Oct 26 2024 25 mins
Austin C. Wright is the son of the late Jordan M. Wright & serves as Chairman of the Museum of Democracy. In this capacity, he has been able to share his father's ginormous collection with the world through the Museum & its national exhibitions. As Wright continues to grow his father’s collection, his emphasis is on ensuring it remains accessible to all, particularly the younger generations, to educate them about freedom & democracy & inspire them to engage in the political process.
The book he co-wrote with his father, CAMPAIGNING FOR PRESIDENT is a comprehensive look at 'campaign paraphernalia" through the ages. Nixon; Reagan; Obama; Biden; Trump; RFK JR. & Harris. It is NOT political. Austin's father started the process and after he passed, he continued.
In this fascinating interview we discuss:
*What motivated your father to begin collecting?
*When was the museum founded, and where were its objects displayed?
*What was it like growing up surrounded by all the memorabilia?
*Describe some of the most unique items in the collection.
*How were most items obtained?
*How did the situation with the LIU (Long Island University) collection display come about?
*Why do you believe this museum is of importance to the American public?
*What are the plans for the collection in 2024 and 2025