All the way down. Can you hear me . Good evening. Thank you, paul. And were delight partner with the Bryant Park Corporation and Oxford University press on this exciting series. Tonights program will be followed by question and answer session and a book signing, so please do join in for both. Im really delighted this evening to welcome author and historian fergus bordewich. Hes the author of six nonfiction books. Hes published and written childrens books and written the jefferson pbs documentary. Hes a regular contributor to Smithsonian Magazine mainly on subjects in 19th century American History and his articles have appears in many magazines and newspapers including the new york times, the wall street journal and american heritage. His new book americas great debate explores the way in which slavery distorted american democracy in the years leading up to the civil war. David Levering Lewis is one of the countrys most distinguished historians of the civil rights movement. Hes the Juli
Ok if you do not vote this year. What about you . Do you think americans are up against vote come especially this year . 2027488000 for democrats. 2027488001 for republicans. 2027488002 for independents. If you want to give your media on social here are the opeds in the obligation of voting. No, you do not have an obligation to vote. One thing you commonly here, it is your civic duty to vote. Argue thatable to people have a fundamental moral duty to vote. Reason the pages of magazine. Daily kos, voting is not a personal choice, it is a. Cial obligation again, your thoughts this morning on voting and if the act of voting is an obligation. You may agree with the thoughts expressed or disagree with them. Democrats, call in at 2027488000. Republicans, 2027488001. Independents, 2027488002. The pages this morning take a look at Donald Trumps campaign, toing a look at his efforts support Bernie Sanders. , you thoughts on voting as an obligation. We start in Washington State this morning. Demo
Many things have changed since the first graduation speech i gave you are. On this very spot in 1970. Er the electric typewriter was cutting edge technology. And Paul Mccartney was about the same age taylor swift is today. There are still some things that never go out of style. Paul mccartney is one of them. I hear you had tie die davis. I heard you had tie die day this year, in 1970, every day was tiedyed day. In 2016 the team brought home the Illinois State championship. Congratulations. And on may 29 of both years the cubs were in first place in their division. [applause] heres hoping 2016 works out better than 1970 did. Most important its every much as big a thrill and an honor to speak at your graduation. The foirs of the kind basis of person i am today. I owe this place a lot. Of course, i didnt know it at the time. Thisyou, i sat on graduation field. Like today the sun was shining brilliantly. The future stretched out in front of us with what seemed like endless possibilities. A
The speaker at the graduation at the hill state graduation was Supreme Court Justice Clarence thomas. Justice thomas does not speak that often in the court. What was your chief consideration in terms of having him speak there . What was your motivation . I know he doesnt actually like to do things like that. I have been reluctant to ask him. But he is often top of the list of our senior class. So this year, they talked me into it. Maybe you are hurting his feelings by not asking him. I accused them of sauces him but i did write the letter i sophism, but i did write a letter. Was it the first time you had requested him to speak before the school, wheteher in a graduation setting or otherwise . Larry he spoke at my inauguration in 2000. He taught here for a week one time, here for another occasion. This was the first time i asked him for commencement. It will be a very long time before i can ask him again. What do you think the graduates learn most from Justice Thomas . What did they get
Ant mohammed ali was incredible man. Tim kaine says he was an inspiration worldwide and his contribution to sports and athletes were invaluable. Yarmuthtative john writes, i am just one of the many in louisville, whose heart aches for the loss of my friend. And, congressman Keith Ellison has this to say on twitter, mohammed ali was much more than enough it for me, he was an inspiration. He was the recipient of the insidential medal of freedom 2005. That event. Rtion of say thet bush when you greatest of alltime is in the room, everyone knows who you mean. To make. Laim as mohammed ali once said, it is not bragging, if you can back it up. [laughter] up. Man backed it erom the day when th gold medal at the 1968 olympic games, we all knew there was Something Special about this young fighter from louisville, kentucky. In his record including 37 knockouts hardly begins to tell the story. Future, fans of students of boxing will study the films and some were even try to copy his style. Defy i