gordon reed. i would like to say she that's national humanities medal, won the national book award, the pulitzer prize, member of the american academy of arts and sciences, she also has had guggenheim fellowship a macarthur fellowship. she essentially is the epit me of a distinguished biographer and she is here tonight because bob weil had ed it two of her books, one is hemings and the other one -- the patriarch. also written about andrew johnson and quite -- a lot. so how is that for a summary. she's done a lot. i have leonard guy on too long in introductions so i'll just say it speaks to the quality of bob weill that annett is the person that we asked to introduce him. annette, please join us. thank you. [applause] >> bob's done a lot. this is wonderful to be here, and to be able to introduce bob, my editor and my friend. a person who deserves every accolade that can be given him. me bob in the late '9 sod when a mutual friend gave him a copy of the man man manumaleuna uscripte first book i've w

gordon reed for her affectionate introduction. i am particularly grateful to the visionary chairman for having raised this bet on me all these years and j-juliett reed who possesses creativity, compassion and belief in goodness that is unheard of in this era, and also to all of my wonderful colleagues, i don't know what i would do without you because they are my family. but most significantly, for all the writers i've worked with those in this room and out there who have succeeded in their work in reclaiming the truth and regaining the large part we know so i am humbled by this award so please forgive me. i was asked to write a speech which i title biography as reclamation and it might surprise you a little because there's all different meanings suggested in the biography. why did you become an editor? this is a question i get asked a lot. the honest answer is i just don't know. but i can assure you in utmost certainty i nevetheutmost certat of becoming a book editor that is until i was 22 and i just redesigned my first job as a s