4 Drew Gilpin Faust Speaks on Civil War Book

Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust, president of Harvard University, met with Society Summer 2008 members and other special guests at a private cocktail-buffet reception prior to her Issue 6 book lecture on Wednesday, January 9, 2008. Following the reception, Faust deliv- ered a talk on and signed copies of her recent highly acclaimed book, This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War. Faust, a Virginia native who grew for The National Archives up visiting Civil War battlefields, became Harvard’s first female president last year. Her book, which is a study of the American struggle to comprehend the meaning and treatment of death during the Civil War, has since become a best-seller on the Society New York Times nonfiction list as well as on Amazon.com. Board member John Zentay, right, and wife Diana, left, visit A few weeks after her lecture, Faust again visited the Archives to consult on the with Adrienne Dominguez and Shannon Brigham-Hill. Author and Historian James McPherson Civil War exhibition that will open in 2010. n Earns Foundation’s Highest Honor Cokie Roberts Entertains With 2008 Gala Co-Chairs Distinguished Civil War historian and the Civil War and Reconstruction, which continued from page 3 Stories About Historical Ladies Pulitzer Prize-winning author James won the Anisfield-Wolf Award in Race Broadcast journalist, best-selling author, and a full-time volunteer and PTSA president in McPherson will be honored at the Relations, and For Cause and Comrades: Foundation for the National Archives Society the Montgomery County, Maryland school sys- Foundation’s annual black-tie Gala on Why Men Fought in the Civil War, and Board member Cokie Roberts joined tem. She and Foundation board member Bitsey September 16th as the recipient of the which was awarded the Lincoln Prize. Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein Folger worked together on a major project to 2008 Records of Achievement Award. McPherson also served as a historical for a May 7, 2008, American Conversation and raise funds to renovate the library for the J.O. The annual award recognizes an consultant on the 1993 motion picture book signing following the release of Ladies of Wilson Elementary School in Washington, DC. individual who has played a major role Gettysburg, the 1990 public television Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation. Butler vividly remembers the day Tom in increasing the public’s understanding documentary The Civil War, by Ken Society members and other distinguished sup- Wheeler introduced him to the Archives of the National Archives, our nation, Burns, a Society and Board member, and porters began the evening with a private cock- and the concept of the National Archives and its history. Previous recipients, the 2001 documentary Abraham and tail reception with Roberts in the Archivist’s Reception Room. Guests were Experience, an ambitious educational initiative who are now honorary members of the Mary Lincoln: A House Divided. n entertained by her stories of researching and writing what she called “the other he believed could impact thousands of young Society, include historians John Hope half of history” – the tales of the determined and passionate women who people. Butler was “hooked.” He not only Franklin and David McCullough, helped shape a fledgling nation and laid the groundwork for a better society. joined the Foundation board, but also worked Following the reception, Society members joined a full house in the William with friends from The Boeing Company to help broadcast journalist Tom Brokaw, and G. McGowan Theater to hear more from Roberts. The Archivist, who joked ensure that the flagship of the NAE, the learn- C-SPAN Founder and Chief Executive Albaugh. The evening will begin in the Save the Date! with Roberts throughout the program, ended by asking whether she would ing center, would have a secure future – thereby Brian Lamb. William G. McGowan Theater with the like to comment on the current presidential contest. As expected, the politi- fostering, once again, key values of his family The Gala, made possible by the gen- screening of a tribute film highlighting Event: Foundation for the National Archives Annual Gala and Records of Achievement cal commentator for ABC News and senior news analyst for National Public and childhood – learning and public service. n erous support of The Boeing Company, McPherson’s career. The film, produced Award Ceremony Radio responded with a huge smile and a firm “No!” n is an annual favorite of Society mem- by the Foundation for the National When: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 bers who, along with other high-profile Archives, includes personal interviews Where: National Archives Building, Washington, DC Washingtonians, historians, and digni- with McPherson’s colleagues and friends. Event: Lincoln Bicentennial Symposium: Members of the Society for the National Archives taries from across the country, are treated McPherson, a Professor Emeritus at “Lincoln and American Values” Bess and Tyler Abell* Dr. John Hope Franklin The Merrill Family Foundation, Inc. Brooke Shearer and Strobe Talbott* to an elegant seated dinner just steps When: Saturday, September 20, 2008 Honey and Lamar Alexander* Cynthia and Ben Guill David Mesker* Albert and Shirley Small* Princeton University, is best known for Where: William G. McGowan Theater Anonymous William and Mary Love Harman* The Lawrence F. O’Brien Family* David and Carolyn Stump from the Archives’ Rotunda, where the his book Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil Michael and Afsaneh Beschloss* Ms. Fruzsina Harsanyi, PhD* Joel I. and Joan Picket* Riley Temple* Event: Charters of Freedom are enshrined, and Exhibit Preview and Reception: Miguel and Jacklyn Bezos Marilynn and John Hill* Richard and Patty Reed Gary and Susanne Tobey War Era, which won the Pulitzer Prize “1783: Subject or Citizen?” Tom Brokaw Mary D. Janney Robert and Wendy Riggs John “Jack” Todd near the Magna Carta display. in 1989. The book, which has sold more When: A’Lelia Bundles* Frank and Cathy Keating* Henry and Bernadette Rivera* In Memory of Lawrence F. O’Brien Thursday, October 2, 2008 Ken and Julie Burns* Mary Lynn and Nicholas Kotz* Cokie and Steven Roberts* Prof. Allen Weinstein, This year’s program will be hosted than 600,000 copies, is credited with Where: Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery Patrick and Donna Butler* Brian P. Lamb Anna Eleanor Roosevelt* Archivist of the United States* Eugene Eidenberg and Anna Chavez* Ken and Pat Lore* Patti and Ronald Rosenfeld* Marvin Weissberg and Judith Morris* by Archivist of the United States Allen bridging the gap between scholars of his- Please Contact Caneil McDonald, Manager Richard A. Eliasberg* David McCullough Philip Rosenfeld Tom and Carol Wheeler* Weinstein, Foundation President Tom tory and the general public. His many of Special Events, at (202) 357-7361 or Jane Fawcett-Hoover* Cappy and Jane McGarr* Howard J. Rubenstein* John and Diana Zentay* [email protected] with any Jerry and Nanette Finger Foundation* David and Kathleen McKean* Deborah and Michael Salzberg* *First name denotes a member of the Board of Directors Wheeler, Gala Chairs Patrick and other books include The Struggle for Nancy Folger and Sidney Werkman* Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. McLarty, III Theodore D. Segal* questions or to RSVP to an event. Donna Butler, and Honorary Chair Jim Equality: Abolitionists and the Negro in 2 Magna Carta Returns to National Archives 2008 Gala Co-Chairs Patrick and Donna Butler 3 Society members and other As a long-time journalist, Capitol Hill educators where he was sur- prominent supporters joined staffer, presidential speechwriter, and media rounded by books and a love of lawmakers, members of the dip- executive, Patrick Butler has met numerous learning. His father often said, lomatic corps, and cultural and well-known figures. Some became clients, “public service is our family civic leaders from around the such as Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, business,” and, by the time Pat Washington, DC, community and Henry Kissinger, and some became Butler left home, he was well- for a private cocktail reception friends, such as Tennessee Senator Howard grounded in this commitment. in the Rotunda Galleries on Baker and actor Cary Grant. Yet, Butler While still in high school, Tuesday, March 11, 2008, to says his most significant meeting occurred Butler took his first job as a celebrate the return of Magna on January 6, 1975, as he stepped out of an reporter for the Chattanooga Carta to the National Archives. elevator at precisely 9 a.m. -- and met the News-Free Press. By age 19, fol- The historic document had woman he would marry. lowing his sophomore year at been displayed at the Archives Today, Pat Butler, senior vice president the University of Tennessee, he for two decades while on loan House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, and Archivist Allen Weinstein and wife, Adrienne Dominguez, right, of The Washington Post Company, and Donna Butler, produc- was covering politics and city hall for The Chattanooga Post. welcome back Magna Carta, along with Foundation Board and Society members Gene Eidenberg and wife from its previous owner, who tion coordinator of Washington Parent magazine, have been During this period, he got to know Senator Howard Baker Anna Chavez, Ken Lore, and Marilynn Wood Hill. sold it at auction last year. married thirty years, have three grown daughters, and lead who encouraged him to go to Washington, and, in 1969, still The March event honored Archivist of the United States Allen his book, The Road from Runnymede: active DC lives filled with professional and volunteer commit- not yet 20, Butler found his way to the nation’s capital. Within David M. Rubenstein, Magna Weinstein and Foundation for the Magna Carta and Constitutionalism in ments. In September, this couple will bring distinction to one six years, he had worked for two members of Congress, and Carta’s current owner, whose National Archives President Tom America. of those volunteer commitments by serving as chairs for the was at the White House writing speeches for President Ford. generosity made possible once Wheeler welcomed the guest of honor As the foundation of English law, Gala evening at the National Archives, where Pat Butler has Butler then went into the private sector for a few years again the public display at the and assisted the philanthropist and Magna Carta, “the Great Charter,” been a Foundation board member since 2002. in senior positions at Bristol-Myers and RCA, and ultimately Archives of one of the most the Chief Justice in a ceremonial was used by America’s founding As a senior executive at the Post Company, Butler is established his own Washington communications consulting important documents in the unveiling of Magna Carta -- one of fathers to articulate individual rights responsible for public policy, new business development, firm. He also served as special assistant to Senator Baker during history of democracy. Society four originals still in existence and and liberties when they wrote the community service, and special corporate projects. He also is Baker’s tenure as Senate Majority Leader, presidential candi- members had the opportunity the only one on display in the United Declaration of Independence, the president of Washington Post Company Productions, where date, and White House chief of staff. to view the 1297 Magna Carta States. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It he supervises non-fiction television programming for PBS and In 1985, Butler returned to news media as a Washington and to mingle with dignitaries, The evening continued with is now on public display, next to the cable networks. (Butler and fellow Foundation board member vice president of the Los Angeles-based Times Mirror including Speaker of the House a special tribute program in the Charters of Freedom, in the Archives’ Ken Burns are producing a documentary on the Medal of Company, where he was a founder of what became the Pew of Representatives Nancy Pelosi William G. McGowan Theater featur- West Rotunda Gallery. n Honor for broadcast on PBS this fall.) Research Center. He left Times Mirror in 1991 to join the and Chief Justice John Roberts. ing A.E. Dick Howard, who discussed Butler grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in a family of Washington Post Company, where, among other things, he chaired PCS Action, a consortium of companies that helped launch the digital wireless telecommunications industry. Former First Lady Barbara Bush Reflects on Being Wife, Mother of Presidents Meanwhile, he found time on weekends to earn a Master’s ous stories about her relationship with then Russian degree in journalism and public affairs at American University, When Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein hosted an American President Boris Yeltsin. At the end of their discussion, where he later taught graduate courses. Conversation, “Barbara Bush: Family and Friends in a Public Life,” Society members the Archivist displayed on a large screen a note Yeltsin It is not surprising that Pat Butler’s career has brought him were treated to prime seats in the William G. McGowan Theater. The public por- wrote to Mrs. Bush after she accidentally stomped his honors and recognition. He was a member of the National tion of the event on January 25, 2008, drew an audience of nearly 300, and fea- foot under the table during an official dinner. It read: Council on the Humanities, and is chairman of the Maryland tured a conversation between Mrs. Bush and the Archivist. The former First Lady “Barbara, Remember it was you who stepped on my Public Television Foundation and of the corporate advisory spoke candidly about her time in the White House and since, offering her unique foot. You did it on purpose. I got the message. I feel the board of SOME (So Others Might Eat). He is a trustee of perspective as both wife and mother of Presidents. Mrs. Bush also joked about her same.” American University, Pew Research Center, and about a half- husband’s activities – including a parachuting hobby – since leaving the White After the program, Society members were among dozen other public service and education boards. Foundation Board and Society member Patti House. She praised her daughter-in-law, First Lady Laura Bush, for reaching out to 75 guests invited to a post-event reception with the for- Despite his many heady career experiences, Butler shows Rosenfeld chats with Barbara Bush. help women in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the proud grandmother also confided mer First Lady in the Archivist’s Reception Room at the no pride unless talking about his wife and daughters. His gala that ten of Jenna Bush’s friends were spending the night in the White House that National Archives Building. Society members had the co-chair and life partner Donna, a New Jersey native who also night in advance of her wedding shower. “Family and friends and faith are the most opportunity to shake hands and visit informally with attended American University and the Corcoran School of Art, important things in your life,” Mrs. Bush said. Mrs. Bush, who also graciously posed for photographs worked as a professional photographer for Bachrach Studios in The former First Lady also delighted the audience by recounting humor- with the invited guests. n New York. For the greater part of her career, however, she was continued on page 4