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July 26, 2004
Dear Alexander Hamilton Historical Society Members,
Recent months have been both exciting and
trying for the legacy of Alexander Hamilton. On the positive side,
Hamilton has received more media attention in the last four months
than in the last four decades. The highpoint of this media blitz was
the Duel commemoration and reenactment held over the bicentennial
weekend, July 10-12, in New York and New Jersey. On the negative
side, a powerful movement is afoot to remove Hamilton from the $10
bill in favor of former President Ronald Reagan. The media and
legislative limelight creates both opportunities and challenges for
our nascent organization and the cause of reenergizing public
interest in one of our nation’s greatest Founding Fathers.
Here’s what’s going on and how you can get
involved:
1) New Members: We have many new members
to welcome aboard. To get you quickly acquainted, AHHS is a
non-profit, all-volunteer organization founded in 2003 dedicated to
the task of promoting and preserving the life and legacy of
Alexander Hamilton. AHHS is led by a board of directors and
intellectually supported by a diverse advisory board which includes
Ron Chernow, Richard Brookhiser, Sen. Slade Gorton, Zbigniew
Brzezinski, and many others. Membership in the organization is open
to all – yes, even Burr descendants – and is also free. The idea is
to build a grass-roots network that joins together all of the
everyday admirers, students, teachers, and historians who are
captivated by the dazzling life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton.
2) New Website: AHHS has a brand new
website that will serve as the central forum for members to exchange
ideas, learn about Hamilton, and take action together –
www.hamiltonsociety.org. If you’ve been there before, check it out
again. We’re adding new material daily and would like your input.
We’re in the process of developing new interactive features so that
members can share their own thoughts and writings on our favorite
subject. If you happen to be a web expert or know someone who would
like to volunteer their services, please email us at
hamilton@hamiltonsociety.org.
3) Duel Reenactment: The Duel bicentennial
commemoration weekend was a spectacular success, largely due to the
hard work of the Weehawken Historical Commission and the good
spirits of the Hamilton family descendants. Well over 2,000 people
attended the Duel reenactment which was covered by CSPAN, CNN, and
all of the local networks, as well as most major newspapers. If you
missed it, check out our bicentennial section of the website.
4) $10 Bill Controversy: There is a
movement afoot in Washington, D.C. to remove Hamilton’s portrait
from the $10 bill in order to make room for former President Ronald
Reagan. In the House, Rep. Hayworth of Arizona has introduced H.R.
4528, which would require Hamilton’s removal by January 1, 2005. The
bill has 24 cosponsors. In the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell of
Kentucky is leading an ad hoc committee to look into the question of
how to memorialize Reagan, but McConnell has publicly proposed and
supported the $10 bill as the best place for him. Insiders say that
much will depend on the decision of the McConnell committee. We have
received great support on this issue from Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ) and
Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ) who have introduced concurrent resolutions in
opposition to the Hayworth bill. The $10 bill is Hamilton’s most
important living memorial; removing him would not only degrade his
great legacy, it would debase American history.
Our strategy is to try and preempt the issue from
coming to a vote in Congress by sending the loud and clear message
that Americans want to KEEP HAMILTON ON THE $10. To this end, we’ve
been in the press, on the Hill, and working the phones. Here’s how
you can help. First, go to our website, www.hamiltonsociety.org/tendollar.htm,
and follow the instructions to send Sens. McConnell and Frist the
message to lay their hands off Hamilton. Second, in the coming
weeks, we will circulate a public email petition. When you receive
this message, please forward it on to all concerned citizens to have
them sign.
The leaders of the movement to remove Hamilton
from the $10 believe he has no constituency, that no one will care
when he’s gone. We’ve got to make our voices heard to prove them
wrong!
5) Get Involved: There are many ways in
which you can get involved: recruit new members, send us your
Hamilton writings, take pictures of Hamilton events and historical
sites for us to post on the website. Or be really creative, set up a
branch chapter at your high school, write a children’s story, etc. –
we’re open to all ideas. Also, you can make a tax deductible
donation to AHHS. Maintaining the website, creating promotional
material, and setting up events all cost money but we’ve decided not
to have membership dues in order to encourage as much participation
as possible. That means we rely on your voluntary support to cover
our costs. Every cent counts. Please make your donation to: The
Alexander Hamilton Historical Society at 1499 Mass. Ave. NW #601,
Washington, D.C. 20005.
Warm Regards,
Scott Lindsay
President
"I charge you to protect his fame.... Let it be the test by which to
examine those who solicit your favor." -- Gouverneur Morris,
delivering Hamilton’s eulogy, July 14, 1804.
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