s district attorney, francis scott key. mr. key, who authored "the star-spangled banner", defended splafry in his prosecution and sought capital punishment only to be thwarted by the alleged victim, who's husband william thornton, designed the u.s. capitol. this is just over 50 minutes. [applause] >> thank you. for that nice introduction and thank you to majors and quinn hosting this event. i suggested this to eat than back in the winter, there was never anything less than enthusiastic about having me. this was always my destination when i came to a minneapolis bookstore. i am glad i landed here. i want to tell you a little bit about the book. i will read a little bit about the book. it's nice to be here and see some old familiar faces. you know, whenever i come back to minneapolis i have this feeling what a special place marshal u was, and there are probably a few people here that will remember the place if not agree with me. and so it's always nice to be back with old friends. i really date my sell here. i even attended an ad

. >> we're here with jefferson morley, author of "snowstorm in august: washington city, francis scott key, and the forgotten race riot of 1835". what happened in washington, d.c. in 1835? >> really francis scott key was a district attorney, and the city authorities lost all control of the city. this was the beginning of the conflict over slavery, the ideological conflict over slavery, and the white population started attacking the free black population that was active in the anti-slavery movement. and it was widespread disorder, so he was responsible and this was a great humiliation both for him and for the city. >> this started with arthur bowen. who was arthur bowen speak with arthur bowen was a servant, 19 years old in the home of ana maria thorton, a well-known woman in washington. and he was alleged to have attacked her in her bedroom at night with an ax. it was a sensational news, this shocking attack, allegedly attacked, that set off the white population to attack the black population. but, in fact, there was no attack. >> and how did they find out? >> eventually arthur went on

long before the national anthem composed by francis scott key the 50 people that this land. >> >> the first people that this land had these fight songs, national anthems for these tribes, paying homage to the first flag of this land, the eagle staff. remembering our veterans as well, the warriors whether going to battle or returning from battle paying homage to their service, paying homage to this flag. always honored our veterans, our warriors. (chanting) (spiritual chanting). remember our fallen veterans and those still in battle. going into a victory song. here we go. everybody dance. (drums). go dancing rocking san francisco city hall indian way. how about a big round of applause for all our dancers? all right. [applause] all right. once again let's hear it for your singers, our dancers from everywhere here in the san francisco bay area. [applause] all right. good singing. good dancing. posting the eagle staff at this time. be shout out to larry harrison for taking care of our eagle staff. you maybe seated. calling up to the podium at this time michael lupdtin and vice president o

scott key first sang it at america's original super bowl, a cage fight between a bear and a chinaman. [ laughter ] okay. let's break it down. let's break this down. now here's the timeline. late monday, sources in the marine corps band, who allegedly accompanied beyonce, leaked the information that "beyonceÉ decided shortly before her performance to rely on the studio version rather than risk singing it live on the capitol." because evidently, this time, it was the jelly that was not ready. [ laughter ] then, after pressure from we don't know where, the marine corps band suddenly releases this statement saying "regarding ms. knowles-carter's vocal performance, no one in the marine band is in a position to assess whether it was live or prerecorded." when those marines are in the (bleep) with the trombones and the drums, no one knows where the singing's coming from. [ laughter ] it's called the fog of warble. [ laughter ] then accusations start flying that the marine corps band "wasn't actually playing during the song." oh, so now we can't trust the marines?! what does this undermine

>> francis scott key was the bring attorney and the city authorities lost all control of the city. it was the beginning of the conflict over slavery. the ideological conflict over slave i are and the white population started attacking the free black population that was active in the antislavery movement. it was wide spread disorder. he was responsible and it was a humiliation for him and the city. >> it started with a man named arthur bowen. who is that? >> a servant 19 years old in the home of anna marie, a well-known women in washington. he was alleged to have attacked her in her bedroom at night with the ax. it was sensational news of the alleged attack that set off the white population to attack the black population. in fact, there was no attack. >> how did they find out ? >> eventually arthur went on trial and all of washington was startled when mrs. thorton rose to the defense of the man allegedly tried to kill her and said, i know this boy, he broke in my house, i know he would never intend to harm me. he was drunk but he never raised an ax against me. he was convicted anywa

during the war of 1812, this is where the battle was fought that inspired francis scott key to write "the star-spangled banner," so it's the perfect place to learn about the right way to handle our flag. patrick rawle is a park ranger. but today, he's wearing a uniform from colonial times. don't let that bright-red color confuse you. >> to arms! the redcoats are coming! the redcoats are coming! >> so, could you explain your uniform for us? >> i am dressed as a musician in the united states corps of artillery. musicians wore red so officers could easily spot them on the field of battle. all right, guys! one quick thing! when the flag starts to pull as i'm raising it, you got to let go, okay? >> do you raise the flag every single day, even if no one's here? >> that is correct. we are mandated by law. president truman, in 1948, declared that fort mchenry should fly the flag 24/7, 365 days. >> like our country, our flag has changed a lot through the years. how long has the flag looked the way it does? >> the flag has had 50 stars and 13 stripes since 1960. >> that's when hawaii became ou

scott who is happily still with us, but she has given hers to smith college. there are a number of such instances of where i got permission from friends to look at their own paper. their i found some material on his personal life and also any number of interviews with friends and colleagues. a couple of them, the very closest friends on my pledging that they would remain anonymous did tell me quite a bit about the personal as opposed to the political side. >> we are near the end of our time, so i wanted to talk about what you are hoping to get out of this pyrography. something about what you think the legacy of howard zinn is? >> i know what i hope his legacy will be. whether it comes to pass, we will see. i think howard is a perfect example of a citizen who took on the results abilities that he felt every citizen needed to defend democracy was to survive and flourish. in other words to you most it acted even if it is on the local level, and the limited and to price, but you have to be able to associate ourselves with the issues of your own data, that it is no

>> francis scott key, all the authorities lost control of the city. the beginning of the conflict over slavery and the white population would attack the freed black population that was active in the antislavery movement. widespread disorder. he was responsible and it was a great humiliation for him and the city. who is arthur bowen? >> he was a servant 90 years old in the home of an emory s. horton, a well-known woman. he was alleged to have attacked her in her bedroom at night with an ax. it was a sensational news story that set off the white population to attack the black population but there was no attack. >> host: how did they find that out to? >> guest: arthur went on trial and washington was scandal -- was shocked when she said i know this boy he grew up in my house and did not intend to harm me. he was drunk. he was convicted anyway but because of her persistent desire to free him, she managed to get a pardon from president jackson and was saved from it execution. >> host: what was her connection to the president? >> guest: she was the widow of

francis scott key himself would send her a fruit basket. the bottom line it was her voice. it is not like she pulled a milli vanilli.

francis scott key himself would send her a fruit basket. the tt

francis scott ke

francis scott key himself would send her a fruit basket. the bottom line it was her voice. it is not like she pulled a mil milli vanilli. even though we all know it wasn't milli vanilli singing any milli vanilli soongs, it doesn't get better than kicking back on a cold night with a little "girl you know it's true." ♪ girl, you know it's true ♪ girl you know it's true >> not to mention even if beyonce did lip sync and "girl you know it's true" she's got to be the best lip syncer on the planet. she looked amazing, sounded amazing. it wasn't like she turned the inauguration into an ashleigh simpson "snl" moment. ♪ on a monday i am waiting ♪ tuesday i am fade iing ♪ ♪ >> oof, so painful after all these years, still hurts. speaking of painful to people who are apock leaptic about weather beyonce lip singhed talked to me after you got on the stage in front of the president of the united states and hundreds of thousands to sing the national anthem in 40-degree weather. that bomb is bursting in air on the ridiculist. >>> piers morgan tonight starts now. >>> this is "pie

scott key to write "the star spangled banner." ♪ o say can you see >> reporter: so the british were the ones who started this all, right? we were under attack essentially? >> we awe ourselves as that. -- we saw ourselves as that. some senators were looking for an excuse to invade canada. they're saying, well, the british seizing american ships, sailors, that gives us a right to declare war. let's go to war and take the british colonies of canada. >> reporter: we invaded canada? our oh, so nice neighbor to the north? how come i didn't learn that in school? i always was taught the war of 1812 is about the "the star spangled banner" and about americans defending ourselves against the british. >> i think one reason we don't study much about the war of 1812 is we did not succeed in taking canada. so no one wants to hear about that. it's sandwiched in between the revolutionary war which had huge figures like george washington. then the civil war which is -- a larger thing. >> reporter: the war of 1812 is like the jan brady. the awkward middle child of the three wars. historians often call