Barack Obama: “The Secretary of Defense shall designate an Executive Director to coordinate the work of the Council.”

I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious our democracy truly is.

Your task is not to impose litmus tests.

In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the Declaration's promise, leaving slavery intact, allowing states to restrict the franchise to white men who owned property.

Of course, we did not accomplish everything we set out to do. No administration does. Some of the exhibits reflect unfinished business, in some cases, my own shortcomings and mistakes, in some cases because - as a sign I kept on the…