National Archives Public Programs in November
Press Release · Thursday, October 27, 2022

Washington, DC

In November the National Archives will present free public programs at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, at its Presidential Libraries nationwide, and virtually online. 

(Online Only) Book Talk – The Last Campaign: Sherman, Geronimo and the War for America
Tuesday, November 1, at 1 p.m. ET 
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
To honor Veterans Day and Native American Heritage Month, we present a book talk with bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H. W. Brands. Brands’s The Last Campaign follows the lives of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and Apache war leader Geronimo to tell the story of the Indian Wars and the final fight for control of the American continent. 

(In Person & Online) Lecture Series – Becoming America: How We Gained and Secured Freedom and Self-Government
Tuesdays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, at 6 p.m. PT
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA
Watch the videos on the Nixon Library’s YouTube channel
Nov. 1: “The Constitution Is the Supreme Law of the Land … Until It Isn’t” Lisa Matthews
Nov. 8: “Congress: The First Branch of Government” Jo Ellen Chatham
Nov. 15: “Congress: It Can Do This, But Not That!” Jo Ellen Chatham
Nov. 22: “The Presidency … and the President” Robert Robinson
Nov. 29: “The President and All the President’s Men” Bryan Santin

In this lecture series, we will reflect on our history as a nation with an overview of our founding documents. The theme in November will be “A More Perfect Union: The Constitution of the United States.” The series, including a short Q&A session with the speaker, will be hosted at the Nixon Library from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (PT), through Tuesday, February 28. For a full list of lectures, please visit Nixon Library’s website.                     

(In Person Only) Book Talk – Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence with Nicholas Reynolds
Wednesday, November 2, at 6 p.m. ET
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
Register to attend in person
The FDR Library presents a book talk and signing with Nicholas Reynolds, author of Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence. The event will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home.  

(Online Only) “Civics for All of US” Distance Learning Programs for Students
Friday, November 4, at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. ET
These programs are offered as a part of Civics for All of US, a new education initiative from the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. Our interactive distance learning programs draw upon the vast holdings of the National Archives to promote the knowledge and skills students need for civic engagement in the 21st century. Each program is led by one of our educators located at National Archives sites or Presidential Libraries across the country. Check civics.archives.gov for more information, including how to request a program for groups of 10 or more students. 

• No Conscription Without Representation: Voting Rights and the Constitution (Grades 9–12)
  11:15 a.m. ET; Register online
  Using the Constitution, constitutional amendments, legislation, and a Supreme Court case, students will explore the progression of voting rights in the United States with particular focus on the effort to lower the voting age to 18. Additional primary source documents from the National Archives, including photographs, video recordings, and political cartoons, will enhance student understanding of the ways in which contemporary events and public civic engagement influence their lives today.
• Voting Rights, the Constitution and Representative Government (Grades 6–8)
  1:15 p.m. ET; Register online
  Using the Constitution, constitutional amendments, and legislation, students will explore the progression of voting rights in the United States and its impact on representative government. Additional primary source documents from the National Archives, including photographs and political cartoons, will enhance student understanding of the ways in which contemporary events and public civic engagement influence their lives today.

(In Person Only) Music Performances – Sunday Concert Series at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Sundays, November 6, 13, and 27, at 2 p.m. PT (doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA
Nov. 6:  Lotus Bud Guzheng Academy, Chinese Music Concert. Director Bei Bei Monter
Nov 13:  Trio Concert: Jinhee Kate Kim - Violin, Laszlo Mezo - Cello, and Minji Noh Lee – Piano
Nov. 27:  Tomas Kaco – Pianist

(In Person & Online) Film Preview and Panel Discussion – Taken Hostage
Monday, November 7, at 6 p.m. ET 
Register to attend
Smith Hall, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
The Kennedy Library and GBH partner for an exclusive preview and discussion of the new PBS American Experience documentary Taken Hostage, which tells the story of the Iran hostage crisis, when more than 52 American diplomats, marines and civilians were held hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. Former hostage and press attaché to the U.S. Embassy Barry Rosen, his wife Barbara and director Robert Stone will discuss the film and explore this history with American Experience executive producer Cameo George.

(Online Only) Ike’s Book Club – How Ike Led with Susan Eisenhower
Tuesday, November 8, at 7 p.m. CT
The Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, KS
Watch on the Eisenhower Library YouTube Channel
Susan Eisenhower, author of How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower's Biggest Decisions, will lead this final book discussion for our year focusing on “Dwight Eisenhower: The Making of a Leader.”

(In Person & Online) Book Talk – The Return of Legendary Author John Erickson and “Hank the Cowdog”
Wednesday, November 9, at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 pm CT
Thursday, November 10, at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm CT
For reservations, please email bush.education@nara.gov or call (979) 691-4006
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX
Legendary Author John Erickson returns with stories and songs to tell us about Hank the Cowdog’s adventures. Hank the Cowdog’s exciting new addition is Ranch Weather. Its impact on cowboys’ lives is caused by different weather affecting every aspect of ranching. Cowboys help cattle survive blizzards, droughts, and floods!

(In Person & Online) Special Film Screening in Commemoration of Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 9, at noon ET
William G. McGowan Theater, National Archives Museum, Washington, DC
Register to attend; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
In commemoration of Veterans Day, and in collaboration with the National Archives motion picture preservation staff, we will screen two classic government-produced films from the Second World War. 

The Battle of Midway (1942; 20 minutes), written and directed by John Ford for the U.S. Navy, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Prelude to War (1942; 50 minutes), first installment of Frank Capra’s Why We Fight series, designed to educate American troops.

(In Person Only) Book Talk – Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership and Social Connections in Modern War 
Wednesday, November 9, at 7 p.m. ET
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, MI
Register to attend in person
Discussing his book Connected Soldiers, author John Spencer will deliver lessons learned in Iraq about the effective methods for building teams in a way that overcomes the distractions of home and the outside world without reducing the benefits gained from connections to family. The program will be followed by a book signing.

(In Person Only) Film Preview and Panel Discussion – Taken Hostage
Wednesday, November 9, at 7 p.m. ET
Cecil B. Day Chapel at the the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, GA
Registration is required  
PBS American Experience and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting, present an exclusive preview and discussion of the history series' upcoming documentary Taken Hostage.

Unfolding like a political thriller, Taken Hostage tells the story of the Iran hostage crisis, when more than 52 American diplomats, marines and civilians were held hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. Former hostage and press attaché to the U.S. Embassy Barry Rosen, his wife Barbara, retired U.S. Army Colonel James Q. Roberts and filmmaker Robert Stone discuss the film and explore the history of America’s relationship with Iran as well as the Iranian hostage crisis with American Experience executive producer Cameo George.

(Online Only) Young Learners Program – Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talkers Story, with Joseph Bruchac
Thursday, November 10, at 11 a.m. ET
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Joseph Bruchac has been a writer, musician, and storyteller of Indigenous heritage and traditions for over 40 years. A proud Nulhegan Abenaki citizen and respected elder among his people, he has authored more than 120 books for children and adults. His bestselling Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children series, with its remarkable integration of science and folklore, continues to receive critical acclaim and to be used in classrooms throughout the country. This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation.

(In Person Only) Brown Bag Program –  Gerald R. Ford in the U.S. Navy: A Discussion with An Archivist
Thursday, November 10, at 12 p.m. ET
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, MI
No reservations necessary
In honor of Veteran’s Day, library archivists will explore Ford’s  Naval career. From his time training in Annapolis, Maryland and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to his assignment aboard the USS Monterey in the Pacific Theater, we will share items from our collection to highlight his many accomplishments during his four-year stint. Bring your own lunch to eat during the program.

(In Person & Online) Panel Discussion – The Midterms and the Race to 2024
Thursday, November 10, at 6 p.m. ET
Smith Hall, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Register online  
Dan Balz, chief correspondent at The Washington Post; E.J. Dionne, columnist at The Washington Post and university professor in the foundations of democracy and culture at Georgetown University; Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large at The 19th*; and Kimberly Atkins Stohr, senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe and inaugural columnist at The Emancipator, analyze the midterms and look ahead to the 2024 elections.

(Online Only) Panel Discussion – Critical Conversations: Separation of Powers and the State of American Democracy
November 15, at 1 p.m. ET
Watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Separation of powers is a defining feature of the U.S. political system, one with profound implications for both the exercise of power and the performance of government functions. A panel of constitutional and legal experts will discuss the importance of this constitutional principle, how it has been tested, and what is needed to keep our democracy going.  

In partnership with the Crystal Bridges Museum recent exhibition We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy.

Critical Conversations will be moderated by William Howell, Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, chair of the Department of Political Science, and director of the Center for Effective Government. Our panel of constitutional scholars and legal experts includes Elizabeth B. Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center; Aziz Huq, the Frank and Bernice J. Greenberg Professor of Law at the University of Chicago and author of How to Save a Constitutional Democracy; and Jon Michaels, professor of law at UCLA and author of Constitutional Coup: Privatization’s Threat to the American Republic.

(In Person Only) Panel Discussion – Forgotten Prophet: Homer Lea and America in Asia 
Tuesday, November 15, at 4 p.m. CT 
Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, TX
Register online 
Discover the remarkable career and even more remarkable strategic vision of Homer Lea. He was barred from joining the U.S. Army due to a physical disability. Homer Lea lent his energy and brainpower to Sun Yat-sen in overthrowing the Manchu Dynasty in China in 1911, only a year before his early death. Beyond playing this dramatic role in history, Homer Lea wrote books of strategy that foresaw with fantastic accuracy the military moves Japan would make decades later to achieve mastery of the Asia-Pacific region.

Chase Untermeyer, former United States Ambassador to Qatar and Assistant Secretary of the Navy, will talk about Homer Lea. Adair Margo will also speak about the interactions of Tom and Sarah Lea with Lady Bird Johnson and LBJ. The event is co-hosted with Humanities Texas and the LBJ Foundation. 

(In Person Only) Book Talk - Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health by Dr. Tom Insel
Tuesday, November 15, at 7 p.m. ET
Carter Museum Theater Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, GA 
The Carter Center Mental Health program, in partnership with the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and ACappella Books, welcomes psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Tom Insel for a discussion of his book. "In this essential book, one of our most visionary leaders reveals that the solution demands a holistic approach. By reframing the mental health crisis as an opportunity for social justice, hopefully Tom Insel’s ideas will bring about long-needed progress toward a more inclusive, more compassionate, and healthier society. Healing is for every family dealing with a mental health issue, which today means nearly every family in the United States.” —Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.  

(In Person & Online) Book Talk – Silent Spring Revolution 
Thursday, November 16, at 6 p.m. ET
Smith Hall John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Register online 
Douglas Brinkley discusses his forthcoming book Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, and the Great Environmental Awakening, which explores the rise of environmental activism. The program is made possible in part through the generous support of Bloomberg Philanthropies.

(Online Only) Book Talk – Uniting America: How FDR and Henry Stimson Brought Democrats Democrats and Republicans Together to Win World War II
Thursday, November 17, at 1 p.m. ET
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
In Uniting America, author Peter Shinkle tells the story of a crucial bipartisan alliance in United States history. As Adolf Hitler’s Nazi armies threatened Europe, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged a divided America to mobilize to defend democracy and freedom. On June 20, 1940, FDR shocked the country by announcing that two prominent Republicans would take posts in his cabinet. Henry Stimson, former President Herbert Hoover’s Secretary of State, became Secretary of War, and Frank Knox, the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in 1936, became Secretary of the Navy. This alliance stands as a historic example of  united leadership in a nation scarred by political division. Shinkle will be joined in conversation with Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower and author of How Ike Led, the Principles Behind Eisenhower's Biggest Decisions.

(Online Only) Teacher Workshop – A Treaty is a Promise: Teaching Native American Treaties for Elementary Educators
Thursday, November 17, at 7 p.m. ET
Register to attend online
Join us for this interactive virtual professional development program for educators as we look closely at selected examples of American Indian treaties and discuss ways to incorporate teaching these important documents in the elementary classroom. We will look to the Constitution to learn why treaties are “the supreme law of the land,” interact with primary sources from the National Archives through document analysis activities, and explore examples of the continuing importance of treaties with Native Nations today. While the focus of this webinar will be on resources and strategies for elementary educators, all educators are welcome to attend.

(In Person Only) Silver Celebration –  25 Years of George Bush Presidential Library 
Friday, November 18, 9:30 a.m. CT to 8:30 p.m. CT
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX
Register to attend 
Join us on Friday, November 18, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Bush Library and Museum! This community-wide event will feature musical entertainment, free cake, food trucks, bounce houses and culminate in a spectacular fireworks display.

Museum admission will be free all day from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Bounce houses, food trucks, and free cake will begin at 5 p.m.
The entertainment lineup, beginning at 5 p.m is:

• The Texas A&M Women's Chorus
• The Aggie Wranglers
• The Killer Dueling Pianos
• The Singing Cadets
• FIREWORKS

Special thanks to the City of College Station, Visit College Station and Texas A&M University for helping to make this event possible.

(Online Only) Book Talk –  Hemingway’s Widow: The Life and Legacy of Mary Welsh Hemingway
Monday, November 21, at 6 p.m. ET
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, MA
Register to attend online
Timothy Christian, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta, discusses his new book Hemingway’s Widow: The Life and Legacy of Mary Welsh Hemingway with Jenny Emery Davidson, executive director of The Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho.

(Online Only) Book Talk – The Last Hill: The Epic Story of a Ranger Battalion and the Battle that Defined WWII
Tuesday, November 22, at 1 p.m. ET
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
Bob Drury and Tom Clavin’s The Last Hill is the incredible story of the Ranger battalion's heroism and courage in World War II. They were known as “Rudder’s Rangers,” the most elite and experienced attack unit in the United States Army. In December 1944, Lt. Col. James Rudder’s 2nd Battalion would form the spearhead into Germany, taking the war into Hitler’s homeland at last. Learn more about one of the bloodiest and most costly encounters of World War II.

(Online Only) Nixon Legacy Forum: Laying the Foundation for the Modern Presidency: Reorganization Plan 2 of 1970
Tuesday, November 29, at 1 p.m. ET
Register to attend online; watch on the National Archives YouTube Channel 
Actions taken early in the Nixon administration laid the foundation for the modern Presidency. They consisted of the revitalization of the National Security Council under Henry Kissinger, along with creation of the Domestic Council under John Ehrlichman and the transformation of the former Bureau of the Budget into the Office of Management and Budget under George Shultz. A panel for former members of the Nixon White House staff will discuss how this came about and its effect on executive branch governance. Panelists will include Geoff Shepard, James Cavanaugh, Edwin Harper, Bobbie Kilberg, William Kilberg, and Andrew Rouse. Presented in collaboration with the Richard Nixon Foundation.