Awakening the Spirit of America

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9:48a, 9/20/24

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Paul Sparrow, "Awakening the Spirit of America"
Date: October 15, 2024
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Hosted By: George Bush Presidential Library & Museum
Location: Malek Theater

Join us on Tuesday, October 15, as we welcome Paul M. Sparrow, former Director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Sparrow will discuss the importance of presidential rhetoric to inspire and lead, which is an underlying theme in his new book Awakening the Spirit of America: FDR's War of Words with Charles Lindberg and the Battle to Save Democracy.

His narrative brings to life President Roosevelt's struggles and triumphs during his fight to transform America into a world superpower. Spirit of America takes readers up close and personal to FDR's victory over American isolationists and provides pivotal insight to the decisions made during this crucial period in the 20th-century.
The afternoon will include Mr. Sparrow speaking at 12:30 p.m. in the Malek Theater followed by a book signing in the ConocoPhillips Rotunda at the Bush Library & Museum. The event and boxed lunch are free but seating is limited.

To reserve your spot and order your lunch, please RSVP using the link below. In order to ensure that you have a lunch, please RSVP by Tuesday, October 8.

Sparrow is a writer, historical consultant, before moving to the FDR Library he was the Deputy Director and Senior Vice President at the Newseum in Washington, DC. He was an Emmy Award-winning documentary and television producer for twenty years. He began his broadcasting career at KPIX, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Sparrow also has an MFA from the Center for Contemporary Music at Mills College. We are thrilled to have him in Aggieland.

For questions, please email reservations. bush@nara.gov

Barbara's Saturday Storytime, "Harvest Heroes: A Fall Tribute to Community Helpers"

Date: September. 28, 2024
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Hosted By: George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Location: Malek Theater at the George Bush Presidential Library & Museum

Join us on Saturday, September 28, from 13 p.m., as we celebrate the spirit of fall and honor our community leaders, including firefighters, police officers, medical professionals, and civic leaders. "Harvest Heroes" will inspire young minds and foster a sense of appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to serving others. Participants are encouraged to dress up like their favorite community helpers. The first 100 children to register will receive a free copy of one of the books we'll read that day.

Barbara's Saturday Storytime honors the legacy of former First Lady Barbara Bush's passion for literacy. Each Barbara's Saturday Storytime event will feature a new theme and a special guest reader, aiming to create an engaging and interactive experience for children and families alike.

This program is designed to encourage family educational time so we welcome all members of the family to join us in this enriching experience.

Please RSVP HERE. If you have any questions, please contact bush.education@nara.gov

aalan94

Joined: Aug 26, 2005

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9:17a, 9/23/24

AG

FDR didn't save democracy. He was the closest thing to a dictator we had. He expanded the power of the federal government and used its levers of powers to enhance his personal and party power. He created the FCC, then basically turned it into his own propaganda machine.

It is true that Lindbergh was hoodwinked by the Nazi propaganda and overlooked their darker side (they had not begun to murder anyone on a wholesale basis at that time, that would come later). But the same can be said of FDR and his propensity to overlook Soviet atrocities, which unlike the Nazis, were a current thing, not something in the future.

I know some might disagree with my characterization of FDR as dictatorial, because many people expect a dictator to be obviously evil or suppressing his people. In fact, most dictators in history were very popular among their people. "Dictator" is a moniker that deals with power, not morality. You could have a good dictator in theory, but absolute power corrupting absolutely, that is nearly impossible. Washington was the closest we had to something like that.

FDR was not corrupt in the money sense, but he had a fetish for consolidating power, hiding information from his subordinates and pitting them against each other, all dictatorial traits. I'll stop short of calling him a dictator. he had the tendency, but our system limited what he could do. I think the key point that saved America from dictatorship, if it ever came that close, was the blocking of his attempt to pack the supreme court. There were great Americans, like Vice President John Nance Garner (of Uvalde), whose refusal to support it basically killed the deal, and who tried to block FDR's third term.

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In reply to aalan94 • 12:23p, 9/23/24

You may want to review just how bleak things were during the Great Depression and the role of FDR in fighting people like Huey Long and the Business Plot. Also his extremely active role in preparing the United States for war. Soft-pedaling Lindbergh's fascist beliefs and antisemitism while trying to make FDR sound as dictatorial as possible is… a choice.