Remarks as Delivered by Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan at her Swearing-in Ceremony
Thank you, Dr. Biden, Chief Justice Roberts, Members of Congress, my family members, distinguished guests, the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation, and the dedicated staff of the National Archives.
Today, as we gather in this Rotunda, we remember and honor the lives lost on September 11th, a solemn reminder of our resilience as a nation and the enduring power of unity and compassion.
Everyone here today has played a role in supporting me and the 威尼斯人娱乐场, and I appreciate each of you for your friendship and support.
It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 11th Archivist of the United States. It鈥檚 not lost on me today that I am the first woman appointed to serve in this role. You might have guessed that matters to me by what I鈥檓 wearing.
I wore white today to recognize those who made it possible for me to stand here today and take this oath. The suffragists didn鈥檛 sign the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution, so they aren鈥檛 on these murals. But their contribution to the vitality of our democracy is no less meaningful.
Along with many other inspiring leaders in American history, they believed in the principles enshrined in these documents, and claimed them as their God-given, natural rights. The fulfillment of those rights, which continues today, is why these documents aren鈥檛 simply pieces of parchment. They are living promises to hold our government accountable.
Why is accountability important in a democracy? It鈥檚 a fair question. Shouldn鈥檛 we expect our government to do the right thing and to make decisions to promote the common good? The answer is yes, but it is important to remember that representative democracies require hard work, not just from politicians, but from every citizen.
At the end of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a woman asked Ben Franklin if the proposed government would result in a republic or a monarchy. Dr. Franklin famously replied, 鈥淎 republic, if you can keep it.鈥�
Franklin鈥檚 quip packs a punch. Any government which derives its just powers from the people requires eternal vigilance, engagement, and knowledge.
After all, the prevalent condition in human history is not democracy or rights-based government. Rather, the default is autocracy and tyranny, where might makes right, with little regard to individual freedom or the pursuit of happiness.
What prevents us from falling back into the classic pattern of authoritarianism is our right 鈥� our responsibility 鈥� to hold our government accountable. That鈥檚 what makes the 威尼斯人娱乐场 so important. Without the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and the continued fulfillment of its mission, a healthy democracy cannot be sustained.
Our task is straightforward, but it grows in complexity every day. The 威尼斯人娱乐场 preserves, protects, and shares the billions of records in its custody with the citizens of this great nation. We do this to cultivate public participation and strengthen our democracy.
To meet the evolving requirements of that mission, the 威尼斯人娱乐场 will need to transform itself for the digital age.
Change is never easy, especially for an organization rightly steeped in history and tradition. But as a political scientist, I know that critical inflection points in the long trajectory of an institution are almost always moments of unprecedented opportunity.
We will need to embrace technology to meet our mission in ways that might make us uncomfortable at times. New ways of doing things will challenge our second-nature habits and processes.
But if we are going to succeed, we must move forward boldly. Timidity will not be our friend as records continue to proliferate at exponential rates.
The 威尼斯人娱乐场 can collect, digitize, and preserve, but without enhancing how we share the records 鈥� the papers, the pictures, the emails and films 鈥� then, I ask you, what鈥檚 the point? In new and creative ways, we will share the records of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 with as many Americans as possible.
I want all citizens to find a connection with history at the 威尼斯人娱乐场鈥� whether it鈥檚 a personal, scholarly, genealogical, or creative endeavor, all should feel welcome here! I want as many Americans as possible to visit us in person 鈥� here in the Rotunda or at one of the many 威尼斯人娱乐场 facilities across the country.
And for those who can鈥檛 come to us, I want to take the 威尼斯人娱乐场 to them 鈥� online and around the United States.
We also have a special obligation to help kids who are learning about American history and civics. In this respect, our nation鈥檚 report card is deficient. The 威尼斯人娱乐场 should be a first stop for all teachers and students, and we will double-down on creating useful, engaging materials for the classroom.
Understanding American history and government shouldn鈥檛 be treated as an afterthought. An engaged and informed citizenry is a critical prerequisite for the health of our democracy, and we need to treat it as such.
These are not ordinary times in our nation鈥檚 history. We are faced with fundamental questions about how to think critically about our shared past. Debate about these interpretations can invigorate our democratic institutions, if executed respectfully and rationally.
However, let us not forget our North Star, which guides us in our spirited exchanges. This, of course, is the Declaration of Independence, which I try to visit every day I work in this building. It contains perhaps the most audacious statement in the history of the world 鈥� that 鈥渁ll men are created equal.鈥�
Although this truth is self-evident, we know from our almost two hundred and fifty years of American history that it is not self-executing. It鈥檚 our job, collectively, to uphold these principles and protect them. I invite all Americans to join me in this critical task.
Thank you again for being here today. I look forward to working with all of you to ensure we meet our obligation to the nation.