Press/Journalists

Public Programs at the National Archives in December 2003
Press Release · Monday, October 27, 2003

Washington, DC

In December, the National Archives and Records Administration presents two author lectures, its annual Naturalization Ceremony, and will hold a ceremony to announce the results of The People's Vote: 100 Documents That Shaped America on Bill of Rights Day, December 15, 2003.

Tuesday, December 2-Politics Lecture
7 p.m., U.S. Navy Memorial Theater
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Senator Paul Simon will discuss his book Our Culture of Pandering. In Our Culture of Pandering, former U.S. Senator Paul Simon interrogates the arenas of politics, media, religion, and education to decry the disturbing practices that confuse public service with profit-making ventures or popularity contests, that compromise the best interests of the broader population to appease a powerful few. Combined with altruism and rich with compassion for citizens of America and beyond, present and future, this important and cautioning treatise advocates genuine leadership in the realms of politics, media, religion, and education. In his trademark lucid and synoptic style, Simon supplements up-to-date examples of pandering in our society from a breadth of sources with commentary and interpretive wisdom garnered from a lifetime of public service. Reservations are required for this event, call (202) 501-5000.

Tuesday, December 9- Cartography Lecture
7 p.m., Room 105, National Archives Building
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Professor Iris Miller will discuss her book, Washington in Maps, 1606-2000. This work contains over 100 maps dating from the 17th century to the present. From the most splendid antique maps to the extraordinary, otherworldly satellite imagery of today, the book includes maps by Thomas Jefferson and Pierre L'Enfant; a map by Capt. John Smith from 1608; and maps by the National Capitol Planning Commission. Miller is Director of Landscape Studies in the School of Architecture and Planning at the Catholic University of America. (This lecture was originally scheduled in May.) Reservations are recommended, call (202) 501-5000.

Friday, December 12-Naturalization Ceremony
10:00 a.m., National Archives Building Rotunda
700 Constitution Avenue, NW

The National Archives, in co-sponsorship with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, continues its tradition of holding a naturalization ceremony for petitioners seeking American citizenship. This year's ceremony, which will be part of the 212th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights, will be held in the newly renovated Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives.

This moving ceremony is open to petitioners' families and guests as well as to a limited number of members of the public holding tickets. Tickets are free but must be reserved by calling (301) 837-0789.

Please note: Because of the ceremony, The Rotunda will open to the public at noon and remain open until 5:30 p.m.Winter hours of 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. resume on Saturday, December 13.

Monday, December 15, 2003-Bill of Rights Day
The People's Vote Results Announcement Ceremony
10:00 a.m., National Archives Building Rotunda
700 Constitution Avenue, NW

The National Archives will join with National History Day and U.S. News & World Report to announce the results of The People's Vote: 100 Documents That Shaped America, a national challenge to engage Americans in a lively and thoughtful debate about which documents in American history have changed the course of history, shaped the United States, and defined us as a people. The top documents will be announced in the National Archives Rotunda and will be displayed in the Rotunda and the Special Exhibitions Gallery through January 19.

Between September 17 and December 1, the public is invited to vote for 10 documents from a list of 100 milestone documents chosen primarily from the holdings of the National Archives. Thousands of Americans have already logged on to the web site, www.usnews.com/vote to vote for their favorite documents. The ceremony is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

For PRESS information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700.
To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: 202-501-5000, or view the Calendar of Events on the web at: www.archives.gov/about_us/calendar_of_events/index.html

04-07

This page was last reviewed on August 16, 2018.
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