become president , a nooght was spent at wilkes bar pennsylvania, when had he was getting his horses ready, several white men approached him and asked him if he didnt know he was free. They told him he was in a state where a man cannot be held a slave and all he had to do was leave and his master couldnt do a thing. Quote do you think i want to go back on the president that way . No sir. You dont know me. Id sooner die than run off. The president happened to be near and heard this. He was greatly pleased and the next day surprise his fateful valet by spag of him and told him wherever he wanted his freedom he could have it. Polk wouldnt hear of it and stayed with the president for the president s entire life. Quote he was always a trusted and faithful servant said polk. So as you can see there were at least one person [laughter] who at the white house slaves and wouldnt take freedom even when it was offered to him at least twice. [laughter] but the majority of these men and women didnt want to be there. This was their life. This is what life handed them and they maded best out of the life they could have had. Part of the reason why i got into this project is because these peoples lives were truly invisible. We didnt know anything about them. We didnt know where they came from or fi