06/08/2018 | 24m 27s | Video has closed captioning.
Join Huell at an annual reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address at the Veterans Cemetery. This year Charelton Heston reads, in honor of Lincoln’s birthday, but also to promote reading awareness.
Aired: 06/08/18
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning
STANDING HERE IN THE LOS ANGELES NATIONAL CEMETERY IN WESTWOOD, AND WE ARE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY.
AND TO SET UP THIS WHOLE CELEBRATION FOR US, IS DUKE RUSSELL.
DUKE AND I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND YOU BASICALLY ARE SINGLE HANDEDLY GIVEN THE CREDIT FOR STARTING THIS CELEBRATION.
GIVE US THE HISTORY BEHIND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY.
>> WELL, OKAY.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO I CHECKED AROUND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS BEING DONE TO CELEBRATE ABE LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY ON HIS BIRTHDAY, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN LOST SOMEWHAT IN THE PRESIDENT'S DAY WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON AND OTHER PRESIDENTS.
SO, MY GOOD FRIEND JACK SMITH, THE COLUMNIST, AUTHOR FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES WROTE A WONDERFUL COLUMN IN 1993, IN FEBRUARY, AND I READ IT AND A WEEK LATER I CALLED JACK AND SAID, JACK I AM GOING TO GO UP TO THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL AND READ THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS, AND HE SAID I AM GOING TO COME UP WITH YOU.
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
HE SAID THIS WAS BASED UPON YOU CALL JACK SMITH BECAUSE HE HAD WRITTEN A COLUMN IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THE WEEK BEFORE, TALKING ABOUT ABE LINCOLN, SO YOU KNEW JACK LIKED LINCOLN.
>> OH, YEAH, JACK LOVED LINCOLN.
SO WHEN HE HEARD THAT HE DECIDED TO COME WITH ME.
WE CAME TO THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, AND MY DAUGHTER CAME WITH US, AND SHE VIDEOTAPED IT, AND THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE BOWL EXCEPT THE THREE OF US.
>> YOU, YOUR DAUGHTER AND JACK SMITH, AND WE HAVE SOME VIDEOTAPE OF YOU STANDING THERE READING THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS, AND WE SEE JACK SMITH'S SHOULDER, HE IS SITTING THERE LISTENING AND THAT WAS IT?
JUST THE THREE OF YOU?
>> THAT'S IT.
I READ IT FROM THE HARVARD CLASSICS, AND HE LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT HE DEVOTED HIS ENTIRE COLUMN TO IT A WEEK LATER.
ONE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HIGH SUGGESTED TO GET CHARLTON HES TON TO DO IT.
I SAID THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
THE NEXT WEEK WE WENT TO THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR 1995 JACK MYTH READ IT.
HE DID THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, CHARLTON HES TON RECITED THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS AND WE ARE OFF AND RUNNING NOW.
EVERYBODY IS STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION TO ABE LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY AGAIN, AND I AM VERY HAPPY.
>> THIS ALL STARTED IN 1993 WITH YOU AND JACK SMITH AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.
AND IT WAS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL FOR TWO YEARS, THEN YOU MOVED IT HERE TO THE CEMETERY IN WEST REVIEWED --.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, WE DID.
>> AND YOU HAD TOLD ME IN YEARS PAST, SOME YEARS ONLY TEN, 20 PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP IN THOSE EARLY YEARS.
>> WELL, NO, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE, BUT I CAN SEE FROM TODAY'S CROWD WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER THE LIMIT TODAY FOR SURE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO BUS LOADS OF STUDENTS FROM HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, MY ALMA MATTER, AND A BUS LOAD OF STUDENTS FROM UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WE ARE STARTING TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SHOULD BE REMEMBERED BECAUSE HE READ WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, AND IT CHANGED HIS LIFE, AND READING IS THE KEY.
WE KNOW THAT, SO IF WE CAN GET ABE LINCOLN OUT THERE TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF READERS AND WRITERS.
THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT BEING THE MAIN REASON YOU ARE DOING THIS.
MOST PEOPLE THINK OF LINCOLN AS ONE OF OUR GREAT PRESIDENTS NOT JUST A READER AND A WRITER.
>> WELL, OF COURSE HE IS A GREAT PRESIDENT.
PROBABLY THE BEST OF THEM ALL, I PARTICULARLY LIKE HIM AND I KNOW JACK SMITH DOES BECAUSE LINCOLN WAS A LIT RARERY GENIUS, HE READ THE BIBLE, HE READ SHAKESPEARE, THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON, AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
>> WE ARE GETTING READY FOR A BIG DAY.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT -- IT'S ABOUT 20 TO 12:00 THE ENERGY IS BUILDING.
WE ARE GOING TO BE WITH YOU ALL DAY.
THIS IS ALL PART OF LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY, THURSDAY FEBRUARY THE 12TH, 1998.
>>> NOW, HERE IS A FELLOW HERE.
WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING HERE.
>> I AM HOLDING SOME THINGS FOR ME, WHEN I WAS AT THE GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MUSEUM CEMETERY, AND TO HAVE SOME REMEMBRANCE OF THAT TYPE I PICKED OFF SOME BARK FROM THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS THESE PODS THAT CAME OFF THE GROUND.
THIS CAME FROM GETTYSBURG ITSELF, AND YOU CAN'T WALK OFF THE CEMETERY, BUT I COULD TAKE PHYSICAL THINGS, AND THIS IS BARK FROM THE GROUND WHERE LINCOLN GAVE HIS ADDRESS.
>> YOU ARE REALLY A HARD CORE LINCOLN FAN.
>> ACTUALLY I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER, AND THE KIDS IN SCHOOL WOULD ENJOY SEEING SOMETHING PHYSICALLY THAT DEALT WITH THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE.
THE ONLY WAY I COULD BRING SOMETHING BACK WAS TO BRING SOMETHING BACK PHYSICALLY TO HOLD IN THEIR HANDS, WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF WHAT YOU SEE AT THE GETTYSBURG CEMETERY, AND OF COURSE, EVEN IN THE TOWN OF CEMETERY, AFTER A RAIN, MANY OF THE BULLETS THAT WERE IMBEDDED IN THE TREES, AND HERE THEY ARE, AND KIDS WOULD SELL THEM FOR 15 CENTS OR WHATEVER, AS A LIVING MO MEN TOE OF WHAT OCCURRED AT THAT TIME.
>> NOW HERE IS A LADY YOU SAY YOU ARE FROM ILLINOIS.
>> YES, FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
>> YOU KNOW LINCOLN.
>> ABSOLUTELY, HE WAS SOMEBODY WONDERFUL.
>> WHY ARE YOU HERE TODAY?
>> BECAUSE I AM A MEMBER OF THE LOS ANGELES CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE AND I CAME THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE.
>> HAS THE CROWD GROWN OVER THE YEARS?
>> YES,.
>> THIS IS A BIG CROWD TODAY.
>> YES, IT IS A BIG CROWD.
>> HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL.
>> VERY WONDERFUL, I AM VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE NOBODY REMEMBERED THAT THIS WAS A SPECIAL DAY IN OUR HISTORY.
>> HIS BIRTHDAY.
>> YES, AND IT'S GETTING SO THAT PEOPLE D ATTENTION TO PATRIOTS OF OUR COUNTRY, AND I AM VERY ENJOYING THIS GREAT BIG CROWD.
>> NOW, HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THIS EVENT TODAY?
>> WELL, OUR OWN DUKE RUSSELL FROM HOLLYWOOD HIGH IS OUR LEADER AND THEREFORE, I AM WITH THE HOLLYWOOD HIGH GROUP.
AND SO WE ARE ALL RELATED AND NETWORKING, AND LINCOLN HIMSELF WAS ONE OF MY HEROS.
>> REALLY, WHY LINCOLN?
>> WELL, HE WAS A MAN WHO STOOD FOR REAL, REAL SUBSTANCE.
HE WASN'T JUST A SUPERFICIAL PRESIDENT, BUT HE HAD VALUES, HE HAD STANDARDS, HE HAD ETHICS, HE HAD ALL THOSE THINGS THAT TO ME ARE IMPORTANT IN LEADERSHIP.
AND HE WAS A WINNER.
>> NOW, HERE COMES DUKE'S WIFE, AND YOU HAVE GOT YOUR WHOLE FAMILY HERE.
>> YES, HI, HOW ARE YOU?
>> THIS IS THE RUSSELL FAMILY.
>> OUR SIXTH YEAR.
>> CAN YOU REMEMBER WHEN DUKE FIRST CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.
>> YES, HE IS ALWAYS COMING UP WITH GREAT IDEAS LIKE THIS.
SO WE JUST WENT ALONG WITH HIM.
SO HE STARTED OFF SLOW, AND NOW WE GOT THIS GOING SO IT'S PRETTY GOOD, WE ARE PROUTD OF HIM.
>> HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LINCOLN?
HOW MUCH DOES THE RUSSELL FAMILY HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT LINCOLN.
>> WELL, WHEN WE GO TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT HIS HOUSE HE WILL READ LINCOLN STORIES TO US.
>> TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT LINCOLN.
>> UM, I DON'T KNOW.
>> ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING?
>> HE READ LOTS OF BOOKS.
>> HE READ LOTS OF BOOKS.
ANYTHING ELSE.
>> HE PLAYED A JOKE ON HIS MOM.
SINCE HE WAS SO TALL, HE LIFTED UP A BOY ON THE NEW WHITE CEILING, AND THE MUDDY FOOTPRINTS GOT OVER THE CEILING.
>> LINCOLN HELD A YOUNG BOY UP ON IN THE AIR AND HE PUT HIS FOOTPRINTS ON THE CEILING.
>> YEAH.
>> THEY GET LINCOLN BOOKS OR ALWAYS BOOKS, BIG ON BOOKS LIKE LINCOLN.
>> I GOT TO BE WITH DUKE THE VERY FIRST TIME, JUST DUKE AND I, AND WE WERE UP AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL --.
>> WITH JACK SMITH?
>> YES, JUST THE THREE OF US.
AND IT'S COME QUITE A WAYS AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE WHEN IT WAS JUST YOU AND DUKE AND JACK SMITH.
>> WELL, IT WAS A LITTLE LESS EMBARRASSING THAN THIS, BECAUSE IT WAS THE THREE OF US.
AND THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I TAPED HIM WITH MY HOME CAMERA AND I HAVE A TAPE OF IT.
>> DID IT FEEL GOOD.
>> IT WAS GREAT.
WE FINALLY WERE BEGINNING TO CELEBRATE LINCOLN AND THAT WAS GREAT FOR US.
>> SO REALLY LINCOLN CAN BE CELEBRATED IN A LARGE OR SMALL CROWD OR JUST BY YOURSELF READING AND THINKING ABOUT HIM.
>> DUKE LOVES HIS HUMOR AND HE WANTS TO SHARE HIS HUMOR.
>> YOU ARE DUKE'S SON.
AND YOU HEAR ABOUT LINCOLN, AND THIS DAY AND THE PLANNING FOR THIS DAY ALL YEAR LONG.
>> HE STARTS ABOUT SIX MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME CALLING PEOPLE AND GETTING PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> HOW DOES HE GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> I THINK HIS OWN EXCITEMENT CARRIES ON WITH EVERYBODY.
AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT COME OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> WHAT IS IT L LINCOLN THAT HAS SO CAPTURED IN YOUR DAD'S -- >> MY FATHER LOVES READING AND THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN GET A BETTER POSITION IN LIFE JUST THROUGH READING AND HE REALIZES THAT LINCOLN UNDERSTOOD IS THAT AS WELL AND THE STORY OF GOING FROM RAGS TO THE PRESIDENCY, HE DID IT HIMSELF.
>> YOUR DAD MAKE IT WORKS THIS CELEBRATION.
>> HE HAS A SIMPLE IDEA LIKE READING THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS, AND KNOWING IT IS GETING PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT READING AND LINCOLN.
AND IT WORKSED OUT.
HE STARTED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL WOOD BOWL WITH THREE PEOPLE AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S GROWN.
>> YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT?
>> YES, THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR.
>> YOU HAVE SEEN IT GROWN YOURSELF.
>> YES WE HAVE.
>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY.
>> WE PLAY SONGS AND TUNES THAT WERE POPULAR IN THE 1860'S.
>> DID THEY PLAY ANY MUSIC AT GETTYSBURG THAT DAY.
>> I AM SURE THAT EACH REGIMEN HAD ITS OWN BAND AND MANY OF THEM DID PERFORM.
>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HEAR NEXT?
>> NEXT UP ON SELECTION IS CALLED DIXIE'S LAND, HOWEVER IT WAS WRITTEN BY DANIEL DECATER EMMET, FOR AMUSE CALENDAR IN NEW YORK.
>> SO THIS IS THE ORIGINAL DIXIE.
>> YES.
>> IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CIVIL WAR AT ALL.
>> NO THIS IS THE STUEN THAT LINCOLN ASKED FOR AT HIS FIRST INAUGURAL.
>> [MUSIC PLAYING] .
>> NOW HERE IS A GUY WITH AN INTERESTING STORY.
>> WE DO A SHOW CALLED IN SEARCH OF HISTORY WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO COME OVER AND WATCH A REENACTMENT OF THE PEACH.
>> ARE YOU FILMING THIS OR ARE YOU JUST HERE.
>> WE ARE JUST HERE, WE DECIDED TO COME DOWN DURING THE LUNCH HOUR.
>> WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO GET OUT OF THIS DAY?
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
>> WELL, WORKING IN HISTORY, YOU KNOW IT'S SORT OF NICE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO -- WE DO A LOT OF INVESTIGATIVE AND RESEARCH AND TO ACTUALLY SEE IT COME TO LIFE LIKE THIS IS A THRILL FOR US.
WE SORT OF LOVE HISTORY.
>> IT'S NICE THAT THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY WHO --.
>> IT'S NICE TO SEE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
I WASN'T SURE IF I COULD EXPECT A BIG CROWD OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE.
IT'S A GREAT THING, TOO.
AND THE SPEECH IS SUCH A MOVING SPEECH.
AND I AM SURE EVERYONE HAD SEEN THE CIVIL WAR DOCUMENT TRI, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING CHARLTON HESTON.
>> WHY THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS, IS IT THE IDEAS OR THE WAY HE PUT THEM DOWN.
>> HE IS ONE OF THE GREAT POETS OF OUR TIME, THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS IS AS FINE A PIECE OF POET TRI AS ANYTHING BY DICKENS OR FROST.
HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO MAKE THE MET FORS AND TO PUT THEM TOGETHER FOR OUR HEARTS.
>> IS IT TRUE THAT HE WROTE IT ON THE FWAK OF AN ENVELOPE OR IS THAT A MYTH.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT STORY.
WHY NOT, IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO WRITE.
>> I THINK LINCOLN WAS PROBABLY THE BEST PRESIDENT.
LINCOLN WAS THE GREAT LIT RARERY STYLE LIST.
>> IT WAS A SPEECH TO THE NATION AND TO THE FUTURE NATION.
>> IT WAS TO THE NATION AT CEMETERY AT GETTYSBURG.
ED WAR EVERETT ASKED HAD HIM TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS.
HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE ANYTHING.
IT WENT DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREAT OR RATIONS IN HISTORY.
THEY INVITED HIM AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
THEY ASKED HIM IF WE WOULD MAKE A FEW APPROPRIATE REMARKS, BECAUSE EDWARD EVERETT WAS GIVING T MAIN SPEECH.
IN THE SPEECH HE SAID IN LINCOLN, YOU SAID MORE IN TWO MINUTES, THAN ANYBODY WILL EVER REMEMBER WHAT I SAID IN TWO HOURS.
>> THE PRESS WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT HE SAID.
THEY SAID THE SPEECH WAS SO SHORT, THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT HE ONLY SPOKE FOR TWO MINUTES.
>> SO THE PRESS OF THE DAY PANED LINCOLN'S ADDRESS.
>> YES, SIR.
>> SOME THINGS CHANGE AND SOME THINGS STAY THE SAME.
>> IT WAS THE SHORTNESS OF THE SPEECH THAT PRECLUDED A PHOTO.
SUDDENLY LINCOLN HAD SAT DOWN AND THEY MISSED THEIR SHOT.
>> LINCOLN WAS SO INCLINED TO TELL JOKES TO ELIMINATE A PREDICAMENT, THAT MANY ENEMIES HATED HIM FOR THAT.
NO PROPERTY WAS NEVER MORE VILLEIFIED.
HE WAS CALLED AN APRIL, A BABOON, A TRAITER, TYRANT, MONSTER, AN IDIOT.
>> JACK WROTE A LOT ABOUT LINCOLN, DIDN'T HE?
>> YES, HE DID, AND I WAS SORT OF DISMAYED TODAY WHEN I READ THAT COLUMN BECAUSE THAT WAS, I THINK, ONE OF JACK'S WORST COLUMNS THAT I HAD EVER READ.
>> ABOUT LINCOLN?
THE PRESS SAID THAT WAS ONE OF HIS WORSE SPEECHES.
>> HE HAS NOT APPRECIATED AND JACK WROTE A COLUMN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WITH YOU HE HIMSELF DID THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS BECAUSE JACK LOST HIS NOTES AND HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW CAME WITH HIM, AND JACK WAS RATTLED AND ONE OF OUR SONS TOLD HIM HE DROPPED A LINE IN THE SPEECH.
>> IT'S A GREAT SPEECH, I SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S LIKE MR. SHAKESPEARE.
YOU MUST NEVER PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY, AND THAT'S TRUE WITH MR. LINCOLN, TOO.
>> AS AN ACTOR, HOW DOES THIS SPEECH PLAY?
>> AS WELL AS YOU CAN.. >> AND CHUCK DOES IT BEAUTIFULLY, OF COURSE.
>> WELL, I ALSO AM PARTICULARLY PROUD THAT I SUCCEEDED JACK SMITH IN THIS SPEECH.
YOU DO NOT REPLACE JACK SMITH.
YOU CAN SUCCEED HIM.
>> (SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM.)
.
>> WE ARE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, I DEDICATE THE READING OF THIS IMMORTAL GETTYSBURG ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES.
I READ FROM VOLUME 43 OF THE HARVARD CLASSICS.
>> FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO, OUR FATHERS BROUGHT FORTH ON THIS CONTINENT, A NEW NATION, CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY, AND DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.
NOW WE ARE ENGAGED IN A GREAT CIVIL WAR, TESTING WHETHER THAT NATION, OR ANY NATION, SO CONCEIVED AND SO DEDICATED, CAN LONG ENDURE.
WE ARE MET ON THE GREAT BATTLE FIELD OF THAT WAR.
WE HAVE COME TO DEDICATE A PORTION OF THAT FIELD AS A FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT THEIR NATION MIGHT LIVE.
IT IS ALL TOGETHER FITING AND PROPER THAT WE SHOULD DO THIS.
>> BUT IN A LARGER SENSE, WE CANNOT DEDICATE, WE CANNOT CONSECRATE, WE CANNOT HONOR THIS GROUND.
THE BRAVE MEN LIVING IN DEATH WHO STRUGGLED HERE HAVE CONS CRATED IT FAR BEYOND OUR POWER TO DETRACT.
THE WORLD WILL LITTLE NOTE NOR REMEMBER WHAT WE SAY, THEY CAN NEVER FORGOT WHAT THEY DID HERE.
IT IS FOR US, THE LIVING, RATHER TO BE HERE DEDICATED TO THE UNFINISHED WORK THAT THEY HAVE THUS FAR SO NOBLY CARRIED ON.
IT IS RATHER FOR US TO BE HERE DEDICATED TO THE GREAT TASK REMAINING BEFORE US, THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION.
THAT WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT THE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN, THAT THE NATION SHALL, UNDER GOD, HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, SO THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.
[MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] .
>> WELL, YOU DID IT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THAT WAS THE BEST ONE OF THEM ALL.
AND I AM REALLY VERY HAPPY, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING FROM HOLLYWOOD HIGH AND UNIVERSITY HIGH.
>> WELL, IT GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS AN IDEA THAT YOU STARTED SIX YEARS AGO BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T THINK WE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIDN'T GIVE ENOUGH ATTENTION TO LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY.
HERE IT IS, LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY.
THIS IS PRESIDENT'S WEEKEND WHEN THIS PROGRAM WILL BE SEEN ON KCET.
OF COURSE, MONDAY IS PRESIDENT'S DAY, IT'S A HOLIDAY.
YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING TO THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS HOW IMPORTANT AND HOW SPECIAL LINCOLN WAS AND HIS BIRTHDAY WAS TO ALL OF US.
CONGRATULATIONS SIR.
>> THANK YOU HUELL, FOR COVERING THIS EVENT.
LINCOLN WAS A LIT RARY GENIUS.
>> COME ON OUT NEXT YEAR, DUKE WILL BE HERE.
AND WE HOPE YOU WILL AS WELL.
[MUSIC PLAYING] >>CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED
