Constitution Day Lecture and Dinner, 2011
Professor Natalie Taylor introduces Dr. Gary Gregg, holder of the Mitch McConnell
Chair in Leadership at the University of Louisville and director of the McConnell
Center.
Dr. Gregg began is talk by exposing commonly held misconceptions about George Washington.
His dentures, he explained, were crafted from the teeth of a hippopotamus, and there
was no cherry tree felled.
The lecture began with a contemporary example of military might subordinating institutional
supremacy. Dr. Gregg recounted General Petraeus' deference to President Obama upon
the Commander-in-Chief's call for troop withdrawals in Afghanistan.
Students, professors and other intellectuals watched as Dr. Gregg passionately orated
at the podium in the front of the library's Pohndorff Room.
At times, the lecture was somber, as Dr. Gregg described Washington's stoicism and
inscrutability.
At times, the talk reached such impassioned points the quietude of the library was
set aside or forgotten altogether.
Dr. Gregg engaged attendees with jokes, anecdotes and grandiose reenactment of Washington's
decisive actions.
The Pohndorff Room was a perfect fit for the comparison made between George Washington
and the Cincinnatus of Rome, who also surrendered his seat of power to the Republic,
even after victory in battle.
Students and professors enjoy a post-lecture feast in Skidmore's Surrey Inn.
Those of us who had the pleasure of sitting next to Dr. Gregg at dinner discussed
everything from memories of home to philosophy to sports.
Dinner was followed by a small group discussion, opening with a series of astute questions
posed by Professor Natalie Taylor.
Dr. Gregg answered questions in eloquent detail for over an hour until, spent on food
and discussion, those in attendance retired after an engaging and rewarding night.