Step Inside George Washington's Mt. Vernon with Director Doug Bradburn

“You have to know where you came from to know where you are going,” insists David Bruce Smith, founder of The Grateful American™ Series

That’s the reason he launched the The Grateful American™ Series on President’s Day 2014. Throughout the year, he’ll be interviewing the executives who run the nation’s presidential homes, as well as historians, authors, and educators who know the importance of keeping our nation’s history alive.

In February, Smith headed to Mt. Vernon to interview Doug Bradburn, founding director of the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. We talked in the stacks, alongside Martha Washington’s papers, which is adjacent to the room filled with books owned by George Washington himself. History fans would have to agree, that’s something special.

In this podcast interview you’ll learn:
Why Doug Bradburn believes it’s essential for children to understand American history.
Why George Washington is more than a myth—but also a great businessman and leader
Some little known details of Washington’s career—including some near misses that could have killed him
The tragedies in Washington’s life that created his character
And more!
Read more of our Q&A in the HISTORY column in the March 2014 issue of Be Inkandescent magazine.

About The Grateful American™ Series:

The Grateful American™ Radio Show on the Inkandescent Radio Network featuring interviews about historical figures (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, etc.) with the chief executives of the nation’s presidential homes, historians, and other experts.
A TV series on YouTube, public access, and national TV stations.
The Grateful American™ Guidebooks: Featuring insights from the leaders of the presidential homes, and interactive exercises that explore, engage, and help readers develop an interest in American history.
The Grateful American™ Events: Dovetailing with and promoting the events-in-progress currently going on at each of the nation’s top presidential homes.
An interactive website: Here students will post art, photos, writing, music, and other creative works about what excites them about American history.

About David Bruce Smith:

David Bruce Smith has a bachelor’s degree in American Literature from George Washington University, and a master’s in Journalism from New York University. During the past 20 years he has been a real estate executive and the editor-in-chief/publisher of Crystal City Magazine.
He is the author of 11 books: “In Many Arenas,” • “13 Young Men, Tennessee,” • “Three Miles From Providence,” • “Conversations with Papa Charlie,” • “Afternoon Tea with Mom,” • “Letters to My Children,” • “Building the Community,” • “Continuum,” • “Building My Life,” • and his most recent, “American Hero: John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States.”
His company David Bruce Smith Publications, specializes in creating, designing, and composing limited-edition books on a variety of subjects: authors, historic figures, artists, and leaders. Several are about the amazing life-story of real estate developer and philanthropist Charles E. Smith. David Bruce Smith Publications is committed to educating young children through books, literature, and historic sites.