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American Morning
Philly Celebrates Opening of National Constitution Center
Aired July 04, 2003 - 08:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Philadelphia, where it all began and where this morning they're opening the National Constitution Center. It is the first museum dedicated to the U.S. constitution and the essential role it plays in the lives of all Americans.
Jason Carroll joins us now from the museum -- good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
This is really a cool place, I really have to tell you. It is a lot of fun coming down here. They do as much as possible to get you involved in the process.
Take a look where we are right now. We're in Signer's Hall. You can come in here, right in front of George Washington himself, and sign your name to the constitution. I've done it right here. It looks a little sloppy, but that is, in fact, my signature. They also have a number of interesting artifacts here in the museum, as well.
They've got the ink well that President Lincoln used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, the story behind that. Also, another little bit of interesting history, the tools that were used to break into the Watergate Hotel. President Nixon had to resign over that particular scandal. And another part of our history, some would say a scandal, depending upon which side of the fence that you're on, the butterfly ballot from the last presidential election is here, as well.
A number of different artifacts. All have something to do with the constitution. If you're very lucky, though, Heidi, while you're here, you'll actually get to run into one of the original framers of the constitution.
I've got Benjamin Franklin with me here right now.
Mr. Franklin, thank you so very much for joining us, distinguished man.
I know it's a hot day today. You were saying it was a hot day back in 1787 when all of you guys gathered to put together the constitution.
RALPH ARCHBOLD, "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN": If you think it is hot today, well, in '87, 95 degrees of heat, 98 percent humidity was not uncommon at all. And that was outside. It was even hotter inside that Pennsylvania Statehouse.
CARROLL: I bet it was.
ARCHBOLD: Oh, my goodness. We were arguing and debating and...
CARROLL: Tell me about the arguing. What was it like?
ARCHBOLD: Well, it was difficult. The large states said you small states, you know, you're trying to get our money. And the small states said, oh, yes, you large states would like to swallow us up, take away our rights, our liberty, our very freedom. Ah, the battle was fierce. But we learned something. You can only solve your problems if you can discuss your differences and find your points of agreement.
But if you can cooperate, if you can converse, if you can cooperate, you have a chance to solve any problem.
CARROLL: All right, thanks very much, Ben Franklin, for joining us.
Again, the museum opens later today. They're expecting hundreds of people to flood in here to learn a little bit more about the constitution -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Right. And we certainly hope they do.
Jason Carroll, so much, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 4, 2003 - 08:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Philadelphia, where it all began and where this morning they're opening the National Constitution Center. It is the first museum dedicated to the U.S. constitution and the essential role it plays in the lives of all Americans.
Jason Carroll joins us now from the museum -- good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
This is really a cool place, I really have to tell you. It is a lot of fun coming down here. They do as much as possible to get you involved in the process.
Take a look where we are right now. We're in Signer's Hall. You can come in here, right in front of George Washington himself, and sign your name to the constitution. I've done it right here. It looks a little sloppy, but that is, in fact, my signature. They also have a number of interesting artifacts here in the museum, as well.
They've got the ink well that President Lincoln used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, the story behind that. Also, another little bit of interesting history, the tools that were used to break into the Watergate Hotel. President Nixon had to resign over that particular scandal. And another part of our history, some would say a scandal, depending upon which side of the fence that you're on, the butterfly ballot from the last presidential election is here, as well.
A number of different artifacts. All have something to do with the constitution. If you're very lucky, though, Heidi, while you're here, you'll actually get to run into one of the original framers of the constitution.
I've got Benjamin Franklin with me here right now.
Mr. Franklin, thank you so very much for joining us, distinguished man.
I know it's a hot day today. You were saying it was a hot day back in 1787 when all of you guys gathered to put together the constitution.
RALPH ARCHBOLD, "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN": If you think it is hot today, well, in '87, 95 degrees of heat, 98 percent humidity was not uncommon at all. And that was outside. It was even hotter inside that Pennsylvania Statehouse.
CARROLL: I bet it was.
ARCHBOLD: Oh, my goodness. We were arguing and debating and...
CARROLL: Tell me about the arguing. What was it like?
ARCHBOLD: Well, it was difficult. The large states said you small states, you know, you're trying to get our money. And the small states said, oh, yes, you large states would like to swallow us up, take away our rights, our liberty, our very freedom. Ah, the battle was fierce. But we learned something. You can only solve your problems if you can discuss your differences and find your points of agreement.
But if you can cooperate, if you can converse, if you can cooperate, you have a chance to solve any problem.
CARROLL: All right, thanks very much, Ben Franklin, for joining us.
Again, the museum opens later today. They're expecting hundreds of people to flood in here to learn a little bit more about the constitution -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Right. And we certainly hope they do.
Jason Carroll, so much, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
