Hillary Clinton Legacy - Save America's Treasures

https://www.c-span.org/video/?108823-1/saving-americas-treasures

Mrs Clinton four days traveling to historic sites in two years talking about American history. What's behind the effort why are you doing this or doing it for several reasons. You know when Bill and I started talking about the fact that we were going to have a turn of a century in a millennium while he was still president we began to think about ways that we could use that time to highlight some of the issues and concerns that we thought Merica had about where we were going in the future and what kind of direction our country should take. And it struck us both that. One of the real challenges we have as we move into this new time. Is to carry what is best of our past. Into the future with confidence. Together as one nation one America as my husband likes to say. So out of that came the White House millennium Council and it has a number of different programs but one of its most important is the Save America's Treasures program which is what this tour is all about. And that really came out of my concern that as I traveled around the country and as I talked with people. I realized that there were so many parts of our past documents and monuments and sites that were deteriorating. And that there were many devoted people in every community struggling to save them but that there wasn't any real strong national awareness of how important it is that we value the past in order to learn from it and to carry those lessons forward. So that's how we began thinking about it we formed a partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation which is done such great work around the country. And then this is tour a way of getting out into the country and talking about some of these issues with people and illustrating both some of the success stories and some of the challenges. And I'm just really excited that we're going to be able to do this. So this began when couple months ago. Well. It began with an announcement the National Archives last August. That the president announced the creation the White House millennium Council. And then Save America's Treasures. As a separate program of the millennium Council was announced a few months ago. And in doing all of this would have you. And I've learned how much. We have to value about our past and how grateful we all should be. Because of all the work that. So many people did before us not only. You know political leaders like George Washington who's Revolutionary War headquarters I'm going to visit. But also scientists and innovators like Thomas Edison who's laboratory I'm going to see or authors like Edith Wharton or labor leaders like Laney both of whom I'm going to visit their homes. So I think that it's a way for me and I hope for other Americans to take stock of all that's gone on before and to say to ourselves you know so much has been done and we really are custody and caretakers of that past. Have a just select these sites and are there more in the way. There are definitely more on the way. And this was kind of serendipitous you know we we had this wonderful announcement at the Smithsonian. About the effort to save the Star-Spangled Banner probably the most well known icon of. The United States history and. When we knew we were going to start in Washington. And I knew that I was going to end in Seneca Falls where we're celebrating the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the declaration of human sentiments. We began to look at a map and talk to the National Trust another historic preservation experts and say you know what could I see on the way from Washington to Seneca Falls that would really be indicative of the many opportunities and challenges we face in preserving the past and saving our treasures. I was scanning through your book It Takes A Village and I'm always wondering when. When Chelsea was growing up did you talk history is it something that she was interested in. We did we talk history all the time and we visited historic sites and we are great museum goers as a family.


We have always enjoyed doing that and you know. Having a having a child meant for us you know reading a lot of historical stories talking about historical sites visiting them together and we're all very interested in in American history. How we doing there was a country. Compared to say Ken. To or to some of the European nations. You know I don't really know how to make that comparison. I'm not an expert on that. I think what it is fair to say is that we've done a lot of things right. You know we have this fabulous national park system which is the envy of the world. But it is underfunded. It is not being taken care of as it should there are many aspects of the park system that need attention for maintenance repair and preservation. We have many different agencies in the federal and state governments around our country who are devoted to storage preservation. But they all have more need so they can possibly meet. And one of my goals with this whole effort is to try to increase both public and private support for saving America's treasures. And to make it. Not something that is a lead is store just the province of people who call themselves preservationists but an opportunity for every American you know I really believe that in most places I have visited. And I've been fortunate to visit every state in the country and many places in every state. There is something worth saving that tells people about their past and points them in the direction the future and it's not some kind of nice thing to preserve just because you know. It's historical but it really says to people. You know this is a monument to people who really made a difference that came from this community this is the house where somebody lived to really change history in this state. These are the documents that should be studied because we can get lessons about where we go from here. And so I'm hoping that although we've done a lot of good things and preservation in our country over the years and I have a lot to be very proud of. There is so much work to be done. And there's a lot that more could be done with increasing public commitments and private commitments to get the work done. One hundred years from now what do you one. Preserved of Hillary Clinton. People to learn about. I have no idea I think it'll be interesting though because you know my husband will have a library. And they'll be a lot of documents and I think just. We find from historians today who go back and look at the full range of people's thoughts and their interactions they learn more about them I assume that will happen to my husband and me as well. But when you look at past first ladies if you look at Lady Bird Johnson you think of the park beautification right when you think of Barbara Bush you think of the literacy project. And even with the Nancy Reagan you probably would think of either the China or the. The just say no drug campaign. When they think of you. What do you want people to think about all the things I've done. Because I can't put a value and prioritize one above the other I think that you know the work I did and continue to do on children's issues or health care or economic opportunity for poor people or trying to help build democracies and civil societies around the world those work on the millennium particularly saving America's treasures and talking about ideas and values that are important. I haven't. Pigeonholed myself and pick one particular thing that is all that I've worked on I just have to widen interests. To do that so I don't know what anybody will particularly remember I just live from day to day and do the best I can every day. Do you have a pet project though do you have one thing that you know I don't favor. Now I don't I mean today.

Expected about the two are about to have for the White House millennium. Council Save America's Treasures and we're working very hard on that. But next week. Probably going to be working on. You know trying to make sure charter schools in the District of Columbia work so that children have real choices within the public school system and. I don't weigh one higher than the other I considered all part of what I want to do to make a contribution to make our country stronger and more confident in the twenty first century. When I go back to the public private partnership the target company is helping out with the renovation of the Washington Monument. And you announced that Ralph Lauren is helping out with the Star Spangled Banner How does all of that come about what's your role in all of that. Well a lot of people have worked very long hours to make all this happen and. I've tried to be. You know encouraging I've spoken directly with people I've recruited people to make contributions to the Save America's Treasures program at the National Trust. I've spoken to individual donors and contributors about the importance of this work. So I will continue to be front and center in doing everything I can to make the millennium celebration in our nation really meaningful and not just you know where you going to spend New Year's Eve but instead. How are you going to think about our country and even though. We've had some very big generous gifts for Ralph Lauren and they'll be more announced on the tour that are significant. I want every American to think about what he or she could do you know from the classroom to the board room each one of us can make a contribution and it may be pennies collected from the kindergarten class or a multi million dollar contribution from a large corporation. But all of that together is what I'm looking for that kind of wonderful.

Unity that America can have a round important events and occasions I'm hoping we'll have that. Around saving our treasures and looking to the future. When Hillary Rodham was a student. What do you remember about American history what do your first recollections. You know I have so many. I remember singing The Star-Spangled Banner in the Pledge of Allegiance you know when I was a child in grade school we did it every single day we and. It was a really important lesson because we had to be told what it meant and. You know how to pronounce big words like in divisible. But that was a history lesson every day. And I wish children would do it every day in school now. I think those opportunities for unity among all of our diverse population are too few and far between and. I was lucky because I had excellent teachers in my public schools and. They emphasized American history and we you know. Studied all aspects of American history I remember being in the fourth grade and writing a long report about the disk. Every unsettling of California by the Spaniards in the Reale the wonderful highway with the missions that went up through that state. So we were always learning about different aspects of American history and. I think in the absence of a commitment to teach American history and to. You know certainly get below the surface and I'm not talking about. You know only one sanitized version. You know having the debates about. You know what were the. The sources of the Civil War and the. You know times we went through in the twentieth century that were difficult like the Great Depression or. You know the McCarthy era and all the rest of it. But studying American history. Learning how great this country is and how valuable the Westerns are still today. That we were really taught by our founders is something that every American should be involved in. But do you ever think that you also are figure in American history and you know I don't people Wolf. Will learn about you and generations ahead. You know it is something I just still can't quite accommodate just don't even think about it I you know when you ask me about what people think of me and remember. I just don't think that way. You know I I'm thinking more about.

You know when I leave here. Talking about and writing about what I've seen and the decisions that. I know have been made and maybe filling out some more of the details and providing some information that might not otherwise be available so I see myself as a participant in history and certainly living in this house and. You know being married to someone like my husband who just eats breeze and thinks about history all the time and adores. Every minute that he's here because he feels like he's learning something. I'm very conscious of history but I am not very aware of. You know what role I'm playing in it or how people will view that role in the years to come I'll leave that for future generations I guess in our remaining moments we're sitting here in the presidential library. We did a program. Looking at the White. And one viewer called up in wondered if there is a Clinton legacy. Here in this White House. Well I hope so and I hope it's both a tangible and intangible legacy on the tangible side. We've been fortunate to do some work in the house that. I hope people have enjoyed seeing on your program which was a great gift to the nation by the way I want to thank you by the time we leave we will have been responsible for overseeing the renovation redecoration the East Room in the center hall in the grand foyer in the Blue Room and now we're starting on a major redoing of the state dining room which is in bad need of it. We've also done quite a bit of work on the second floor in a number of the rooms and so there's a lot of tangible evidence of. You know how we've lived in what we valued and the kind of style that we thought was appropriate for the house and intangibly you know we've tried to open the house to more people than ever before. Literally thousands and tens of thousands of people have been invited to events here in the House and on the lawn. We've tried to strike the right balance between a informal welcoming. Style. But in keeping with the elegance and the dignity of this house. So I hope that that is remembered and. It is certainly something that both Bill and I have cared very much about in our time here. You've been first lady five and a half years. Is the job what you expected. No I don't think I really knew what to expect and. I have to say that I have been just so grateful to have the chance to live here and be here you know sometimes people come up to me and they'll say I bet you'll be so glad when this is over and I I find myself saying. No I said I love. Every day here I enjoy every day here I find the challenges and the opportunities here to be beyond anything I ever could have imagined.

But did I know what to expect I had no idea. And I don't think that even people. Who are much closer to Washington and to the White House. Who've had a much more intimate knowledge of it than certainly bill or I did before we arrived. Also could know everything to expect it's just too much it's too big it's too overwhelming and circumstances always change. And it was best to this before but is there a moment that you reflect on the time that you have been in this house that you will forever cherish there are so many of them Steve I just can't even begin to count them all and one of the things that I'm hoping to find time for but probably not until I leave is to sit and reflect on a lot of those moments and you know share them with the American people because you know that they run from the ridiculous to the sublime to the wonderful to the tragic and everything in between. You know I'm writing. I'm not actually writing I'm sort of helping to compile this book about letters from children to socks and Buddy. And I wanted to do that because those are some of the sweetest moments you know these pets of ours means so much. Not only to children adults as well but children in great numbers right to them and talk about their lives and want to know how to be in touch with them because they feel a connection because this little cat and dog live in the White House. And I see that in so many ways large and small. Every single day. That people who walk in they can be from the most humble of backgrounds or in their own eyes the most exalted. But they all feel a sense of awe. When they walk in this house and Bill and I still feel it every single day you know. Cage that look at him and I'll say I just can't believe that we are so fortunate to be able to live here and. So for me it's just a whole visual image that I run through my mind of the people in the faces you know. Some of the most touching moments are when we have Make a Wish children come here. You know children who are close to death. They are suffering from terminal diseases and their last wishes to meet the president to visit the White House. Socks or body. And these children come. And they're so brave and their families are so brave and. You know they come into the house and we meet them in the Oval Office or the diplomatic receiving room or one of the other rooms in the house. And for a moment they forget. And their families forget the incredible stress that they're under. And just being able to do that you know it's not something that anybody will write about in a history book but you know for me it's been one of the most meaningful experience which I have had to final points how do you deal with the critics. You know.

My husband loves to quote Benjamin Franklin and you know your your your critics are your friends because they show you your flaws. If I think somebody is a critic and is. Well meaning and is motivated by good faith. I pay attention because I think that's important. But there are so many other agendas at work that I disregard much of it and don't pay much attention at all. They cation in August will history books. The stacked up. Lots of history books. They're always packed up you know we move with a small library no matter where we cooperated but it was ever. You know traveled with us knows that but it's one of our favorite ways of relaxing and. And Bill is been reading a lot of biographies of. Some of our founding generation and he's got a big stack for me to take you know starting with a wonderful biography he recommends about John Marshall and Daniel Webster and. You know we just love to read about the men and women who made this country what it is. And finally what part of history. Do you not know a lot about that you're more interested in. We know it's funny you should ask that because Bill and I have decided we didn't know very much at all or thought we should know more about the period between about the end of the war of eight hundred twelve. Up to about eight hundred fifty eight hundred fifty five shortly before the beginning of the Civil War and Lincoln's entrance onto the national stage and all. So we've been reading a lot about that period. You know all objects own. And period and some of the other presidents during that time so we're focusing on that I also have been paying a lot of attention to the turn of the century between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries you know there are parallels between what happened at the end of the nineteenth century. And what is happening at the end of the twentieth century. You know we went from an agrarian to an industrial society we're moving from a post industrial society to an information age. People felt both exhilarated and somewhat fearful about the changes going on in their lives there were lots of worries about immigrants at the turn of the century their worries as we see in the headlines today about immigrants in our country. There was a need to take stock of how humane our policies were which led to the progressive era. I think we have to be very conscious about the inequity in incomes in our country and the lack of health insurance for millions of Americans and the stresses that many Americans are under as we in this century. So I've looked at and read something about. What people were thinking and doing at the end of the last century that I think is relevant today. And when this is all over this whole project. Well I hope that it'll run through the year two thousand and I hope that we will be able to say that. And some very specific ways we have increased public resources both federal state and local devoted to historic preservation and other imported related issues like our national park system and the like that we've dramatically increased private resources. Going into preservation. That we've enhanced Americans awareness and understanding of our history that we've for haps given a nudge to more interest in history among children and in our classrooms. But that more than anything we've used this project. To learn about what we need to do for the future. That we've really taken stock and asked ourselves. You know.