▶ 0:02:18House administration will come to order. The title of today's hearing is oversight of the smithsonian. Radical revisionism at the national museum of american history. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection. The chair may declare a recess at any time. Also, without objection, the record will remain open for five legislative days, so members may submit any additional materials they wish to be included therein. I now recognize myself for five minutes for the purpose of giving an opening statement.
▶ 0:02:48America has an incredible story to tell. 250 years ago, our forefathers declared independence from the british empire, and we won. We launched into world history the first civilization dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Our constitution established a republican form of government with checks and balances to protect that proposition. We fought a civil war to preserve our union and finally free those in bondage.
▶ 0:03:19Since then, we've revolutionized technology, liberated europe. We planted the american flag on the moon. The smithsonian national museum of american history was established by congress to champion our story. In 1953, the smithsonian told congress. The national american history museum would commemorate our heritage of freedom. At the museum's dedication in 1964, then president johnson said the museum would foster patriotism.
▶ 0:03:52Unfortunately, today, the museum has shifted its focus to political activism. But don't take my word for it. One of our witnesses today. Our witness, doctor anthony hartig, the director of the museum, doctor hartig. You said history is a prime tool of social justice. You believe your role as a historian is to connect, quote, research and scholarship to activism and advocacy, end quote. Your words.
▶ 0:04:21You have said loving america is complicated. Sadly, it's not just rhetoric. You've built that into the museum's exhibits. You built it into the website to convey an ideological narrative that denigrates our founders, diminishes our achievements, and seeks to divide american people.
▶ 0:04:42The authors of the domestic policy council report argued that museum visitors should be warned, and they said, quote, the exhibits in this museum were prepared by people who don't want you to love our country, end quote. If you read the full, detailed report as you should, or if you just walk into the museum, it's hard not to agree with that conclusion. But I'll conclude it's I'll conclude this.
▶ 0:05:10It's not only okay to love america, it is great to love america. It's true. Our history isn't perfect. We continue to strive to create a more perfect union. But throughout our american history, we have striven. People have died. As our nation continues to move forward to our founding fathers goals, to create that more perfect union.
▶ 0:05:33It does require introspection and honesty, but it also requires gratitude, appreciation, and celebration of how revolutionary the american experience has been and continues to be. The current focus of activism by leadership at the museum undermines that. It's unacceptable that american tax dollars are supporting divisive work. It's time to allow the united states to speak for itself.
▶ 0:06:00When it's america that speaks for itself, not the elites or npr. The world loves america, its success, our uniqueness, its exceptionalism. When the american story speaks for itself, with or without ideological bias, political advocacy, or woke talking points, america is loved and admired. It's time the american history museum returned to its core founding mission when it was created. Fostering patriotism and telling our story of achievement.
▶ 0:06:32Unfortunately, the museum has strayed from that mission, and that is the focus of today's hearing. I yield back and recognize the ranking member for five minutes for his opening statement. Speaker 2: uh. Good morning. Thank you, Mr. chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for being here this morning. Uh, let's not kid ourselves. We're we're here for one single reason. Because the president of the united states believes he is entitled to determine what is true about america's past. He is not to understand what is happening at the smithsonian institution.
▶ 0:07:01We need to step back, because this is not where it started. The president has spent his term reaching into the institutions that keep our national memory, trying to bend them to his will. He fired the archivist of the united states, the keeper of the nation's records, without a stated reason. He fired the librarian of congress, claiming she put, quote, inappropriate books in children's hands at a research library that doesn't even lend books to the public.
▶ 0:07:34He purged the kennedy center's board, made himself chairman, and renamed it for himself until a court deemed it illegal. He ordered exhibits about the horrors of slavery, the horrors of slavery, people owning other people as property, and stripped them from the national parks. Each time the same move. Take a best in class institution built to serve the public and corrupted into one that serves him. The smithsonian is just the latest in that long line.
▶ 0:08:03In march of 2025, he issued a directive ordering the vice president to remove improper ideology from the smithsonian. And this month, his white house issued a hyper partizan report portraying a museum beloved by millions of americans who come as annual visitors into one that he says hates america. Perhaps some actual history would be useful here. Actual history.
▶ 0:08:31The smithsonian is not part of the executive branch. Congress created it in 1846. Its 17 member board of regents is chaired by the chief justice of the united states supreme court. The president can neither appoint nor remove a single regent. The organization of american historians called the report that the white house produced an effort to coerce the smithsonian into telling an inaccurate story that fits the president's political agenda. They're absolutely right.
▶ 0:08:58When orwell wrote what whoever controls the past controls the future. He meant it as a warning. The president took it as a mission statement. We have seen this before. The soviet union airbrushed purged officials out of photographs until they vanished. The tiananmen square massacre appears nowhere in china's textbooks and is scrubbed from its internet.
▶ 0:09:21In hungary, the recently ousted viktor orban, the man vice president vance called a model for the united states, dictated the history taught in its schools. And we don't need to look abroad. We don't even need to leave this room. This committee has developed a pattern. Donald trump reaches a conclusion unmoored from reality. The majority concocts a record to match, and he uses that record as proof that congress agreed. Take january 6th. Last congress.
▶ 0:09:53This committee told the country the real wrongdoing wasn't the attack, it was the investigation. A month later, the president pardoned nearly 1600 people, including those convicted of assaulting police officers. Today, the white house website cites this committee's report on a page blaming capitol police for the violence occurred during an effort to have an insurrection and stop the peaceful transfer of power in the united states. It's shocking.
▶ 0:10:23It's beyond shocking. Or take elections. This committee built a record on voter fraud that virtually does not exist. Witnesses without evidence, findings without proof, which the president uses to undermine confidence in elections, with claims that crumble each day in our courts. Which brings us to today. Once again, this committee is attempting to put the congressional stamp of approval on one man's manufactured grievances.
▶ 0:10:50In reality, the smithsonian already has the safeguards the president claims to be imposing. A year ago, the board of regents reaffirmed the smithsonian would remain, quote, free from political or partizan influence, end quote. The secretary issued a binding policy requiring all exhibits to be grounded in scholarship, balanced and nonpartisan. The white house report never mentions that before.
▶ 0:11:15We appoint donald trump the de facto curator of american history. Remember, this is a man who looked at the world's preeminent museum complex and concluded its problem is dwelling too much on. I quote again how bad slavery was. Really, Mr. president, the owning of other people as property. And your concern that we're going to talk about how bad that was. That's the problem.
▶ 0:11:42A president who still cannot admit that he lost the 2020 election, a president whose white house issued a self-contradictory report claiming the founders were erased from a museum displaying jefferson's desk, washington's uniform, and the star spangled banner, a report that condemns exhibits about people I quote foreign to the united states, then names those foreigners mexican americans, filipino
▶ 0:12:13Americans. In other words, americans. The smithsonian is where a free nation tells its full story, triumphs, and struggles. The story belongs to no president. It does not need saving from the historians who tell it. It needs saving from the ignorant, ill informed man on the other side of pennsylvania avenue. And with that, Mr. chair, before I yield back, I would ask unanimous consent to enter the following into the record a copy of the report issued yesterday by the committee.
▶ 0:12:41Democrats responding to the white house report. A series of objects currently on display in the american history museum's 250th anniversary exhibit, including a 2024 trump campaign, maga hat, a pro gun rights button for the national rifle association, and an anti-abortion sign from a rally in washington, D.C. it also entered the record. A photo from the american history museum gift shop taken yesterday, featuring various busts of president trump and multiple books written by or about president trump.
▶ 0:13:11A statement from the organization of american historians condemning the white house report. A statement from the american alliance of museums about smithsonian independence. And finally, an nbc news article dated august 19th, 2025 titled trump says the smithsonian focus is too much on how bad slavery was. I'd ask unanimous consent to enter those into the record, and with that, I yield back. Speaker 1: without objection. Without objection, all other members opening statements will be made part of the hearing record if they're submitted to the committee clerk by 5 p.m.
▶ 0:13:41Today. Uh, today we have a four witness panel. Uh, we have doctor anthea hartig, director of the national museum of american history of the smithsonian institution. Next we have mike gonzalez of the heritage foundation, followed by jeff anderson of the american main street initiative. And finally, david blight, the sterling professor of american history at yale university. Uh, doctor hartig, you're recognized for five minutes to provide an opening statement.
▶ 0:14:14Speaker 3: good morning, chairman style ranking member morelli and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to be with you here today. I welcome the chance to answer your questions about the national museum of american history and the smithsonian institution, and I appreciate the committee's important oversight role as an historian. I have spent my career studying, teaching, and preserving the history of the united states.
▶ 0:14:42My family has served this nation since the revolutionary war, and I was raised with a deep sense of obligation to this country and to the democratic ideals that it asks each generation to uphold. Since 2019, I have been honored to serve as the elizabeth mcmillan, director of your national museum of american history, home of the star-spangled banner.
▶ 0:15:05It is a true honor to serve alongside my devoted fellow public servants who staffed the museum, and I'm immensely proud of our work. Of course, congress created the smithsonian institution in 1846 with an aspirational mission for the increase and diffusion of knowledge for all. And as you know, it's an independent trust instrumentality outside the executive branch and governed by a board of regents.
▶ 0:15:31That, of course, includes all three branches and nine, uh, three branches, and the nine citizens appointed by a joint resolution. The smithsonian takes the concerns raised in the white house domestic policy council's report seriously. And as we continue to fact check the report, we unwaveringly attest that it does not fairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum.
▶ 0:16:02There is always room for improvement, but I also know the beauty, the inspiration, and the expertise that exists in our collections and our exhibitions and our programing. When a family walks through our doors free of charge, as 2 million people did last year, they find the desk on which thomas jefferson drafted the declaration of independence.
▶ 0:16:25Horatio green magnificent statue of george washington, abraham lincoln's top hat, the greensboro lunch counter, the gowns of the first ladies, and the stories of americans in uniform. They find the inventions that change the world, and the ordinary americans who built it. I have watched ten year olds with their families stand in front of the star spangled banner with their hands over their hearts. No one told them to.
▶ 0:16:55That is the national museum of american history at its most powerful patriotism. Not instructed, but inspired. Our work is governed by the smithsonian standards of scholarship, accuracy, independence and nonpartizanship. The museum does not take sides in america's political debates.
▶ 0:17:16We preserve and document the evidence of american life in all its breadth, so that the public can encounter the past and draw their own conclusions. We are also always learning when visitors, scholars, members of congress, veterans, teachers tell us we've gotten something wrong or only half right. We take it seriously and we make changes when the evidence supports it.
▶ 0:17:42And when historians talk about reframing a traditional narrative, we do not mean telling our history fully is a form of respect for the american people, and a commitment to constantly being in pursuit of that perfect union. I hope that you will judge the museum the way the american people do by what's on its walls and what's in its care.
▶ 0:18:09Please accept our sincere invitation to come visit. Walk the building with me. Stand in front of the star spangled banner in awe. I believe what you shall find is not an institution that has forgotten its country, but one that loves it enough to tell the full sweep of our history, the triumphs and the struggles. I love the united states of america.
▶ 0:18:34I consider it the privilege of my career to help preserve its treasures and to serve the american people. I'm very grateful for the committee's work and the happy to be here with you today. Thank you, sir. Speaker 1: thank you very much. Uh, Mr. gonzalez, you're recognized for five minutes. Speaker 4: chairman, ranking member, members of this committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify. I'm a senior fellow at the heritage foundation. The views expressed in this testimony are my own.
▶ 0:19:04In 1964, as you mentioned, chairman styles at the opening was later to be renamed the national museum of american history. President johnson said the purpose of the museum was to, quote, foster patriotism. Director kellogg noted that the museum would quote a waking. Awaken a clear understanding of this inspiring story of the united states. 62 years later, the history museum is failing to do any of this.
▶ 0:19:27Instead of highlighting important parts of american history, such as the founding, the current leadership of the history museum chooses to focus on showcasing american history as one that is problematic, destructive, and oppressive. The museum leaders use this institution to promote a marxist and gramscian view of the world that sees everything as a battle between oppressors and the oppressed. This is why it has an entire center devoted to something called restorative history.
▶ 0:19:55The history museum even has education plans that target students in pre-k through third grade to indoctrinate them on open borders and lgbtq matters. Pre-k. I'll cut to the chase. Yesterday, in a separate hearing also on the smithsonian, I called for you in congress to work with the board of regents to dismiss the entire leadership of the smithsonian.
▶ 0:20:17I also called and do so again now for you to deauthorize the yet to be built latino museum, which will also become an incubator for anti-american grievances. Present leadership can now make the changes that are needed to correct course. Secretary lonnie bunch, the third. Anthea hartig, the director of the history museum and one of today's witnesses. Another museum leaders have commandeered the world's largest museum complex in. Tell us themselves that they intend to use it as a tool for societal transformation.
▶ 0:20:44This is not why americans entrust entrusted these institutions to them. National museums are repositories of a nation's collective inheritance so that it can be transmitted to future generations. The leadership is the entity at fault here. It is they who set the standards and guide the staff.
▶ 0:21:01In one example, the leadership of the history museum for years made staff take part in a reading group to discuss the museum as a site for social action toolkit, also called a mass action toolkit that alleges that objectivity. Quote, I'm quoting here objectivity, individualism, perfectionism, worship of the written word and other traits are characteristics of white supremacy culture. This is revolting.
▶ 0:21:28In fact, the smithsonian itself publicly agreed it was. It apologized in 2020 after the national museum of african american history and culture exhibited a chart with this nonsense outraging the public, the museum leadership issued a statement saying we erred in including the chart. We have removed it and we apologize.
▶ 0:21:47At yesterday's hearing, director harding said the smithsonian didn't develop the toolkit, but the toolkit was coauthored by half a dozen current and former employees, and doctor harding's museum kept surreptitiously indoctrinating staff with this trash for three years after the museum apologized for using it, which shows the promises of reform are written in sand. But wait, there's more. It just so happens that it was lonnie bunch who called for these trainings when he was co-chair of the excellence in dei task force.
▶ 0:22:15This 2022 report by the task force, um co-chaired by secretary bunch, in which bears his name, calls for staff to receive formal education on dei and calls for leadership to create training forums. It praises the mass action toolkit as offering, quote, good resources to start to start this work. But wait, there's more. Lonnie bunch himself agrees with this racist nonsense.
▶ 0:22:41The report calls to, quote shift leaders and museum professionals a weight away from white dominant characteristics of perfection, risk aversion, and conflict avoidance, unquote. Does anyone in this committee believe that perfection is a white characteristic? The man who runs the museum apparently does. This insanity has gone on long enough.
▶ 0:23:06Once again, I call on congress to do its duty and take back the smithsonian from a rogue leadership that now uses it as their own plaything for dangerous ideological games. Loving america is not complicated, Mr. chairman. Thank you. Speaker 1: thank you, doctor anderson. You're recognized for five minutes. Speaker 5: chairman style ranking member morelli and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. The national museum of american history is perhaps the most important museum in america.
▶ 0:23:35Yet rather than depicting american history traditionally and conventionally as the glorious and inspiring, though imperfect story of a nation conceived in liberty, it depicts it as a history of oppressors versus the oppressed, with most traditional american heroes portrayed as oppressors. When not condemning our history, it simply ignores huge swaths of it. As chairman steele and Mr. gonzalez noted that the museum's dedication. President johnson said its artifacts should be used to foster patriotism.
▶ 0:24:05Director anthea hartig seems like a very nice lady. We just met a moment ago in the waiting room, but in marked contrast to johnson, she has said at the national museum of american history, we want to reframe the traditional celebratory narrative of U.S. history. She has also spoken of the need to problematize the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence. And, as chairman style noted, has opined that loving america is very complicated.
▶ 0:24:35Increasingly, the national museum of american history isn't a museum about american history, but rather about activists attempts to shape the future. Indeed, smithsonian secretary lonnie bunch has said museums should be used to inspire new generations of activists. The newer exhibits at the american history museum are not nuanced but simplistic. Viewing our rich history through the narrow lens of oppression. The exhibits, open under director hartig, are heavy handed, artless, agenda driven and dumbed down.
▶ 0:25:02Worse, they're anti american, anti historical and dis unifying. They focus on group identity at the expense of the shared national identity that lincoln said should be built around a common belief in our founding documents and principles, further dividing americans in the museum's newer displays. Every sign in english is paired with one in spanish. As a result, exhibits are cluttered with words, with no additional information conveyed.
▶ 0:25:27The museum says little about the colonial period, the american founding, the louisiana purchase, and lewis and clark expedition, the lincoln-douglas debates on slavery, the pioneers and settlers of the american west, the roaring 20s, the great depression, the cold war, and much else. Instead, it features exhibits on such matters as really big money, which discusses large, almost entirely foreign currency.
▶ 0:25:50Here we learn that the tail feather of a male quetzal bird is 21in long, and those living in mexico and central america once used quetzal tail feathers to make payments. In a large exhibit on lowriding culture, we learn as the song lowrider plays on a loop that lowriding is more than blinged up, more than blinged out cars. It's a way of life. Another exhibit, opened during this 250th year of american independence is called puro ritmo the musical journey of salsa.
▶ 0:26:16It's actually a close call whether more of the museum's square footage is devoted to salsa music or to the american founding, but salsa is presented a lot more favorably in the american democracy exhibit. The museum presents two ways to view our nation's founding. Was it a complete, perfect, sacred event led by a great patriot who, as american children would learn, never told a lie? Presumably not. So that leaves this. Or was it part of a wider, unfinished movement that was deeply imperfect?
▶ 0:26:43Across the hall, 1492 to 1776, is referred to as the time of unsettling the continent. Meanwhile, the entire east wing of the second floor, roughly one sixth of the museum, contains no exhibits whatsoever. It's essentially empty. Visitors can vote with their feet, and many have. The american alliance of museums says 2024 attendance at a majority of U.S. museums matched or surpassed pre-covid levels.
▶ 0:27:09But at the american history museum, according to the smithsonian's own published statistics, there were 4.1 million visits in 2018, but just 1.8 million in 2025, a 56% drop in visits on director hartog's watch. Last fall, john fante and I had the chance to interview ken burns. When I asked who came off as the greatest hero in his documentary the american revolution, burns replied, oh, without a question, it's george washington. We don't have a country without him.
▶ 0:27:35None of that sentiment appears in the newer exhibits of the national museum of american history. That's because such exhibits aren't designed by old school liberals, by centrists or by conservatives. They're designed by woke activists, woke revolutionaries who don't believe in the ideals of the american revolution. Such activists want to fundamentally transform the nation and are using the museum. To that end, china, iran or russia would happily finance such anti-americanism in our national museums.
▶ 0:28:03But they don't have to, because american taxpayers are unwittingly footing the bill. It's past time for a change of leadership at the smithsonian. Thank you. Speaker 1: thank you, doctor blight. You're recognized for five minutes. Speaker 6: uh, thank you, Mr. chairman and ranking member and members of the committee.
▶ 0:28:24It's a rare chance for a lowly historian to be invited to defend his craft, uh, before congress. And it's also a great privilege to sit next to my predecessor as president of the organization of american historians, which anthony hartig was. As historians, we often dwell in the past.
▶ 0:28:49Professionally, we should, in spring 2025, with the president's executive order restoring truth and sanity to american history, and now the white house report saving america's story. The president has come storming into our work lives with a vengeance, and we welcome the challenge. The president is inherently interwoven with the past.
▶ 0:29:14Like it or not, the white house now believes it should pronounce on the nature of history and the presentation of the nation's treasures that the smithsonian. The recent report by the white house domestic policy council is nothing less than a declaration of political war on the historian's profession, as well as on the freedom and curiosity of anyone who reads or visits museums.
▶ 0:29:41In other words, president trump has declared war on free minds and free education. Historians are not voices for the state. We are keepers of memory. At our best. We are storytellers with trained imaginations. That white house counsel contains. Not a single person trained in history, and yet they declare with such certainty what forms of.
▶ 0:30:10And these are their words heritage, destiny, settled truths, and indeed stories that the smithsonian should, in one of their favorite verbs, instill in the minds of the public. Historians are now fighting back in the interest of scholarly history, well told for the broadest possible public. Ours is a beautiful and ancient craft.
▶ 0:30:36It's essential for any society's need for self-understanding. We are equipped with a host of modern methods, but guided ethically by some very old rules that no authoritarian political movement ought to ever be allowed to profane, a historian reads and listens, searches, measures, imagines his or her way into and through all manner of evidence facts sometimes
▶ 0:31:06Clear and sometimes slanted. Every which way. We examine and we read and we accumulate and sift and study all these modes of evidence with hopefully empathy and humility. Then we rise from all of our data and our sources and all manner of context, and we fashion it into a story in order to inspire and take our audiences somewhere.
▶ 0:31:35Um, and once we get them there, we are bound by our craft to make an argument about why this all happened and why it matters. People often comment about how trumpism would like to return us to some version of the 1950s, when america was deemed great. In this report, they have transparently done exactly that. The report is rooted explicitly in the founding of the national museum of american history.
▶ 0:32:03In the cold war of the 1950s, in its dedication speeches and so forth. The founding words and sentiments are, quite understandably, breathing a kind of rhetoric of cold war triumphalism. How could it not have? The report offers no context for what might have invoked such expressions.
▶ 0:32:25The soviet achievement of the hydrogen bomb sputnik, the korean war, the cuban missile crisis, the march on washington, and the assassination of president kennedy had the domestic council. Domestic policy council consulted trained historians. They might have provided such context. They might also have consulted edward r murrow famous commentary in 1954 on joseph mccarthy and his assaults on free speech.
▶ 0:32:54We can deny our heritage and our history, said morrow. But we cannot escape responsibility for its results. Erase mccarthyism and it will come back. Triumphalist history cannot tolerate nuance, ambiguity, complexity, but they are the lifeblood for real historians.
▶ 0:33:16Also, in a deep cold war context, james baldwin james baldwin wrote in 1962 in an essay entitled as much truth as one can bear, that the problem with the way americans approach history is that his words words are mostly used to cover the sleeper, but not to wake him up. Speaker 1: Mr. blight, your. Your time has expired. Your full testimony will be inserted into the record. We. Speaker 6: thank you. Finish that sentence.
▶ 0:33:46Speaker 1: but we'll we'll let you let you finish your sentence. Speaker 6: we do not write woke history, whatever that is. But we do try to awaken citizens. In recent decades, we sewed a wind and now we're reaping the whirlwind. Thank you. Speaker 1: thank you, Mr. blight. Uh, thank you all for your testimony today. Uh, I'll begin questions followed by the ranking member. I now recognize myself for five minutes.
▶ 0:34:11Um, director hartig, uh, do you believe that the american history museum should be politically neutral? Speaker 3: yes, sir. Speaker 1: do you do you believe that the american history museum should advocate for contemporary political or social causes? Speaker 3: no, sir. The american history museum does not advocate. Speaker 1: do you think the american history museum should avoid the appearance of bias?
▶ 0:34:45Speaker 3: absolutely. Speaker 1: do you believe that one of your roles, um, is connecting research and scholarship to advocacy and and activism? Speaker 3: no, sir, I do not. Speaker 1: you you do you want to be clear on this? You don't believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy? Speaker 3: I believe perhaps you're quoting from some of my public speeches. Speaker 1: yeah.
▶ 0:35:102020 university of california, riverside, uh, virtual lecture, uh, which you said that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy. Uh, you said that in 2020. And so I just want to be clear on the record that in the, the video that I watched, uh, this 2020 online, uh, you can watch it on youtube. Everybody at home will put it up for folks. But you're now saying that you don't believe that that is one of your rules. Is your position changed on this topic?
▶ 0:35:41Speaker 3: thank you. I better understand your line of querying. Um, I think what's important for me is that. Speaker 1: not, not what's I only have five minutes, so I just want to be direct. Just real clear. You just answered my question differently than you answered it five years ago, which is positions can change. So I just want to understand, in 2020, did you believe that your that one of your roles, one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy in 2020? Did you believe that?
▶ 0:36:10Speaker 3: so one of the roles of an historian. Speaker 1: just yes or no? I mean, in 2020, it was real, real straightforward in for the record, you said this. So it should be an easy yes. It shouldn't be complicated on my side, but maybe it's complicated on your side in 2020. I'm not even asking what you believe today in 2020. Did you believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship with advocacy and activism? Yes. Speaker 3: one of the key things a historian does, especially at the national museum of american history, is to tie threads together.
▶ 0:36:40Speaker 1: I'm just going to I'm going to just note you're filibustering on the answer. You. You said it. So I'm going to. In 2020, you said it. So I'm going to assume in 2020 you believed it unless you said things you don't believe. So in 2025. In 2026, as we sit here today, I'll ask you for the record one additional time today. Do you believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy? Speaker 3: as a historian, I believe that intellectually we can connect those two together. Absolutely.
▶ 0:37:10Speaker 1: so you think that so so it is one of your roles, uh. Speaker 3: to absolutely. Speaker 1: to be an activist. Speaker 3: no, sir. Speaker 1: one of your roles is a historian is to go ahead. Speaker 3: one of my roles as a historian and the director of the national museum of american history is to help connect the long history of activism and advocacy on all topics, from gun rights to identity to
▶ 0:37:40Immigration. That is a connection that I make. Speaker 1: and do you think that that is important to show that advocacy and activism at the national history museum? Speaker 3: I believe our work is grounded in rigorous scholarship, and that we often will connect both our objects and 2 million that we share with the american people to the. Speaker 1: temperature is trying to help me, help me, help me square this. You think that you, the american history museum, should not advocate for political or social causes.
▶ 0:38:07You just said that you think it should be politically neutral, but you also also are stating that one of your core roles is connecting research in scholarship to act activism and advocacy. Speaker 3: one of the core roles? Speaker 1: do you support activism and advocacy, or do you think your goal at the museum should be neutral? Speaker 3: our goal at the museum is to educate all americans and everyone who comes through our door free of charge.
▶ 0:38:37Speaker 1: to persuade them. Speaker 3: our goal is to educate them about the history of the. Speaker 1: in a neutral way. Speaker 3: absolutely. Speaker 1: do you do you think you noted in your statement that you love america? I love america too. Uh, for me, that's not complicated. Do you believe loving america is complicated? Speaker 3: my personal belief is that loving america is not complicated. But as an historian, I can tell you that over time it has been very complicated for many people. Speaker 1: so for you, loving america is not complicated.
▶ 0:39:08Speaker 3: it's unconditional. Speaker 1: I appreciate your testimony here today. I yield back, I'll recognize the ranking member for five minutes. Speaker 3: thank you. Speaker 2: I'm not sure my my mic is on. Sorry, this is the microphone. I don't take this off my five minutes. The microphones here are awful. Anyway, um, thank you, Mr. chair for yielding. I want to just before I get to my questions, just make an observation. Um, Mr.
▶ 0:39:38Gonzales talked about george washington, who I consider the greatest american, and set precedents in his presidency, his decision to relinquish his command after the revolutionary war is some of the greatest acts of not only of history of, but set enormous precedents for this country. But you know what?
▶ 0:39:58In 1754, uh, george washington, under his first command, led an ill fated, uh, command that was disastrous, that ended up in defeat and surrender at fort necessity. I didn't really learn that until much later in my life. By the way, that didn't change my view of george washington. It just reminded me that we're all humans, that we have successes and failures. And actually, that lets us recognize that we're all multi-dimensional.
▶ 0:40:27By the same token, I think about the dual nature of our founding, and I may get this wrong from memory. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One of the greatest. Walter isaacson wrote a book, the greatest sentence ever written. But the dual nature of it as.
▶ 0:40:50While we're talking about rights that are inalienable, given to us by god our creator, we still denied them to black americans who were enslaved and owned by other people that. At the same time, all of my counterparts, many on both sides, had no rights at all as women. So it's a dual nature. Yes. We celebrate. It's extraordinary. But boy, how could we not call that complicated?
▶ 0:41:15I love america unconditionally, but I recognize we have our challenges. That is actually what history is about. And by the way, I think we learn more and do better by our failures and what we learn from them, by our successes. That's true in baseball. It's true in legislating. It's true in just about everything. That is the nature of what history teaches us. It's fundamental to what we do. Um, so I, you know, and, and by the way, I love my wife unconditionally.
▶ 0:41:42I don't always agree with her shockingly, and I hope she's not watching this because I'll get in trouble. But unconditional love is like that. And our understanding of where we've been and where we should go should be informed by the entire complete history. That's what I love about the smithsonian. You do something extraordinary, world class, extraordinary. And I, I'm, I, I'm biased.
▶ 0:42:05Um, I'm also biased by the work of doctor blade for his incredible, uh, biography of frederick douglass, who, uh, you know, did much of his work in the city of rochester, new york, for which I'm incredibly proud. But, um, I do want to give you a moment. Just to clarify to the chairman's question, doctor harding, I to be clear, I don't think you said you were promoting social activism.
▶ 0:42:31I thought what the what the point you were trying to make was tying together the elements of our history so that you better understand social activism in all of its forms. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I do want to give you a moment, um, to just fully answer that and at least make me believe if what you were saying is what the way I interpret what you said. Speaker 3: thank you for that opportunity, sir. You are you are correct.
▶ 0:42:57And I think that one of the key roles of that the museum can do is to connect those tissues. I would also offer that my words five years ago are not museum policy. They're my spoken words, as would any of us be lecturing or sharing comments to audiences.
▶ 0:43:20So I think that when you look at the the depth of the collection, we started kind of contemporarily collecting, uh, all social movements, starting with doctor king's march on washington. So we have a phenomenal collection. Thank you. Speaker 2: yeah. I don't mean to cut you short, but I, I appreciate that. I cannot ask doctor blight, uh, a question that doesn't relate to frederick douglass. So thank you for your work. And I talked about his connection to rochester, which I'm incredibly proud of.
▶ 0:43:48What would he say about this report that instructs the national museum of american history? Uh, which parts of the story it's permitted to tell can you channel having spent so much time on him? Speaker 6: well, I can try, uh. Speaker 2: and do it in 30s. Sorry. Speaker 6: oh, uh, cut to the. He would cut to the chase.
▶ 0:44:06He might go to the middle of his 4th of july speech, where he took his audience through a litany of all of the horrors from slavery, from the hold of slave ship through a slave auction, to the slaves experience on plantations where he, through language and words, made his audience feel that experience in their senses. And then he would say, if you were raised to this, there is no country left. Speaker 2: thank you.
▶ 0:44:36And I, I appreciate that. And as I yield back, I just. Speaker 6: but I wasn't able to ask him. I'm not sure. Speaker 2: no, no, but I think that's I, I appreciate your scholarship on the subject. And, uh, as I said, we only learn by learning the entire truth, not the parts that make us feel good about ourselves. So anyway, I yield back. Thank you. Speaker 1: gentleman yields back. The gentlewoman from florida, uh, representative lee is recognized for five minutes. Speaker 7: thank you, Mr. chairman. And thank you to our witnesses for being here today.
▶ 0:45:07This is indeed an important hearing. I want to start with this. It was said earlier today that president trump wants our parks and museums to tell an inaccurate story of american history.
▶ 0:45:25So I believe it's incumbent upon us to begin by actually thinking about the story of american history and whether what we pursue here today is, in fact, in any way inaccurate.
▶ 0:45:38Uh, we've learned that the museum has, uh, a number of directives, goals, uh, things that we've heard about this morning, uh, you know, one of which in our materials is the interpretive plan to frame exhibits and curate exhibits, whatever the topic to include a discussion of things such as race and identity, gender and sexuality, environmental change, immigration, economic
▶ 0:46:09Inequality. And so I'd like to start with you, Mr. gonzales, and get back to the idea of what is an accurate or inaccurate story of american history.
▶ 0:46:24Would it be an inaccurate presentation of american history if our museum instead made an effort to present to those who came to see it, an interpretation that involved our founding documents like the declaration of independence, the constitution, the separation of powers. Would that be an inaccurate telling of american history to focus on those things? Speaker 1: uh. Speaker 4: representative lee no, it wouldn't.
▶ 0:46:54I actually agreed with almost everything, uh, representative morelli said, except until the part you got to the smithsonian. I think all of history should be presented. The horrors of slavery, the the the the, the absolute blight that this was in our history, but also the fact that the founders created this system to deal with it, that that men marched, you know, to the tune in the battle hymn of the republic, saying, as he died to make men holy, men holy, we shall let us die to make them free.
▶ 0:47:24That if that that that inspiring story also needs to be part of the horrors of slavery. Speaker 7: correct? Not just our failures and our shortcomings, but also the efforts that were made to correct them. And now what about this? Would it also be an important part of american history to celebrate american innovation, enterprise, scientific achievement and economic opportunity? Speaker 4: absolutely, yes.
▶ 0:47:47Speaker 7: and would it also be an appropriate thing for our institutions and our museums to be focusing on the military service, sacrifice and defense of freedom that we have seen in our country throughout history? Speaker 4: they should be presented as well, the triumphs and they, the curators in the museum, should not go out of its way every time to smear every one of these triumphs.
▶ 0:48:08Speaker 7: and a note on the curators, I note in your written testimony that one of the things that you presented for our consideration was an assessment of the political party affiliation of museum directors and curators in america. Would it be accurate to say that not just the majority, the vast majority of museum directors, curators, conservators, historians, and administrators are actually democrats? Speaker 4: yes. That is a verdant lab study, which shows quite how much the left.
▶ 0:48:36All the professions related to museums are. But it's the job of leadership to guide them, to check their biases. It is. In fact, the leadership of the smithsonian has been doing exactly the opposite, has been training them not to check their bias, but to act on their biases. Speaker 7: and to your knowledge, is there any objective metric, standard audit outside group that is considering the presentation of these exhibits and whether in fact bias exists? Speaker 4: um, yes.
▶ 0:49:05I believe private individuals have tried to do. Speaker 7: private individuals, but not within the museum. Speaker 4: well, the administration did ask the smithsonian to cooperate with an audit, and the smithsonian pretty much refused it, refused to hand over the materials that they were that that that had been asked for it handed some things, but not to the degree that, that, that, uh, roosevelt, that omb and vince haley at the at the domestic policy council had asked for.
▶ 0:49:32Speaker 7: now a question for you, doctor hartig, since 2019, you have donated to political advocacy groups and campaigns over 350 times, according to information pulled from the fec. Uh, is that correct? Speaker 3: ma'am, I am not here. Oops. Is that on? Ma'am, my political beliefs or my political contributions are not relevant to this conversation.
▶ 0:50:02Speaker 7: and of these hundreds of donations since you've been leading the museum, have all of them occurred while you were off duty and off of government premises in your private time? Speaker 3: I adhere completely to the hatch act. So the answer is yes. Speaker 7: thank you, Mr. chairman. I yield back. Speaker 1: the gentleman yields back. Representative sewell is recognized for five minutes. Speaker 8: thank you, Mr. chairman. I want to thank our witnesses for being here today.
▶ 0:50:23Our country has remarkable history of unparalleled accomplishments, not because our past is exempt from injustice, but because the people of this country have remained committed to our founding ideals of liberty, equality, and and democracy. Despite extraordinary struggles to achieve full rights. No one understands that better than the people of my district.
▶ 0:50:48Alabama's seventh congressional district, which includes the historic cities of birmingham, tuscaloosa, my hometown of selma, alabama. The valiant efforts of foremothers and forefathers of my district gave rise to the civil rights movement, the voting rights movement, their protest and direct political action brought this country much closer to living up to its creed of liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness.
▶ 0:51:13Their sacrifices led to the enactment of both the civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965. We're incredibly proud of that. But we also know that this country, according to its own preamble in the constitution, is in pursuit of a more perfect union. Our founding fathers acknowledge that we were not there. And I think that today we can acknowledge that we're still not there.
▶ 0:51:39But I can tell you that the arc of the moral universe does bend towards justice. It just doesn't bend by itself. It takes the courage of americans to live up to, to make this nation live up to its highest ideals of equality and justice for all. These are cherished values of america.
▶ 0:52:00I, too, love this country unconditionally, but I can tell you that that is hard sometimes when you hear and read about how we treated the four founders of this country who were indians.
▶ 0:52:15When you read about and understand that our history is very complicated, and as a historians, I think that the fact of the matter is the smithsonian and other historians, as doctor blight just said, um, they do an incredible job of trying to tell the truth. And the truth is the whole truth, not just the parts that make us feel good. I'm proud of the work that is being done by the smithsonian institute to preserve our nation's history in my district.
▶ 0:52:44I appreciate that the smithsonian affiliate, the birmingham civil rights institute, which keeps the stories of birmingham and the civil rights movement alive for future generations to learn and enrich from these are important institutions. Now, this administration's crusade to take control of the, quote, american history museum, I think, is not only dangerous, it's perilous.
▶ 0:53:08On march 27th, 2025, the president issued his executive order entitled restoring truth and sanity to the american history. However, this administration is not restoring truth and sanity to american history. On the contrary, it's creating an untruth. Sanitation of american history.
▶ 0:53:30Now, professor blight, in a guest essay that you published in the new york times, you mentioned how the white house, uh, domestic policy report is not a document about history. It is a product of a racial and political ideology in search of history that no longer bears sanity. I mean, scrutiny that no longer bears scrutiny. Can you please expound on that statement a bit more for us?
▶ 0:53:54And can you explain why this administration is risk by risking by tampering with history, is risking a historical record that is not correct. Speaker 6: as in other places in the past, where governments and states have tried to control history, what they are really doing is trying to control thought free speech. Speaker 8: that sounds reminiscent of fascism. Speaker 6: well, you used that word. That's fine.
▶ 0:54:23There have been plenty of other examples. Uh, what what do authoritarian regimes do? First, they assault libraries, archives, schools, universities, cultural institutions. This is an old, old record. And we don't have to just go to the 1930s to find it. Uh, this hearing indeed has the word revisionism in its title. I wonder if you understand what a fat pitch that is for historians.
▶ 0:54:51All history is revision. The first revisionist was herodotus. Speaker 8: yes. Speaker 6: 2500 years ago. Would you prefer your doctors not to be revisionist? Mhm. Do you want to go to a pediatrician who's not a revisionist, who hasn't learned anything new since her his or her first training? We revised because it's our job. It always will be.
▶ 0:55:19Um, thank you for putting that word in your title. Speaker 8: thank you for all the work that you do to make sure that this country's history is not just the history of what makes us feel good, but is a complete history of the wonderfulness that is american. Speaker 1: gentleman yields back. Gentleman from georgia, representative loudermilk is recognized. Thank you, Mr. chairman. Very important hearing more important than a lot of other things that we do up here. Um, Mr. gonzales um.
▶ 0:55:53You mentioned, uh, something that Mr. morelli said, and I agree with that. Um, it's it's important to reveal all aspects of our, our past good, bad, indifferent, um, and allow individuals to really draw their own inspiration and conclusion of that. Do you agree with that? Speaker 9: oh, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Speaker 1: okay. Um, let me ask you this.
▶ 0:56:14Is it possible to reshape or as the word that we've heard here reframe, uh, the truth of our past by only highlighting one aspect or displaying one aspect of it and not the entirety? Speaker 9: uh. Speaker 4: yes it is. And I believe that's what the leadership of the smithsonian is doing. And they're telling us they're doing it. Speaker 1: okay. Thank you. Um, Mr. anderson, we've heard, uh, as my colleague over here and friend, Mr.
▶ 0:56:42Morelli, uh, adequately quoted the second line of the declaration of independence, and we've heard how that has been a focus, especially during the 250 anniversary. And that is incredible. Um, there's other aspects of that incredible document, uh, that are important to, to our past.
▶ 0:56:59And one of that is the last line of the declaration that says, and in support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, faith played a huge role in the beliefs and the founding of our nation. Do you agree with that? Speaker 5: absolutely. Speaker 1: do you see that that aspect of our founding and through various aspects of our past, is also adequately displayed within our museums?
▶ 0:57:28Speaker 5: no, it's essentially invisible by the stone copy of the declaration of independence, a very valuable object in the museum. Uh, the words um, endowed by their creator are taken out of the reference to the declaration of independence. A key part, um, the freedom of religion, such a huge aspect of our constitution, of the first amendment not discussed at all in that, uh, relatively paltry section of the museum that deals with the american founding. Speaker 1: um, so there's another aspect of this.
▶ 0:57:57And it's interesting because as a historian myself, uh, who's also published books on american history, um, today we go to the archives and we're going to see the original copy of the declaration that was passed by congress, um, in 1776. And there's 27 grievances. However, true history is there were 28 grievances listed in the original draft of the declaration, the 28th grievance being a harsh condemnation of slavery and the slave trade.
▶ 0:58:26Um, it's hard to find that in, in any of the museums that I have been going to have. Have you seen that that aspect of the efforts to abolish the evils of slavery actually began in the very beginning of our nation? Speaker 5: no, I have not seen that represented. And it is hugely important, I agree. In jefferson's draft of the declaration of independence, he talks about he leaves his harshest condemnation for the kings.
▶ 0:58:55He accuses him of keeping open the slave trade, keeping the colonists from, uh, limiting it. And he talks about how he's determined to keep open a market where men should be bought and sold. And he puts men in all caps, men making no question the fact that he views the slaves as men, as human beings, obviously, including female slaves as well. This is a huge aspect of of our history and our thought.
▶ 0:59:18And to go beyond that, I would argue that as much as I mean, I agree with everything that's been said about the need to tell the good and the bad about our history. But I would also say that our founding generation probably did more to overcome and eliminate slavery in this country than any other one, except for the one that spilled blood during the civil war. Speaker 1: wouldn't that be an important story? I think, to tell, especially our children? Speaker 5: I think it's a hugely important story. Speaker 1: all right. Thank you, doctor harding.
▶ 0:59:43Do you believe it is the role of the museum to objectively display the history of the united states, or subjectively interpret our past to shape the thoughts, beliefs and understanding of future generations? Speaker 3: thank you, sir, I, I believe that the role of the national museum of american history, joined by many other history museums, is to present scholarly evidence based on objects interpretation, and share those stories with the american people.
▶ 1:00:10Speaker 1: do you do you believe it's important to show the entire story, the whole story, to, uh, present all sides? Mhm. Speaker 3: you know, I think especially about the revolution, if I may, we have a dozen exhibitions that include the founding era right now, 368 objects, 340 labels. George washington has mentioned 54 times.
▶ 1:00:34You have to walk by a whole section on george washington and the kenneth baring hall of military history to get to a 15 foot tall reproduction of the declaration of independence. Speaker 1: my time is expired, I yield back. Speaker 10: gentleman yields. Representative johnson is recognized for five minutes. Speaker 11: thank you, Mr. chairman. Um, we must all ensure that our history is not rewritten by one political party or an administration.
▶ 1:01:01American history belongs to all of us. It belongs to indigenous communities across this country striving for self-determination. It belongs to the abolitionists who challenge slavery, to the suffragists who fought for women's rights to vote, and to the immigrants who've committed, whose contributions have shaped our nation's greatest achievements and to so many more. History is not meant to fit a political narrative, a history of a record of who we are and what we continue to strive for. It only belongs to the american people.
▶ 1:01:29While american history includes extraordinary achievements, remarkable innovation, and tremendous courage, it is every generation's responsibility to ensure that our nation's darkest chapters are not rewritten, but instead inspire honest discussion, reflection, and a deep commitment to self-correction.
▶ 1:01:47Our institutions, museums, archives and historical records have an obligation to the truth and to ensure that every american understands that this country and what we are inheriting, the promise of america, the promise of freedom, is our willingness to learn from our darkest moments.
▶ 1:02:03Right now, we are seeking seeing an unprecedented level of attacks from republicans and the trump administration towards independent institutions, challenging historians, educators, archivists, and those who are entrusted to protect our democracy. Beginning in january 2025, with trump's executive orders that closed diversity, offices, promoted language and content changes on government websites, with states like texas following along removals of references to trump's impeachments.
▶ 1:02:32In the american history museum, published white house reviews of smithsonian exhibits, including lists of what it finds objectionable, and lastly, accusations that the american history museum is denigrating white male christian history. This administration is obsessed with ideologically influencing historically accurate interpretations of american history. Let me set the record straight. American history should be interpreted and analyzed differently over time, and debated endlessly.
▶ 1:02:59The importance of these museums is to invoke a sense of curiosity or debate, and, perhaps most importantly, a reckoning of what history means to us, especially when we disagree. But this president has sought to erase from history the contributions and strengths of women, of black people, hispanic people, of indigenous people, and basically imposing a racist sense of historical impact on the evolution of our country.
▶ 1:03:24There is a long list of concerns about this administration's executive overreach, but today we're focusing on the american history museum, and I am deeply offended by some of the comments that some of the panelists have said today that, for example, Mr. gonzales, to imply that the congress needs to authorize the latino museum because for it to become it will become an incubator of anti-american forces.
▶ 1:03:52That is the most outrageous statement I have ever heard by a witness and a panel in this building that to celebrate the latino history of this country, becomes anti-american. That is ridiculous. And to state that that the museums have a marxist view of the world and restrictive history that is just not accurate.
▶ 1:04:17And I think that your your attempts to come into this building and say these statements to the american people is outrageous, and it is offensive on history, and it's offensive on what this proceeding is all about. You know, the reality of it is this administration doesn't like the fact that history is accurate, is portraying him. You know, he was impeached by the congress.
▶ 1:04:48And that needs to be that is part of our history. That truth is there. And it's unfortunate that he doesn't like it. You know, miss hartig, I am sorry you're facing such attacks. The american history museum brings delight to families all across this country. I've taken my own kids there. The exhibits are fantastic. And, you know, it's unfortunate that we're having this attack in this history.
▶ 1:05:18But what are the risks to our democracy when historical institutions lose their independence and the public confidence? Speaker 3: thank you, ma'am. I think that this committee, especially with its oversight duties, which I appreciate, greatly, understands intimately that for the last 180 years, the structure of the smithsonian.
▶ 1:05:41As an independent agency, you know, dedicated to scholarship, interpretation, education and science and history and the arts is such that this the structure is working. And I think that the fear certainly is that to change that dynamic and to lessen that independence. Speaker 11: unfortunately, I ran out of time. I agree with you that the independence is paramount. Mr. chairman, I yield back. Speaker 10: gentleman yields.
▶ 1:06:12Uh, representative griffith is recognized for five minutes. Let me say, Mr. chairman, from the get go that I'm. I always tell folks I'm for additive history, not subtractive history. Put more out there, not less. But you do need to tell the main story. But before I get into some questions I had on that, Mr. gonzalez, you were mentioned by name by speaker 12: the previous questioner. Did you want to respond in any way? Speaker 6: uh, yes. Thank you for the opportunity.
▶ 1:06:37I agree with senator johnson wholeheartedly that history is not meant to fit a political narrative. It is doing that now, and we need to address that. And that's the reason why I welcome this hearing. You. Speaker 12: absolutely. Thank you, doctor anderson. I was shocked, quite frankly shocked.
▶ 1:06:54And I want you to explain a little bit, if you could, in your written testimony and in your oral testimony, you said the national museum of american history says little to nothing or has says little to nothing to say about a wide range of major events in american history, the colonial period. They don't have much on the colonial period. No, sir. You know, because one of my complaints is that that in the murals in the in the capitol, they get it wrong.
▶ 1:07:18They've got, uh, pocahontas married john rolfe after the pilgrims, uh, landing at plymouth rock. And and pocahontas was dead, uh, had gone to great britain, got a fever, had a baby, uh, and was dead before the plymouth, uh, puritans ever showed up. And they don't have any of that discussed in any way that the that, you know, jamestown and all that was there.
▶ 1:07:42And, and, and note I come from the western part of virginia, but we're still proud of virginia history, but I probably represent the largest number of descendants of pocahontas because they moved west. Uh. Speaker 7: there's very little. I mean, you really have to hunt for it. Speaker 12: yeah. Uh, you've already talked about the american founding, but the louisiana purchase and the explorations by lewis and clark, very little on that. Speaker 7: there's one wall. Partial wall. Um, that's all I've seen on that. It says next to nothing.
▶ 1:08:12And to go back to the founding for a second, um, doctor hartog spoke about how there were a dozen exhibits to deal with the founding. I mean, you could put everything in the museum that's talked about that mentions the founding into the rooms that include the feature, the lowrider exhibit and the salsa music exhibit, and you'd have space left over. There's very little on the founding. Uh, a lot of it is not, uh, very, uh, colorful or interesting, for example.
▶ 1:08:37And, uh, even the, even in the exhibit on, uh, the price of freedom, I think it's called about our wars, where it talks about the revolutionary war, which is a pretty good exhibit somehow doesn't even mention the crossing of the delaware or the winter of valley forge. The more colorful aspects, the more stirring aspects of our history. Speaker 12: I bet it doesn't get into, uh, lord dunmore's war, either. That's another story. Um, I'm really concerned about the the lewis and clark expedition, because while Mr.
▶ 1:09:07Smithson's, uh, donation was relatively vague, he was a what would maybe be referred to at the time as a natural philosopher, mineralogist, etc. And there's not a, there's not a display on all the different new animals and creatures and things that lewis and clark saw when they went west the first time it was documented for, uh, the people in the eastern united states. Are you telling me that's not in there? Speaker 7: not to my knowledge. Speaker 12: and you you talk about salsa museum and and I don't have any problem.
▶ 1:09:36Or the salsa display. And I don't have any problem with going through various genres. But you said in your testimony that there's nothing on big bands, jazz, the american songbook. Is that correct? Speaker 7: yeah. Except for I mean, there may be a mention or two that would qualify for that in the entertainment nation exhibit, but, uh, nothing devoted to that in particular. Speaker 12: because, you know, I think that music traces through and, and tells a story about american history, whether you'rever in, in part from africa.
▶ 1:10:05And I did a whole lecture at that at, uh, in my district recently. The banjo is not from my district per se, but a lot of influence there. And, and then I think about the march on washington. Uh, is there much on the march on washington there? Doctor anderson. Speaker 7: I believe there is on march on washington. Speaker 12: okay. And do they go through the fact that peter, paul and mary sang and, and actually put pictures on their big biggest album ever? Uh, had pictures of them at the march on washington. Is that in the music display?
▶ 1:10:35I mean, because to me, that's a part of that's a that's a big part of the history of the country. And a big part of the history of washington, D.C. was the march on washington for so much that it did so much good. Speaker 7: I mean, anything that has anything to do with activism, you can bet, is represented. I mean, when you first walk into the museum, uh, from the national mall side, which until recently was closed, the first thing you encountered, the only thing you encounter in the in talking about activism. Speaker 12: yeah. And I think this museum ought to focus on american history.
▶ 1:11:03So I was disturbed to hear about the quetzal. Uh, as a birder, I think it's a fabulous bird. I think the, the natural science folks ought to have that, but they ought not have it necessarily in the money display in the american museum of the history museum for america, I yield back. Speaker 2: gentleman yields. Representative murphy is recognized for five minutes. Speaker 13: thank you, Mr. chairman. You know, when I was, uh, prefaced with this, uh, the subject matter of this, um, hearing, I, I kind of said, really?
▶ 1:11:33Are we really doing this? And then when you get to read it, um, I just become enraged. Why you guys feel that it is your political or that is your personal arena to have your political beliefs espoused upon the american people in the guise that it is objective? American history is beyond me. You know, I really I've been a surgeon my entire life and we don't revise things. We adapt. We don't make up the spleen as being a different organ, by the way. Um.
▶ 1:11:59Why people do this, I don't know, you know, I was on a board for my, um, college and the president of that college decided it was her particular mission to turn a balanced college into her political playground. Sadly enough, she's now the president of the national trust for historic preservation. So god only knows what's going to happen with this.
▶ 1:12:24It is just beyond me why you feel you have the right to make your political opinions, history, and you can't understand that your job is to present balance to the american people. Your job is not to be an activist. I don't understand that.
▶ 1:12:45I, I don't understand that and how you can sit there and tell us that you're not doing this in any manner that you're trying to be truthful is beyond me. I don't understand that. I just don't have that type of calculus in my brain. What you're doing, the examples that you see time and time again, there are absolute political activism. You're not trying to tell a balanced story of america.
▶ 1:13:10You're trying to tell it from a leftist, progressive viewpoint, period, period. Mr. blight, you know, I was looking at your cv. You've written a lot on slavery. Who is the first person to own a slave in the united states? Speaker 8: the first person. Speaker 13: the first person to legally own a slave in the united states? Speaker 8: I'm not sure I can give you a name. Well, you. Speaker 13: should know this. You're the you're the scholar that that has researched all this. Anthony johnson. Why would you not know that?
▶ 1:13:40Speaker 8: oh, I know about anthony johnson. Speaker 13: have you ever written on him? Speaker 8: uh. Speaker 13: I don't think you have. I looked up and I don't think you have. I don't know why not. Well, if we're going to tell a real history. Speaker 8: anthony johnson is in a textbook. I'm a coauthor on. So I. Speaker 13: if if we're going to tell real history. Yeah. And not be revisionist. You said we don't we aren't woke. We want to awaken. Well, they tell me the same damn thing. Give me a break. Um, I, I just beyond me. I don't understand this.
▶ 1:14:05And and miss hart, you said you want us to do research, but you've removed, as my understanding. Did you remove rigorous research from the mission statement or the american history museum? That's what I have down here. Yes or no? Speaker 5: not hard. I came to the museum in 2019. We started on a new strategic plan. Speaker 13: all right, so you removed rigorous research, which is what we're supposed to do in rigorous research, at least in my field, is something that's balanced.
▶ 1:14:31Sadly enough, we we even have now the, the, the pollution of wokeism in medicine. One of the former heads of the smithsonian is now the head of the double a m c and he's decided it's his political mission to poison medical school, where people's lives are at stake. If they're not writing little story books, they're not enlightening little history books. It's. People's lives are at stake where political activism has to be. So you talked about gun rights earlier. Is there a there's an exhibit, um, talking about the ills of guns. Is there one about gun rights?
▶ 1:15:02Speaker 5: I'm not aware of an exhibit talking about the ills of gun, sir. We hold the national armament collection and gun collection. I'd be honored to give you a tour. Speaker 13: no, I honestly, guys, I'd have to take a lot of phenergan for. I went on a tour, um, with this place. I've given what. Speaker 5: I had to have. Speaker 13: you, sir, I, I just I don't understand why you guys in your academic circles. Look, I've been in academics and I'm not a I'm not a dummy. Why you feel you have to. Um.
▶ 1:15:27Yeah, I know, that's why I brought it up, but he didn't admit it. But anyway, um, why you feel you have to be politically active in this? Can you honestly say right in front of this whole committee and to the american public that what you're doing in your museum is not political activism. Speaker 5: sir. Speaker 13: yes or no? Speaker 5: I can honestly say to the american people and to this august committee that I am not engaged in political activism.
▶ 1:15:54Speaker 13: well, the the absolute facts smack us in the face. Otherwise, and I would agree with Mr. gonzales. Um, something needs some some rebalancing needs to occur. And we don't need political activists in charge of this nonsense. And yes, there are certain books that are not right for kids to have. And that's not burning books. That's not suppressing the press. It's not suppressing free speech.
▶ 1:16:21It's called being an adult and actually trying to make sure that our kids get, uh, get the right material and we don't pollute their minds too early. Uh, Mr. chairman, I yield back. Speaker 2: gentleman yields. Uh, representative bice is recognized for five minutes. Speaker 14: thank you, Mr. chairman. Um, and thank you to all of the witnesses for being here this this morning. Doctor hartig, I think I'm bothered by the fact that you don't recognize that there's a problem.
▶ 1:16:46You think that the exhibits that you're putting forward in the museum are wholly acceptable, even though you're being questioned about many of them. I want to read a statement, actually a comment that was posted on an ap article about your testimony yesterday, uh, to the oversight committee. Uh, this is user man 5312. Uh, and the comment is this interesting timing related to this article?
▶ 1:17:15I took my family to washington dc a week ago, and we spent three hours at this particular museum. We can attest that it was very engaging, but there were times when we had to chuckle at some of the overt attempts to engage and shine light on the personal failings of the founding fathers. Basically overcorrections in both subtle and obtuse ways. As a common sense person, we could clearly see the hand of liberal politics at work.
▶ 1:17:45So to claim that executive leadership is focused on delivering an unbiased presentation, my family would disagree. This is not a committee, a partizan committee. This is somebody that has been to your museum in the last couple of weeks and has pointed out the failings of some of the exhibits that you claim to be unbiased on. Director.
▶ 1:18:06Yesterday you refused to answer a question from my colleague about whether or not you think it is appropriate for the museum to display sexually suggestive imagery near youth content. I want to give you another chance to answer that question. Is it appropriate to house this type of material near youth content, yes or no? Yes or no? Speaker 5: which content? Ma'am? Speaker 14: sexually explicit material near youth content.
▶ 1:18:33Is this appropriate. So the answer is yes or no. Speaker 5: I understand your question, ma'am. Speaker 14: so and what and and your response is. Speaker 5: the issue of gender. Speaker 14: so you can't answer the question. Speaker 5: I can absolutely answer the question. Speaker 14: it's a yes or no answer. Speaker 5: the issue of gender is at the forefront of many americans. Speaker 14: gender, sexually explicit material should never be near youth content. The answer should be no, ma'am.
▶ 1:19:03The smithsonian has hosted drag shows with some specific, specifically targeted intellectual disabilities in the past. Were you engaged in the planning of any of this programing? Yes or no? Speaker 5: we have not held, to the best of my knowledge at the national museum. So no history a drag. What was it? A drag show, a drag story time. What what what were you asking me? Speaker 14: it was a drag show. Are you saying yes or no?
▶ 1:19:31Okay, let me move on. I'm limited in time. Yesterday you told the committee that you needed to consult with your general counsel about 603 processes. This is a review process that you go through for individual exhibits. Why can't you be transparent not only with the committee here, but with your own board, about what this 603 process is and how many exhibits you have reviewed and how many that you have actually revised content for.
▶ 1:20:00Why are you unwilling to give us that information? Speaker 5: oh, ma'am, I'm very willing. Would you like me to proceed? Speaker 14: I would like you to answer why you need a general counsel to review that before you provide that information to your own board. Speaker 5: so, ma'am, I believe yesterday that I shared kind of the outlines of the 603 process, and I'm happy to go into them. Again. Speaker 14: I would like you to submit to this committee a list of all of the 603 reviews that have happened in the past two years.
▶ 1:20:27Of all of the exhibits in your museum and the revisions that have been made to any of the exhibits, per the requirements of the 603 review? Speaker 5: absolutely, ma'am. We adhere to the 603 process that was outlined first in 1995, revised in 2021. Speaker 14: which is why I'm confused as to why the answer to your question yesterday would not have been sure. I'm happy to provide that information rather than no.
▶ 1:20:51I need to get my general counsel legal to look at the information before I provide it to the board or to a committee. Speaker 5: to the board of regents, or to the committee. Speaker 14: you're the board that oversees your museum. Speaker 5: the board that oversees my museum. Speaker 14: has asked you for the 603 process and has been unable to get that information.
▶ 1:21:15Lastly, I just want to say the oig recommended tightening committee procedures and mandatory periodic training for personnel involved in content development. Have you instituted that change? Speaker 5: are you speaking of the june 30th? Speaker 14: that is correct, ma'am. Speaker 5: yes. Speaker 14: I would like a list of the changes that have been implemented based on that recommendation report. Speaker 5: we're happy to get back to you, ma'am. Speaker 14: thank you. With that, I yield, Mr. chairman. Speaker 2: gentlewoman yields. Representative carrie is recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:21:46Speaker 15: thank you, Mr. chairman. I want to thank the ranking member, and I'm delighted to have all of you witnesses here today. And there's a wonderful book that's out. It's called strength to strength. If you ever have the opportunity, uh, as somebody that enjoys history and studies history, vice chair of the or co-chair of the humanities caucus, uh, one of the interesting points is the two people that the two professions that actually reached their zenith after the normal between, you know, 40 year limit, uh, is actually historians and college professors.
▶ 1:22:14So I take great pride in that fact as a novel historian myself. Um, just a couple things. First off, welcome to jenkins hill, which was originally carol hill because it was owned by the carol and then we later changed it, elf lafont, uh, to what is now capitol hill. But, um, just a few things that I was looking through the testimony. And unfortunately, we had to miss part of this because we're in the ways and means committee.
▶ 1:22:38I do want to touch on just a couple of things, and then I'm going to ask some questions to you, doctor, regarding some of your statements. According to the domestic policy council's report in june 2020 for presentation to undergraduate and graduate history students, you explained that the museum removed the phrase, quote, end of quote, american history from the mission statement in order to help people in quote and then end of quote, to get out
▶ 1:23:08Of the american first mentality, end of quote, adding, it's a big challenge, especially going into 2026, which will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence. Now, we'll touch on that in just a minute.
▶ 1:23:23Now, if I'm not mistaken, the goal of the museum, the american history, was opened, obviously, in 1964, but the goal of the museum was to showcase americans heritage of freedom, install faith in our country's destiny, illuminate our heritage, and promise an inspiring story for the nation. I'm going to read just a few quotes and paraphrase some of them. One that is often, often, uh.
▶ 1:23:48Because I do believe that we have a rush to an orwellian justification of the, uh, the, the, the history today. But one of the often misquoted, but often related to the most effective way to destroy people is to deny or, and obliterate their own understanding of their history. This is a direct quote, of course, from orwell. Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted.
▶ 1:24:18Every statue, street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except the endless present in which the party is always right. It also, in 1984, quoting orville and I quote, the past was erased and insurer was forgotten, and the lie became the truth.
▶ 1:24:47Also, orwell, in his writings facing the unpleasant facts, wrote and I quote, however much you deny the truth, the truth does go on in existing. So in your statement, I just want you to maybe two words because I'm running out of time. What did you mean by america first? Okay, I'm going to just go ahead. No, you don't want to answer, but I want to give you five seconds.
▶ 1:25:18Speaker 5: thank you sir. Speaker 15: I'm happy. What time period? Speaker 5: I'm happy to answer. I would argue that the american history museum. Speaker 15: okay. You didn't answer my question. So I'm going to reclaim my time. Reclaiming my time. Mr. chairman, I am reclaiming my time because you don't want to answer the question. I just want to know, are you referring to the american first time period as related to the early 1900s, when it was actually a very liberal movement? Or are you talking about when warren mckinley used it as his mantra? We talk about ronald reagan. Are we just focusing on the now?
▶ 1:25:47What time period are you looking at in the american first, that you're trying to make sure is not part of the 250th anniversary? Speaker 5: I believe I was saying to open the aperture of inquiry, to examine the. Speaker 15: well, that's not what you said. No, no no no, no, no, you said this is what you said. Get out of the american first mentality. What is the american first mentality? Enlighten me. Speaker 5: so the revolution was a global one. And I think the more we add nuance. Speaker 15: so wait a minute. To that point. You said it's global.
▶ 1:26:15Now let's focus on that because it was jefferson who actually wrote in his inauguration. He said in his first inaugural address that the united states was the world's best hope, the world's. You're correct. It is the world's best hope. Lincoln, who then liked to paraphrase jefferson, as you would know in the declaration, giving liberty not alone to the people of this country, but to the world for all future times. So let me go back to my original question.
▶ 1:26:41Why do you think that american history should be erased from the mission statement of the national american history museum in three seconds? I'm over. Well with that, Mr. chairman, I yield back. Speaker 2: the gentleman yields back. Representative miller of illinois is recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:27:02Speaker 9: thank you, chairman steele, for holding this important hearing to examine how the smithsonian institution has abandoned its mission to remain unbiased in preserving and telling our proud american history. Each year, approximately 4 million people walk through the doors of the national museum of american history.
▶ 1:27:23Instead of inspiring pride in our nation, the museum teaches visitors to be ashamed of their history and to hate the institutions that made america the greatest country on earth. The museum portrays our founding fathers as villains and not as courageous and heroic leaders who sacrificed everything. Instead, the museum condemns them.
▶ 1:27:45Rather than celebrating the indispensable role they played in securing our independence, we know this is a deliberate agenda. Most recently, the museum has decided to fill its exhibits with sexually explicit content by displaying drag queens and nude women on magazine covers. It even featured a diary in which a little girl writes, and I quote, I pray to god every night for my penis to grow. I know it won't, but I still pray.
▶ 1:28:18Families bring their children to the smithsonian. Expecting a lesson on american history. Instead, they're confronted with this indecency. Who honestly believes that this belongs in a museum of american history? Nobody. Yesterday, doctor or director hartwig, you testified before a separate committee in the house and were questioned about sexually explicit material on display at the museum. In a former exhibit titled girlhood.
▶ 1:28:47It's complicated. Twice you told members of congress that the exhibit was never designed for children. Yet in a video you published online when the exhibit first opened, you explicitly say, and I quote, we look forward to welcoming girls and boys to this exhibition. Okay, we have a clip here. Video clip. Speaker 2: without objection. Speaker 9: okay. Is it a play? Speaker 4: I'm not sure.
▶ 1:29:17Without objection, I think I object because I think we have tried to have videos played here committee before and been denied the opportunity to do it. So I do object. Speaker 2: well, suspend. Speaker 9: can you stop my clock? Speaker 2: elise stefanik clock. Stop.
▶ 1:30:19The objection is withdrawn. The video will be played. Uh, in in the clock will restart. Is there a sound on your video?
▶ 1:30:45The committee will suspend. We'll give one moment here to see if we can work the the tech out.
▶ 1:32:18Of. Speaker 16: ma'am. Do you is it okay to. Yeah, but it did eat up at least 15 seconds, maybe. 20s. Okay, so I can ask if you can reclaim about 15 20s in the chair, but, um.
▶ 1:33:10I'd be happy to. Speaker 2: are they there? Apparently technical difficulties, not the success of the ranking members. Objection.
▶ 1:33:37Um, I say, I say ingest, uh, technical difficulties, the video, the video can be inserted into the record. Uh, the gentlewoman is recognized with credited back with 30s. We'll, we'll hold the clock for you. Speaker 9: okay. Thank you. Continuing on.
▶ 1:33:57Well, obviously there's explicit video, uh, to prove that you welcome children to an exhibit that features features, sexually explicit material. I cannot even imagine why you would do that. Does it make sense to you that sexual material would be on display in the national museum of american history in the first place? Speaker 5: thank you, ma'am. So just a quick bit on the policy of the museum, please.
▶ 1:34:27Speaker 9: so just answer my question. Speaker 5: I shall we encourage parents and caregivers to engage with content and topics they feel appropriate for their children and all children under 18 who come to the museum need to be accompanied by an adult. Speaker 9: okay, this that's not answering my question. You actually welcomed children to an exhibit with sexually explicit material and so on. That exhibit, can you tell us what a crotch harness is? We brought a picture. So the audience.
▶ 1:34:56What a crotch harness is. Speaker 5: so, ma'am, if I may answer your question about girlhood, it's complicated. And the questions that you had. Speaker 9: no, just tell us now. I'm moving on. What is a crotch harness? You chose to make a display of it. Speaker 5: uh, girlhood. It's complicated. Was designed to help. You approved. Speaker 9: the display of a crotch harness in a public museum. You chose to display the fetish attire of a very small subset of americans with weird sexual proclivities.
▶ 1:35:25And you welcome children to these exhibits. Millions of american families and school children visit your taxpayer funded museum every year, coming to learn about the nation's history. They deserve a straightforward explanation for why they are being exposed to this kind of garbage.
▶ 1:35:44Okay, the the american history museum educational material asserts that there are more than two genders and imply that biological male should be permitted to compete in women's sports. I don't know why or what on what scientific basis. The museum decided to approve that material yesterday. You could not answer the question can a man become a woman? You've been able to sleep on it. Can you tell us, can a man become a woman?
▶ 1:36:15Speaker 5: so to answer your question about the two piece garment. Are you not? Are you. Speaker 9: slept all night? Speaker 5: it was in an exhibition called illegal to be. Speaker 9: you have decided. Speaker 5: in 2021, ma'am. That that featured gay liberation, transgender agenda. Mhm. Speaker 9: okay. Speaker 5: tell us that small exhibit that closed in 2021 where that two piece garment was presented was entitled illegal to be you gay liberation since stonewall.
▶ 1:36:43So are you saying that came. Speaker 9: on sexuality are suitable for kids? Speaker 5: all the people who came by. Speaker 9: they come to learn about american history. They come to learn about the most free, prosperous, stable and benevolent nation in the history of the world. They come to learn about american exceptionalism, and I yield my time. Speaker 2: or the gentleman yields back.
▶ 1:37:11This concludes our questions. We thank all of our witnesses for appearing before us today. Members of the committee may have some additional questions, and we ask that you please respond to those questions in writing. Without objection, each member will have five legislative days to insert additional materials into the record or to revise and extend their remarks. There being no further business, I thank the members for their participation. Without objection, the committee stands adjourned.