Featured Programs

The National Archives Experience is proud to offer a selection of streaming video programs from our public program repertoire. Webcasting is an outreach initiative of the National Archives Experience, supported by the Foundation for the National Archives.

Interior of the William G. McGowan Theater

The views and opinions expressed in the featured programs do not necessarily state or reflect those of the National Archives & Records Administration.

Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero

July 4th 2010 at the National Archives

On July 4th, 2010, the National Archives celebrated the 234nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Hosted by ABC7/WJLA-TV News Anchor Maureen Bunyan, the program featured an address by David S. Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, a performance by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and our annual dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence. Also, for the first time, the National Archives was represented by a float in the National Independence Day Parade.

Left to Right Gwen Ifill, Katharine Weymouth, Diane Rehm, Cokie Roberts

Women In Leadership: Journalism

Women journalists have impacted the reporting and editing of our nations news. What are the challenges they have faced? And what has changed in the roles, expectations, opportunities, and obstacles for women in American journalism? On March 11, 2010 a panel of journalists and news executives discuss what it took to succeed and the future challenges for women in journalism. The panel includes Cokie Roberts, political commentator for ABC News; Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week on PBS; Diane Rehm, host of the Diane Rehm Show on NPR; and Katharine Weymouth, publisher of The Washington Post and president and CEO of Washington Post Media.

Left to Right
Darrell M. West, Mark H. Webbink, Gigi B. Sohn, Jason R. Baron, Beth Simone Noveck

The McGowan Forum - Web 2.0 Technologies and Participatory Democracy

President Obama has called for transparency and collaboration. But can "Government 2.0" technologies build a new kind of participatory democracy? On November 5, 2009, a panel moderated by Darrell M. West, vice president and director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, discussed how collaborative democracy can be designed. Panelists included Beth Simone Noveck, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Mark H. Webbink, visiting professor of law, New York Law School, and executive director, Center for Patent Innovations; Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder, Public Knowledge; and Jason R. Baron, director of litigation, National Archives and Records Administration. This program was generously supported by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc.

The Constitution in 2020

What will the Constitution look like over the next decade? What are the issues that will arise, and how should they be handled? On September 17, 2009, four Yale Law School scholars discussed constitutional issues of the future, including the challenge of new technologies, Presidential power, voting, economic rights, and freedom of speech. Moderated by Linda Greenhouse, Distinguished Journalist-in-Residence and Senior Fellow in Law, the panel included professors of law Jack M. Balkin and Reva B. Siegel, co-editors of The Constitution in 2020, and Robert C. Post, dean of Yale Law School.

Highlights from July 4th 2009 at the National Archives

On July 4th, 2009, the National Archives celebrated the 233rd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Hosted by NBC News National Correspondent Bob Dotson, the program featured welcoming remarks by Acting Archivist of the United States Adrienne Thomas, a keynote address by Timothy Naftali, Director of the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, and our annual dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Big Strides, Diverse Paths: Women’s Journeys to Political Leadership

The influence of women has redefined the nature of politics, but how did they get there and what are the stories of their political journeys? On March 5th, 2009, Eleanor Clift, weekly panelist on The McLaughlin Group and author of Madame President, moderated a discussion featuring of women who have come from a variety of backgrounds, represent different levels of political activity, and have played leadership roles in politics.

This program was presented in partnership with the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s McCormack Graduate School.

The White House: Moving Out/Moving In

How does a first family prepare to move into the White House? How does a President-elect plan to govern from day one-and through his first 100 days? What role does the outgoing President play in assisting the newcomers, and where do his official papers go? On January 15, 2009 a panel of scholars and former White House staff discussed keys to a successful White House transition. This program was presented in partnership with the White House Historical Association.

American Conversations

American Conversations is a series of informal conversations between the former Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein and people who've shaped the dialogue about the interpretation and use of American heritage. Conversations with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., E. L. Doctorow, David McCullough, Barbara Bush, John Hope Franklin, Ken Burns, Lindy Boggs and Cokie Roberts, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lonnie Bunch, and Lynne Cheney are available for viewing.

Conversation Videos and More from American Conversations

Senator George S. McGovern

On February 12, 2009, political figure, veteran, and historian Senator George S. McGovern spoke about his book, Abraham Lincoln. Sean Wilentz, editor of the Times Books American Presidents series, engaged Sen. McGovern in a lively conversation.

The Fourth Annual William G. McGowan Forum on Communications, Technology, and Government
Technology, Elections, and Electronic Voting

Ensuring that voting systems accurately record and report voter intent has become a matter of great public concern since the 2000 confusion in Florida. Much of the public debate has centered on the security of electronic voting systems. Are these concerns valid? What are the advantages and disadvantages of electronic voting systems? What can the U.S. learn from experiences with new technologies around the globe? On October 17,2008 Brookings Senior Fellow Thomas Mann moderated a panel including Donetta Davidson, Roy Saltman, Patrick Merloe, Paul DeGregorio, and David Beirne.

The Men Who Signed the Treaty of Paris

The legacy of the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, has been much greater than was ever anticipated by its American and British negotiators. On October 3, 2008 A panel of historians discussed the treaty signers: Gregg L. Lint, Carla Mulford, Walter Stahr, and William Anthony Hay. Former Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein served as moderator, and the Librarian and Archivist of Canada Ian E. Wilson made opening remarks. This program was presented in partnership with the Embassy of Canada.

Lincoln and American Values

On September 20, 2008, the Center for the National Archives Experience celebrated the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth with a daylong symposium, Lincoln and American Values. The symposium provided historical insight into some of the most critically important facets of Lincoln's Presidency.

The Invisible Constitution

On September 17, 2008, legal scholar Laurence Tribe spoke on newest volume from Oxford's Inalienable Rights series, titled The Invisible Constitution. Tribe discussed how some of our most cherished and widely held beliefs about constitutional rights are not part of the written document but can only be deduced from it. Laurence Tribe is Carl M. Loeb University Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.

July 4th 2008 at the National Archives

On July 4th, 2008, the National Archives celebrated the 232nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Hosted by NBC4 anchor Jim Handly, the program feaured an address by Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States, a performance by the Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps, and our annual dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Citizens by Choice: Women in Business Leadership

Many Americans are surprised to learn that there is a large and growing group of immigrant women entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rapidly making their mark in the U.S. business sector, in every region of the country and across a wide range of industries. On June 11, 2008 the National Archives Experience presented a discussion program that explored the challenges these women face, and how have they used gender and nationality as strengths in building their businesses. This program was generously supported by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc.

Panel from left to right Mark Mellman, Judith Best, Gordon Wood, David Broder, George Edwards III, and Ed Goeas

Electoral College: The Debate Continues

In the wake of the Presidential election of 2000, the value of the Electoral College has been questioned and debated. Does the Founding Fathers’ vision still apply today, or should this system be reevaluated? On May 21, 2008 the National Archives Experience presented a program examining this important and timely topic.

200th Anniversary of the Slave Trade Act of 1808

The Slave Trade Act of 1808, passed by Congress in March of 1807, became effective January 1, 1808. On January 10, 2008 the Center for the National Archives Experience held a day-long symposium to commemorate its 200th anniversary and raise awareness of the slave trade, its abolition, and its impact on United States history and culture.

Session Videos and More from the Slave Trade Symposium

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War

On January 9, 2008, Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust spoke on her newest book, This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War. Faust’s book is an illuminating study of the American struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the Civil War. Dr. Faust took audience questions after her talk.

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