David mccullough library.., p.566
David McCullough Library E-book Box Set, page 566
World War I service of
at Young farm
zinc-mine venture of
Truman, J. C. (nephew)
Truman, John (great-uncle)
Truman, John Anderson (father)
businesses and jobs of
character and appearance of
as farmer
financial misfortunes of
houses and farms of
illness and death of
politics as interest of
Truman, John Vivian (brother)
birth of
death of
HST’s hiring of
marriage of
Truman, Lawrence
Truman, Luella Campbell (sister-in-law)
Truman, Margaret (aunt)
Truman, Margaret (daughter), see Daniel, Mary Margaret “Margie” Truman
Truman, Martha Ann (niece)
Truman, Martha Ellen “Mattie”; (mother)
accident of
character and appearance of
Chiles and
death of
eviction of
failing health of
farm mortgages of
hernia operation of
HST’s automobile and
HST’s buying back farm of
HST’s letters to
HST’s war service and
as influence on HST
Margaret’s singing and
marriage of
piano of
pneumonia of
stroke of
surgery of
Washington visit of
Truman, Mary (aunt)
Truman, Mary Jane (sister)
birth of
character and appearance of
farm run by
HST’s letters to
HST’s relationship with
HST’s war service and
letters from
Truman, Mary Jane Holmes (grandmother)
Truman, Mary Martha (aunt)
Truman, Ralph (cousin)
Truman, William (great-grandfather)
Truman, William (uncle)
Truman & Jacobson
Truman Balcony
Truman Committee (Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program)
appropriation for
atomic bomb and
camp construction investigated by
corporations investigated by
dollar-a-year men opposed by
Roosevelt and
staff of
steel plate production investigated by
Truman Doctrine
Acheson’s role in
aid to Greece and Turkey in
as continuation of historic U.S. policies
HST’s speech to Congress on
leadership demonstrated in
1948 campaign and
Progressive Party’s denunciation of
Truman Library, see Harry S. Truman Library
Truman Merry-Go-Round, The(Allen and Shannon)
Truman Story, The
Truman-Wheeler Bill
Trumbull, John
Tubby, Roger
Tully, Andrew
Tully, Grace
Tunney, Gene
Turkey
British aid to
Soviet Union and
U.S. aid to
Turner, Roy J.
Turnip congress
TVA, see Tennessee Valley Authority
Twain, Mark
Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution
Twyman, Dr.
Twyman, Elmer
Tydings, Millard
Tydings Committee
Tyler, John
unemployment
Union Army
Union National Bank
unions, see labor, labor unions
Union Station Massacre
United Mine Workers
United Nations (U.N.)
Atomic Energy Commission of
Charter of
Korean War as action of
Palestine issue and
San Francisco Conference on
Security Council of
United Nations Association
United Press
United States
United States Relations with China: With Special Reference to the Period 1944–1949
United Steel Workers
Urey, Harold
U.S. News and World Report
U.S. Steel Corporation
V-l rockets
Vaccaro, Tony
Vaile, Harvey
Vandenberg, Arthur
character and appearance of
as former isolationist
Lilienthal and
Vandenberg, Hoyt
Vardaman, James K. “Jake,” Jr.
Vaughan, Harry
character and appearance of
on HST’s eyeglasses
s HST’s military aide
J. Edgar Hoover and
pearson’s attack on
at Potsdam
self-importance of
Senate investigation of
senatorial staff position of
Vaughan, Samuel
Veatch, N. T., Jr.
Versailles Treaty (1919)
veterans:
aid to
black
garden parties for
GI Bill and
housing for
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Vietnam
Vietnam War
Vinson, Fred M.
special mission planned for
Vivian, John
Volkogonov, Dmitri
Vrooman, Howard
wages
Wage Stabilization Board
Waggoner, William
Wagner, Robert
Wagner Labor Relations Act (1935)
Wainwright, Jonathan M.
Wake Island Conference (1950)
Walker, Frank
Walker, Kay
Walker, Walton
Wallace, Carrie
Wallace, David, suicide of
Wallace, Frank
Wallace, Fred
Wallace, George
Wallace, Helen
Wallace, Henry A.
character of
China trip of
HST’s firing of
as presidential candidate
Progressive Party of
speech fiasco and
as Vice President
as vice-presidential candidate
Wallace, Madge Gates
death of
HST’s residence at house of
Margaret’s singing and
Wallace, May Southern
Wallace, Natalie Ott
Wallace, Natalie
Wallgren, Monrad C.
Wall Street Journal
Walsh, David I.
Walsh, Edmund A.
Walsh, Jerome
War Department, U.S.
see also Defense Department, U.S.
War Mobilization
War Powers and Stabilization Act (1942)
War Production Board
Warren, Earl
Washington, George
Washington Evening Star
Washington News
Washington Post
Washington Press Club
Washington Star
Washington Times-Herald
Wasson, Guy
Wasson, Yancey
waterways proposal
Watson, Edwin “Pa,”
Weathers, James
Webb, James
Weizmann, Chaim
Welch, Casimir
Wells, Louise
West, J. B.
West Germany (German Federated Republic)
Westminster College
West Point:
cheating scandal at
HST’s aspirations to
HST’s views of
Westwood, Mike
Wharton, Edith
Wheeler, Burton K.
Wherry, Kenneth Spicer
Whistle-stop Campaign
White, Grace
White, Wallace H.
White, Walter
White House
balcony added to
bomb shelter in
collapsing structure of
entertaining at
as haunted
Public tours of
renovation of
television tour of
Whitman, Alden
Whitney, A. F.
Whitney, Albert
Whitney, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Whitney, Courtney
Whittier, John Greenleaf
Wickard, Claude
Wiley, Alexander
Wilhelm, Warren F.
Wilkins, Fraser
Willa Coates Airport
Willard, Daniel
William Jewell College
Williams, Herbert Lee
Williamsburg
Willis, Raymond
Willkie, Wendell
Wilson, Arthur
Wilson, Charles E.
Wilson, Ellen
Wilson, Francis M.
Wilson, Ida
Wilson, R. P.
Wilson, Woodrow
Winant, John G.
Winchell, Walter
Winslow, Lorenzo
Wise, Stephen
Wolf, Agnes Strauss
women’s vote
Wonderful Town
Woodham-Smith, Cecil
Woodward, Isaac
Woodward, Sara
Woodward, Stanley
Wooldridge, Glen
Woolf, S.J.
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
World War I
HST’s service in
World War II:
aftermath of
aid to European Jews in
atomic bombing of Japan in
Battle of Britain in
Big Three conferences in see Potsdam Conference; Yalta Conference
Churchill’s history of
civilian control of military in
demobilization after
division of Korea in
end of
HST’s sudden responsibilities in
Manhattan Project in
mobilization for
Nazi attack on Soviets in
Nazi-Soviet Pact and
1944 presidential campaign and
Roosevelt’s death and
Senate probe of spending in, see Truman Committee
vice-presidential selection and
war agencies developed for
WPA (Works Progress Administration)
Wright, Fielding L.
Wyeth, Andrew
Xenophon
Yale University
Yalta Conference (1945)
Yalta Declaration
Yeager, Chuck
York, Alvin
Young, Ada (aunt)
Young, Brigham
Young, Ed
Young, E. Merl
Young, Elizabeth (aunt)
Young, Harriet Louisa Gregg (grandmother)
death of
Lane and
will written by
Young, Harrison “Harry” (uncle)
character and appearance of
death of
Lane and
Young, Hiram
Young, Jacob (great-grandfather)
Young, Laura Jane (aunt)
Young, Loretta (Mrs. E. Merl Young)
Young, Rachael Goodnight (great-grandmother)
Young, Sarah Ann, see Chiles, Sarah Ann “Sallie” Young
Young, Solomon (grandfather)
death of
farms of
Kansas City exile of
slaves owned by
wagon-train expeditions of
Young, Susan Mary (aunt)
Young, William (uncle)
Younger, Coleman
Younger, Henry
Yugoslavia
Z Committee
Zeisler, Fannie Bloomfield
Zemer, Leslie
Zhukov, Georgi
Zionist Organization of America
Zionists
see also Palestine
Photo Credits
SECTION 1
Harry S. Truman Library: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 32, 37, 39
Library of Congress: 8, 35
U.S. Army: 19
Joe Pruett Collection: 25, 27, 28
Kansas City Star: 29, 30, 31
AP/Wide World: 33
UPI/Bettmann: 34, 36
Chicago Sun-Times: 38
SECTION 2
Harry Goodwin, Washington Post: 1
Independence Examiner: 2
Abbie Rowe, U.S. National Park Service: 3, 11, 20
U.S. Army: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
U.S. Navy: 5, 14
Harry S. Truman Library: 10
Photo World/ FPG/International: 12, 22
AP/Wide World: 13, 25, 27
UPI/Bettmann: 15, 17, 19, 21, 24
Copyright Washington Post; Reprinted by permission of D.C. Public Library: 16
Kansas City Star: 18
Courtesy Selby Kelly: 23
St. Louis Globe-Democrat: 26
SECTION 3
U.S. Overseas Mission: 1
Harry S. Truman Library: 2, 6, 14
Copyright Washington Post; Reprinted by permission of D.C. Public Library: 3, 5, 16
UPI/Bettmann: 4, 9, 11
AP/Wide World: 7, 12, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25
U.S. Navy: 8
Abbie Rowe, U.S. National Park Service: 10, 13, 15
Herblock/Washington Post: 18
U.S. Army: 17
Chicago Tribune: 21
Levi Photo: 22
Bradley Smith: 26, 27
Randall Jessee/Harry S. Truman Library: 28
By David McCullough
JOHN ADAMS
TRUMAN
BRAVE COMPANIONS
MORNINGS ON HORSEBACK
THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS
THE GREAT BRIDGE
THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD
Simon & Schuster Paperbacks
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright © 2004 by David McCullough
All rights reserved,
including the right of reproduction
in whole or in part in any form.
SIMON & SCHUSTER PAPERBACKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
The author gratefully acknowledges permission from
W. W. Norton & Company to reprint material from
Edith Hamilton’s The Greek Way.
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
ISBN 0-7432-6783-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-743-55038-3
eISBN-13: 978-1-4516-5825-5
THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MAY 15, 2003
Dr. Cole, ladies and gentlemen, to be honored as I am tonight in the capital of our country, in the presence of my family and many old friends, is for me almost an out-of-body experience. Had someone told me forty years ago, as I began work on my first book, trying to figure out how to go about it, that I would one day be standing here, the recipient of such recognition, I would, I think, have been stopped dead in my tracks.
I’ve loved the work, all the way along—the research, the writing, the rewriting, so much that I’ve learned about the history of the nation and about human nature. I love the great libraries and archives where I’ve been privileged to work, and I treasure the friendships I’ve made with the librarians and archivists who have been so immensely helpful. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my subjects, I feel. The reward of the work has always been the work itself, and more so the longer I’ve been at it. And I’ve kept the most interesting company imaginable with people long gone. Some I’ve come to know better than many I know in real life, since in real life we don’t get to read other people’s mail.
I have also been extremely fortunate in the tributes that have come my way. But this singular honor, the Jefferson Lecture, is for me a high point, and my gratitude could not be greater.
AMONG THE DARKEST TIMES in living memory was the early part of 1942—when Hitler’s armies were nearly to Moscow; when German submarines were sinking our oil tankers off the coasts of Florida and New Jersey, within sight of the beaches, and there was not a thing we could do about it; when half our navy had been destroyed at Pearl Harbor. We had scarcely any air force. Army recruits were drilling with wooden rifles. And there was no guarantee that the Nazi war machine could be stopped.
It was then, in 1942, that the classical scholar Edith Hamilton issued an expanded edition of her book, The Greek Way, in which, in the preface, she wrote the following:
I have felt while writing these new chapters a fresh realization of the refuge and strength the past can be to us in the troubled present. . . . Religion is the great stronghold for the untroubled vision of the eternal, but there are others too. We have many silent sanctuaries in which we can find breathing space to free ourselves from the personal, to rise above our harassed and perplexed minds and catch sight of values that are stable, which no selfish and timorous preoccupations can make waver, because they are the hard-won permanent possessions of humanity....
When the world is storm-driven and the bad that happens and the worse that threatens are so urgent as to shut out everything else from view, then we need to know all the strong fortresses of the spirit which men have built through the ages.
In the Rotunda of the Capitol hangs a large painting of forty-seven men in a room. The scene is as familiar, as hallowed a moment in our history as any we have.
John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence[shown on the cover of this book] has been a main attraction on Capitol tours for a very long time, since 1826. It draws crowds continuously, as it should, every day—from three to five million people a year. It’s probably been seen by more Americans than any painting ever—and the scene as portrayed never took place.
Trumbull said it was meant to represent July 4, 1776, and that’s the popular understanding. But the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4. The signing began on August 2, and continued through the year as absent delegates returned to Philadelphia. No formal signing ceremony ever took place.
The scene comes closer to portraying June 28, when Thomas Jefferson submitted his first draft of the Declaration. But then, too, there was no such dramatic gathering.
The room is wrong, the doors are in the wrong place. The chairs are wrong. (They were Windsor chairs of the plainest kind.) There were no heavy draperies at the windows. The decorative display of military trophies and banners on the back wall is purely Trumbull’s way of dressing the set.
Yet none of this really matters. What does matter greatly—particularly in our own dangerous, uncertain time—is the symbolic power of the painting, and where Trumbull put the emphasis.
at Young farm
zinc-mine venture of
Truman, J. C. (nephew)
Truman, John (great-uncle)
Truman, John Anderson (father)
businesses and jobs of
character and appearance of
as farmer
financial misfortunes of
houses and farms of
illness and death of
politics as interest of
Truman, John Vivian (brother)
birth of
death of
HST’s hiring of
marriage of
Truman, Lawrence
Truman, Luella Campbell (sister-in-law)
Truman, Margaret (aunt)
Truman, Margaret (daughter), see Daniel, Mary Margaret “Margie” Truman
Truman, Martha Ann (niece)
Truman, Martha Ellen “Mattie”; (mother)
accident of
character and appearance of
Chiles and
death of
eviction of
failing health of
farm mortgages of
hernia operation of
HST’s automobile and
HST’s buying back farm of
HST’s letters to
HST’s war service and
as influence on HST
Margaret’s singing and
marriage of
piano of
pneumonia of
stroke of
surgery of
Washington visit of
Truman, Mary (aunt)
Truman, Mary Jane (sister)
birth of
character and appearance of
farm run by
HST’s letters to
HST’s relationship with
HST’s war service and
letters from
Truman, Mary Jane Holmes (grandmother)
Truman, Mary Martha (aunt)
Truman, Ralph (cousin)
Truman, William (great-grandfather)
Truman, William (uncle)
Truman & Jacobson
Truman Balcony
Truman Committee (Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program)
appropriation for
atomic bomb and
camp construction investigated by
corporations investigated by
dollar-a-year men opposed by
Roosevelt and
staff of
steel plate production investigated by
Truman Doctrine
Acheson’s role in
aid to Greece and Turkey in
as continuation of historic U.S. policies
HST’s speech to Congress on
leadership demonstrated in
1948 campaign and
Progressive Party’s denunciation of
Truman Library, see Harry S. Truman Library
Truman Merry-Go-Round, The(Allen and Shannon)
Truman Story, The
Truman-Wheeler Bill
Trumbull, John
Tubby, Roger
Tully, Andrew
Tully, Grace
Tunney, Gene
Turkey
British aid to
Soviet Union and
U.S. aid to
Turner, Roy J.
Turnip congress
TVA, see Tennessee Valley Authority
Twain, Mark
Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution
Twyman, Dr.
Twyman, Elmer
Tydings, Millard
Tydings Committee
Tyler, John
unemployment
Union Army
Union National Bank
unions, see labor, labor unions
Union Station Massacre
United Mine Workers
United Nations (U.N.)
Atomic Energy Commission of
Charter of
Korean War as action of
Palestine issue and
San Francisco Conference on
Security Council of
United Nations Association
United Press
United States
United States Relations with China: With Special Reference to the Period 1944–1949
United Steel Workers
Urey, Harold
U.S. News and World Report
U.S. Steel Corporation
V-l rockets
Vaccaro, Tony
Vaile, Harvey
Vandenberg, Arthur
character and appearance of
as former isolationist
Lilienthal and
Vandenberg, Hoyt
Vardaman, James K. “Jake,” Jr.
Vaughan, Harry
character and appearance of
on HST’s eyeglasses
s HST’s military aide
J. Edgar Hoover and
pearson’s attack on
at Potsdam
self-importance of
Senate investigation of
senatorial staff position of
Vaughan, Samuel
Veatch, N. T., Jr.
Versailles Treaty (1919)
veterans:
aid to
black
garden parties for
GI Bill and
housing for
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Vietnam
Vietnam War
Vinson, Fred M.
special mission planned for
Vivian, John
Volkogonov, Dmitri
Vrooman, Howard
wages
Wage Stabilization Board
Waggoner, William
Wagner, Robert
Wagner Labor Relations Act (1935)
Wainwright, Jonathan M.
Wake Island Conference (1950)
Walker, Frank
Walker, Kay
Walker, Walton
Wallace, Carrie
Wallace, David, suicide of
Wallace, Frank
Wallace, Fred
Wallace, George
Wallace, Helen
Wallace, Henry A.
character of
China trip of
HST’s firing of
as presidential candidate
Progressive Party of
speech fiasco and
as Vice President
as vice-presidential candidate
Wallace, Madge Gates
death of
HST’s residence at house of
Margaret’s singing and
Wallace, May Southern
Wallace, Natalie Ott
Wallace, Natalie
Wallgren, Monrad C.
Wall Street Journal
Walsh, David I.
Walsh, Edmund A.
Walsh, Jerome
War Department, U.S.
see also Defense Department, U.S.
War Mobilization
War Powers and Stabilization Act (1942)
War Production Board
Warren, Earl
Washington, George
Washington Evening Star
Washington News
Washington Post
Washington Press Club
Washington Star
Washington Times-Herald
Wasson, Guy
Wasson, Yancey
waterways proposal
Watson, Edwin “Pa,”
Weathers, James
Webb, James
Weizmann, Chaim
Welch, Casimir
Wells, Louise
West, J. B.
West Germany (German Federated Republic)
Westminster College
West Point:
cheating scandal at
HST’s aspirations to
HST’s views of
Westwood, Mike
Wharton, Edith
Wheeler, Burton K.
Wherry, Kenneth Spicer
Whistle-stop Campaign
White, Grace
White, Wallace H.
White, Walter
White House
balcony added to
bomb shelter in
collapsing structure of
entertaining at
as haunted
Public tours of
renovation of
television tour of
Whitman, Alden
Whitney, A. F.
Whitney, Albert
Whitney, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Whitney, Courtney
Whittier, John Greenleaf
Wickard, Claude
Wiley, Alexander
Wilhelm, Warren F.
Wilkins, Fraser
Willa Coates Airport
Willard, Daniel
William Jewell College
Williams, Herbert Lee
Williamsburg
Willis, Raymond
Willkie, Wendell
Wilson, Arthur
Wilson, Charles E.
Wilson, Ellen
Wilson, Francis M.
Wilson, Ida
Wilson, R. P.
Wilson, Woodrow
Winant, John G.
Winchell, Walter
Winslow, Lorenzo
Wise, Stephen
Wolf, Agnes Strauss
women’s vote
Wonderful Town
Woodham-Smith, Cecil
Woodward, Isaac
Woodward, Sara
Woodward, Stanley
Wooldridge, Glen
Woolf, S.J.
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
World War I
HST’s service in
World War II:
aftermath of
aid to European Jews in
atomic bombing of Japan in
Battle of Britain in
Big Three conferences in see Potsdam Conference; Yalta Conference
Churchill’s history of
civilian control of military in
demobilization after
division of Korea in
end of
HST’s sudden responsibilities in
Manhattan Project in
mobilization for
Nazi attack on Soviets in
Nazi-Soviet Pact and
1944 presidential campaign and
Roosevelt’s death and
Senate probe of spending in, see Truman Committee
vice-presidential selection and
war agencies developed for
WPA (Works Progress Administration)
Wright, Fielding L.
Wyeth, Andrew
Xenophon
Yale University
Yalta Conference (1945)
Yalta Declaration
Yeager, Chuck
York, Alvin
Young, Ada (aunt)
Young, Brigham
Young, Ed
Young, E. Merl
Young, Elizabeth (aunt)
Young, Harriet Louisa Gregg (grandmother)
death of
Lane and
will written by
Young, Harrison “Harry” (uncle)
character and appearance of
death of
Lane and
Young, Hiram
Young, Jacob (great-grandfather)
Young, Laura Jane (aunt)
Young, Loretta (Mrs. E. Merl Young)
Young, Rachael Goodnight (great-grandmother)
Young, Sarah Ann, see Chiles, Sarah Ann “Sallie” Young
Young, Solomon (grandfather)
death of
farms of
Kansas City exile of
slaves owned by
wagon-train expeditions of
Young, Susan Mary (aunt)
Young, William (uncle)
Younger, Coleman
Younger, Henry
Yugoslavia
Z Committee
Zeisler, Fannie Bloomfield
Zemer, Leslie
Zhukov, Georgi
Zionist Organization of America
Zionists
see also Palestine
Photo Credits
SECTION 1
Harry S. Truman Library: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 32, 37, 39
Library of Congress: 8, 35
U.S. Army: 19
Joe Pruett Collection: 25, 27, 28
Kansas City Star: 29, 30, 31
AP/Wide World: 33
UPI/Bettmann: 34, 36
Chicago Sun-Times: 38
SECTION 2
Harry Goodwin, Washington Post: 1
Independence Examiner: 2
Abbie Rowe, U.S. National Park Service: 3, 11, 20
U.S. Army: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
U.S. Navy: 5, 14
Harry S. Truman Library: 10
Photo World/ FPG/International: 12, 22
AP/Wide World: 13, 25, 27
UPI/Bettmann: 15, 17, 19, 21, 24
Copyright Washington Post; Reprinted by permission of D.C. Public Library: 16
Kansas City Star: 18
Courtesy Selby Kelly: 23
St. Louis Globe-Democrat: 26
SECTION 3
U.S. Overseas Mission: 1
Harry S. Truman Library: 2, 6, 14
Copyright Washington Post; Reprinted by permission of D.C. Public Library: 3, 5, 16
UPI/Bettmann: 4, 9, 11
AP/Wide World: 7, 12, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25
U.S. Navy: 8
Abbie Rowe, U.S. National Park Service: 10, 13, 15
Herblock/Washington Post: 18
U.S. Army: 17
Chicago Tribune: 21
Levi Photo: 22
Bradley Smith: 26, 27
Randall Jessee/Harry S. Truman Library: 28
By David McCullough
JOHN ADAMS
TRUMAN
BRAVE COMPANIONS
MORNINGS ON HORSEBACK
THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS
THE GREAT BRIDGE
THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD
Simon & Schuster Paperbacks
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright © 2004 by David McCullough
All rights reserved,
including the right of reproduction
in whole or in part in any form.
SIMON & SCHUSTER PAPERBACKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
The author gratefully acknowledges permission from
W. W. Norton & Company to reprint material from
Edith Hamilton’s The Greek Way.
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
ISBN 0-7432-6783-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-743-55038-3
eISBN-13: 978-1-4516-5825-5
THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MAY 15, 2003
Dr. Cole, ladies and gentlemen, to be honored as I am tonight in the capital of our country, in the presence of my family and many old friends, is for me almost an out-of-body experience. Had someone told me forty years ago, as I began work on my first book, trying to figure out how to go about it, that I would one day be standing here, the recipient of such recognition, I would, I think, have been stopped dead in my tracks.
I’ve loved the work, all the way along—the research, the writing, the rewriting, so much that I’ve learned about the history of the nation and about human nature. I love the great libraries and archives where I’ve been privileged to work, and I treasure the friendships I’ve made with the librarians and archivists who have been so immensely helpful. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my subjects, I feel. The reward of the work has always been the work itself, and more so the longer I’ve been at it. And I’ve kept the most interesting company imaginable with people long gone. Some I’ve come to know better than many I know in real life, since in real life we don’t get to read other people’s mail.
I have also been extremely fortunate in the tributes that have come my way. But this singular honor, the Jefferson Lecture, is for me a high point, and my gratitude could not be greater.
AMONG THE DARKEST TIMES in living memory was the early part of 1942—when Hitler’s armies were nearly to Moscow; when German submarines were sinking our oil tankers off the coasts of Florida and New Jersey, within sight of the beaches, and there was not a thing we could do about it; when half our navy had been destroyed at Pearl Harbor. We had scarcely any air force. Army recruits were drilling with wooden rifles. And there was no guarantee that the Nazi war machine could be stopped.
It was then, in 1942, that the classical scholar Edith Hamilton issued an expanded edition of her book, The Greek Way, in which, in the preface, she wrote the following:
I have felt while writing these new chapters a fresh realization of the refuge and strength the past can be to us in the troubled present. . . . Religion is the great stronghold for the untroubled vision of the eternal, but there are others too. We have many silent sanctuaries in which we can find breathing space to free ourselves from the personal, to rise above our harassed and perplexed minds and catch sight of values that are stable, which no selfish and timorous preoccupations can make waver, because they are the hard-won permanent possessions of humanity....
When the world is storm-driven and the bad that happens and the worse that threatens are so urgent as to shut out everything else from view, then we need to know all the strong fortresses of the spirit which men have built through the ages.
In the Rotunda of the Capitol hangs a large painting of forty-seven men in a room. The scene is as familiar, as hallowed a moment in our history as any we have.
John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence[shown on the cover of this book] has been a main attraction on Capitol tours for a very long time, since 1826. It draws crowds continuously, as it should, every day—from three to five million people a year. It’s probably been seen by more Americans than any painting ever—and the scene as portrayed never took place.
Trumbull said it was meant to represent July 4, 1776, and that’s the popular understanding. But the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4. The signing began on August 2, and continued through the year as absent delegates returned to Philadelphia. No formal signing ceremony ever took place.
The scene comes closer to portraying June 28, when Thomas Jefferson submitted his first draft of the Declaration. But then, too, there was no such dramatic gathering.
The room is wrong, the doors are in the wrong place. The chairs are wrong. (They were Windsor chairs of the plainest kind.) There were no heavy draperies at the windows. The decorative display of military trophies and banners on the back wall is purely Trumbull’s way of dressing the set.
Yet none of this really matters. What does matter greatly—particularly in our own dangerous, uncertain time—is the symbolic power of the painting, and where Trumbull put the emphasis.
