Press Release
Press Release · Thursday, December 4, 2003

WHAT: Be the first to find out the results of The People's Vote: 100 Documents That Shaped America. Discover what issues Americans think are important today. At this ceremony in the newly-renovated National Archives Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, Archivist of the United States John W. Carlin will announce the results of this national initiative, co-sponsored by the National Archives, National History Day and U.S. News & World Report.

A special exhibition, entitled "The People's Vote: The People's Top 10 Selections of Documents That Shaped America," featuring these top choices of the American people will be on display in the Special Exhibitions Gallery and in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. Through January 19.

The ceremony and the exhibition are free and open to the public.

WHO: Archivist of the United States John W. Carlin, Journalist Cokie Roberts, and U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.(D-IL) will announce the results of The People's Vote.

Editor of U.S. News & World Report Brian Duffy and Executive Director of National History Day Cathy Gorn will make remarks.

WHEN: 9 A.M.
Monday, December 15 (Bill of Rights Day)
The exhibition will remain on display through January 19, 2004

WHERE: Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom National Archives
The press should use the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance, between 7th and 9th Streets, NW

Background: The program titled The People's Vote: 100 Documents That Shaped America, was launched by the Archivist of the United States on September 17, 2003, Constitution Day. It was a national challenge to engage Americans in a lively and thoughtful debate about which documents in American history are the most influential. The People's Vote invited Americans to vote for 10 items from the list of 100 milestone documents chosen by historians and the National Archives, or to write in their favorites. Thousands of Americans of all ages, from across the entire United States answered the challenge.

The vote is part of a larger project created by the National Archives and National History Day in collaboration with USA Freedom Corps titled Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics and Service. The purpose of Our Documents is to provide programs like The People's Vote to engage Americans in a better understanding of the documents that shaped our country.

For PRESS information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700.

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