The Mount is back in the spotlight again! In 2006 then First Lady Laura Bush came to The Mount to welcome Edith Wharton's library on its arrival from England. She gave a wonderful speech (above, flanked by Mount Board member Lord Christopher Tugendhat and former Executive Director Stephanie Copeland).
Our first visit from a First Lady was in 1998, when Hillary Clinton spoke at the beginning of The Mount's restoration, thanks to a 2.9 million dollar grant from Save America’s Treasures, the largest in their history. Mrs. Clinton, now Secretary of State, was honored on Monday May 18 2009 at a breakfast at the UN sponsored by SAT. She was given the Eleanor Roosevelt "Following in Her Footsteps" Award by Save America's Treasures. Presenting the award was Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
This award is timely for The Mount, as it comes hand-in-hand with our own announcement of a successful restructuring of our debt which at last brings the prospect of a firm future for our own American Treasure! The Mount was also acknowledged at the breakfast for its recently completed restructuring. In the photo above are Bobbie Greene McCarthy of SAT, Secretary of State Clinton, and Gordon Travers, The Mount's Chairman of the Board.
We offer our congratulations to the Secretary of State for this entirely deserved honor!
