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Presidential Precedents 10 Presidential Inaugurations Are Watershed Points in American Library of Congress Magazine Is Issued History

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Presidential Precedents 10 Presidential Inaugurations Are Watershed Points in American Library of Congress Magazine Is Issued History INSIDE PLUS Sharing the Music of A President Made of Butter Rachmaninoff Robert Frost: A Poet’s Perspective Preserving Our National How to Register for Copyright Film Heritage LIBRARY OF CONGRESS MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 PRESIDENTIAL MOMENTS IN INAUGURAL HISTORY PRECEDENTS WWW.LOC.GOV In This Issue JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS MAGAZINE FEATURES Library of Congress Magazine Vol. 2 No. 1: January/February 2013 Mission of the Library of Congress From Russia, with Music 8 A collaboration between the Library and a Moscow museum The mission of the Library is to support the reunites the musical works of composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people. Presidential Precedents 10 Presidential inaugurations are watershed points in American Library of Congress Magazine is issued history. Four such events reflect both the times and the lives bimonthly by the Office of Communications of the men who took the oath. of the Library of Congress and distributed free of charge to publicly supported libraries and research institutions, donors, academic libraries, Preserving ‘These Amazing Shadows’ learned societies and allied organizations in 16 The National Film Registry of the Library of Congress the United States. Research institutions and celebrates its 25th year of identifying films of cultural, educational organizations in other countries may historical or aesthetic significance. The inauguration of James Buchanan at the Capitol arrange to receive Library of Congress Magazine on March 4, 1857, was the first to be captured using on an exchange basis by applying in writing the new technology of photography. John Wood, Papers to the Library’s Director for Acquisitions and of Montgomery C. Meigs, Manuscript Division Bibliographic Access, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington DC 20540-4100. LCM is also available on the web at www.loc.gov/lcm/. All other correspondence should be addressed to the Office of Communications, Library DEPARTMENTS of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington DC 20540-1610. ON THE COVER: Presidential inaugurations were moved e-mail [email protected] 2 20 from the East Front of www.loc.gov/lcm/ Going to Extremes First Drafts 3 22 the Capitol to the West ISSN 2169-0855 (print) Trending at the Library How Do I...? ISSN 2169-0863 (online) Front for President Ronald 4 23 Technology at the Library Favorite Places Reagan in 1981, facing James H. Billington 5 24 the great National Mall. Online Offerings Around the Library Librarian of Congress They have been held there 5 25 Gayle Osterberg For You at the Library News Briefs ever since, including this Executive Editor 6 26 one, for President Barack Page from the Past Shop the Library Audrey Fischer Obama on Jan. 20, 2009. 7 27 Editor Curators Picks Support the Library Photo | Susan Walsh, 28 Associated Press / Corbis John H. Sayers Last Word Managing Editor Ashley Jones Designer Cecelia Rogers Photo Editor Contributing Writers CONNECT ON Erin Allen Barbara Bair Twitter: Flickr: The plaster bust of President Thomas Jefferson in the Library’s Great Sheryl Cannady @librarycongress flickr.com/photo/library_of_congress Hall is a copy of a work by the French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon Mark Hartsell YouTube: youtube.com/libraryofcongress Library of Congress blogs: blogs.loc.gov (1741–1828). Carol M. Highsmith, Prints and Photographs Division Michelle Krowl Facebook: facebook.com/libraryofcongress LCM online: loc.gov/lcm Julie Miller Donna Urschel January/February 2013 | www.loc.gov/lcm 1 going TO EXTREMES #trending AT THE LIBRARY CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S BUTTER RED-CARPET CAMPAIGNING THE MOVIES AND POLITICS IT’S A WELL-KNOWN FACT that Theodore often go hand-in-hand—whether it’s films Roosevelt was the youngest president in based on political figures and themes, like “Lincoln,” “Hyde Park on U.S. history. He was 42 when he took the Hudson” and “The Campaign,” all released in 2012—or celebrities making oath of office on Sept. 14, 1901, following political statements or endorsements. William McKinley’s assassination. But A coveted honor for anyone involved in making motion pictures is an few may know that his likeness has been Oscar statuette, presented at the Academy Awards. The 85th annual sculpted in butter no less than four times. Academy Awards airs Sunday, Feb. 24. This annual event often gives a nod The “Rough Rider” was rendered in to politically charged films or provides a platform for honorees to air their butter at the 1898 and 1910 Minnesota views during their acceptance speeches. State Fairs, and two dairy depictions of During the 1975 Academy Awards, with the Vietnam War nearly over, Roosevelt—a portrait bust and a cowboy Bert Schneider—accepting an award for the anti-war documentary on horseback—were on display at the 1904 “Hearts and Minds”—read a telegram from a Viet Cong official thanking St. Louis World’s Fair. Americans for “the liberation of South Vietnam.” After receiving angry Next to cows—the source of the milk- telegrams backstage, host Bob Hope composed a draft based medium—political figures remain disclaimer on the back of a telegram for his co-host a popular subject for butter sculptures at Frank Sinatra to read. A facsimile of the disclaimer, along fairs and expositions. But why was the with other items connecting politics to entertainment, is 26th president so often immortalized currently on view in the Library’s exhibition, “Hope for this way? America: Performers, Politics & Pop Culture.” Roosevelt’s military victories as assistant “All the President’s Men” (1976), the film based on the non- secretary of the Navy and his popular fiction book of the same title by Washington Post reporters presidency might explain it. But he was Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein about the Watergate also a hero in the heartland for preserving scandal, won four Oscars: best supporting actor ( Jason Robards), the purity of butter. His legislative efforts, best adapted screenplay, best art direction and best sound. It was which resulted in the Pure Food and Drug also nominated for best picture. Not only is the film included in Act of 1906 and paved the way for creation the Library’s National Film Registry (see story on page 16), but a FACT: of the Food and Drug Administration, scene from the film was shot in the Library’s Main Reading Room. The Academy of dealt a blow to butter’s French rival— Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein Motion Picture Arts oleomargarine. are shown poring over Library materials as the camera moves and Sciences, which —Audrey Fischer upward to capture the vast expanse of the circular space. administers the Other Oscar-winning films with a political bent included on the registry Academy Awards, is are “All the King’s Men” (1949), best picture, best actor (Broderick one of the Library’s Crawford) and best supporting actress (Mercedes McCambridge); digital preservation Modeled in butter, “The man “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939), best original story; “The on horseback” equestrian statue partners. Manchurian Candidate” (1963), with nominations for best supporting of President Theodore Roosevelt by an anonymous North Dakota actress (Angela Lansbury) and best film editing; and “Young Mr. sculptor was displayed at the Lincoln” (1939), nominated for best original screenplay. St. Louis World’s Fair, 1904. Image copyrighted by C.L. Wasson —Erin Allen is a writer-editor (International View Co.), 1905. in the Office of Communications. Prints and Photographs Division Roosevelt in a candid shot. M.J. LeClerc, 1910. Prints and MORE INFORMATION Photographs Division www.loc.gov/film “Lincoln,” courtesy of Dreamworks Studios; “The Campaign,” courtesy of Warner Brothers Entertainment; “Hyde Park on Hudson,” courtesy of Focus Film; “All The King’s Men,” courtesy of Warner Brothers Entertainment 2 LCM | Library of Congress Magazine January/February 2013 | www.loc.gov/lcm 3 technology AT THE LIBRARY online OFFERINGS PRESERVATION EN MASSE VIETNAM WAR: LOOKING BACK ACID-FREE PAPER IS COMMON TODAY, BUT FOR MORE THAN 100 FIFTY YEARS AFTER IT BEGAN, the Vietnam War YEARS, BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS WERE PRINTED ON ACIDIC remains part of the nation’s collective consciousness. PAPER, WHICH YELLOWS, TURNS BRITTLE AND FALLS APART WHEN For the veterans who served during this era, this EXPOSED TO LIGHT, HIGH HUMIDITY AND AIR POLLUTION. conflict has particular meaning. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Vietnam War, the Veterans History Project (VHP) in an effort to The deacidification process treats acidic paper in the Library of Congress is highlighting a series extend the life and utility of its collections for with an alkaline agent to neutralize the existing of collections from this era. The first two of several future generations, has been deacidifying millions acid and prevent further decay. The treatment installments titled “Vietnam War: Looking Back” of books and manuscripts. Programs started increases the lifespan of a book or paper from 300 are accessible online. These interviews represent in 1995 for bound volumes and in 2002 for to 1,000 years, depending on the condition of the a wide variety of branches, service locations, and manuscripts. item when treated. Karel Richardson, military roles; collectively, they illuminate the a materials handler, Books go to Cranberry, Pa., for treatment, PTLP has worked with the Library to make dramatic—and ongoing—effects of the war on Preservation Division, and manuscripts get their alkaline bath in the improvements. It has refined the magnesium those who participated. monitors the de- acidification tank as it James Madison Building on Capitol Hill. The oxide; enclosed the overall system, thereby saving Congress created the Veterans History Project in fills with magnesium work at both sites is performed by Preservation expensive carrier solution; and improved the 2000 to collect, preserve and make accessible the dioxide fluid.
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