The FDR Presidential Library and Museum presented a well-attended author talk and book signing with Martin Professor of Constitutional Law and Dean Emeritus at New York Law School JAMES F. SIMON who spoke about his most recent book FDR AND CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES: THE PRESIDENT, THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE EPIC BATTLE OVER THE NEW DEAL.
Prof. Simon talked about researching and writing this book about the most significant struggle between the executive and the judiciary branches of the federal government in the twentieth century — one with critical implications for today’s battle over President Obama’s health care law.The program was held in the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center and 60 people attended including a local AP United States Government class. Following the presentation, Professor Simon signed copies of his book.
This April, the Roosevelt Library will host two of the eight “Fireplace Lounge Chats” discussions on civility and democracy in America being held throughout the mid-Hudson region this spring. These expert-led discussions feature representatives from local colleges, area high schools, county legislatures, the Roosevelt Library and SUNY Orange and are made possible by support from a New York Council for the Humanities grant. This is the first of two programs to be held at the Roosevelt Library will focus on civil rights and will take place on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. The second event, on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, will center on FDR’s Presidency.
Both programs begin at 7:00 p.m in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home. The issue examined across all eight programs is the question of civility in American political discourse and how it relates to the topic of the evening. For more information on the “Fireplace Lounge Chats” programs, contact Paul Basinski, chair of the SUNY Orange Global Studies Department, at (845) 341-4828 or click here.
I hope the panelists will use their time to inform the majority of Americans about all the good and beneficial things FDR did, instead of concentrating (as many FDR Library panelists seem to do) on the fault they can find with FDR’s presidency.
Most Americans under the age of 70 have no clue what FDR did to benefit this country and the American people. They know he is considered a top president, but they couldn’t tell you, if their lives depended on it, five important things FDR did to help America.
The nation FDR created lasted for about 40 years — until Reagan, with the help of wealthy right-wingers — began to change the conversation about FDR’s many great achievements and turned those achievements into bad things.
The very wealthiest right-wingers in this country have been on a tear for the past 30 years in their zeal to destroy FDR’s legacy; it is up to the FDR Library & Museum to aggressively counteract that effort.