where history unfolds daily. as a79, c-span was created public service by america's cable television companies. it is brought to you today either your cable or satellite provider. -- by your cable or satellite provider. >> in american history television exclusive. visits concord, new hampshire. for six years, we have traveled to u.s. cities, bringing historical sites to our viewers. you can watch more of our visits span.org/citiestour. >> we toured the city with a lawyer and former u.s. representative, charles douglas. >> what do people need to know about the city?

charles: it is in the southern, central part of the state. right on the banks of the merrimack river. headquarters for presidential campaigns every four years. it is the state capital of 10,000 state workers. host: should we had that way? y? head tht wa charles: this capital is the oldest where the legislature still sits and the original chamber. it was built around 1816. it is the same building as in the early 1800s. host: how does it play a role in national politics? charles: you have the steps of

the capitol in the front. to in thisspoken square. reagan, clinton, tries to make an address. hampshire take the primary seriously. they will come out and participate. they know it is a sacred duty. they are very participatory. a very high percentage vote in the primary. interviewer: a beautiful capital. where we going now? charles: main street. it finished and $11 million improvement. improvement.lion hotel, this is where legislators used tuesday when they came by train -- used to

stay when they came by train or horse. it is facing the state house. the name is still up there even though it is an office, not a hotel. the street is predominantly brick. , as opposed to what it used to be. the streets and sidewalks have been done. here is the old opera house. abraham lincoln spoke there and 1860 atd 500 people in the very start of his campaign. -- do aes do it a walk walk up and down main street. well-known venue for campaigning. interviewer: where we going now? charles: to the place that used to build in the famous concord coach.

a magnificent redcoats, with leather's -- red roach, with-- red coach, with leather straps. maker,s the premier belt back when you didn't have rubber. if you see pictures of a wells , in a movie, it was made in that building. interviewer: we have seen a lot of history here. we talked about the politics of concord. what about new hampshire? charles: people are friendly. interested in doing the right thing. we may disagree on issues,

people try to be agreeable in their disagreements. it is a very small, family of government issues, people try to be agreeable in their disagreements. in concord. you can beat in as a democrat one year and out and in as a republican one year and out. you don't have holy wars. the parties will beat each other up, but we are all friendly. how are you? that is the nature of a small state and a small capital city. interviewer: thanks for taking the time. charles: absolutely. with the republican governor, chris sununu, in the new hampshire state house. interviewer: thank you for joining us. charles: thank you for having me. interviewer: for is new future best-known?

-- for what is new cancer best known -- for what is new hampshire best know? charles: the foliage. the skiing. in winter. oceans and lakes in the summer. we try and highlight of those outdoor recreational activities. side, we arecal well known for the first in the nation primary. we have the largest legislative body of all the states. volunteer representatives, representing over a million people. when you put all that together, you really get that combination. interviewer: your representatives are volunteers --t go -- voluntter

volunteers? charles: $100 a year. they are volunteers. there is no such a thing as a career politician in this state. when you have that sense of local, individual responsibility, that ends up in the result of government. interviewer: a local radio host jokes you have such a large legislature and a small population. everyone takes a turn. do you feel the size of your state makes people more involved ?et-go -- more involved charles: it is hard to find someone who hasn't run for office or doesn't know someone who was run for office. -- who has run for office. was going to knock on the

most doors is probably going to win. it allows anyone to get involved at whatever level they want. a number of governors have run after never serving in any elected office. if you are willing to work for a lot talk to people -- of folks get vastly outspent in their elections but still when. because they take the time to go person to person. how meanings are very important to us. verywn meetings are important to us. you can have the highest and best impact with what is happening in your community. that is the advantage. that is the advantage we have over most in the country. interviewer: describe the political landscape. charles: dynamic. we're not all republican or democrat. we truly are a purple state.

anything can happen. inare one of only two states the country where all the representatives have to be reelected from the governor. every two years. you can be fired if you are not doing your job. that is great power. s forces elected representatives to get out there. and individual citizens to stay involved. that is why we have been so successful with our first in the nation primary. everyone really get involved. we look at the candidates very carefully. into theve to buy candidate as a person. maintaineen able to this primary, and do it well. as you talk to the presidential candidates who have come through here, it doesn't take long for them to realize how unique the

processes, how open. you have to see people and shake theirhand and come to living rooms. and have a real conversations about what you want to do. we take the responsibility very seriously. we will continue to do so. interviewer: what do you think are the business -- biggest issues facing your state? charles: we have an opioid crisis. we are on the forefront of that. we have had a very high number of deaths, dealing with opioids. a very high rate of addiction. because we have had this issue facing us more than other states, we have been able to be aggressive about how we approach it.

all these pieces come into play. we have done amazing things in terms of pushing the envelope in terms of what might be possible. we do healthall these pieces co. care issues. energy costs. those issues are serious. because we have such a positive foundation, such a responsive system, a system where people can really get involved. to would dress are issues in a much more nubile way than a lot of other folks. how are funds being prioritized? we came in and get a quick assessment of what was going on. we stated what the issues were. we are not going to let politics get in the way. we're going to address mental health, the division of our children youth and families. the opioid crisis.

full-day kindergarten. our politicalput capital behind. making sure they are being addressed. we were so excited when we got the budget passed. most everything was accounted for. that is bringing in good management. if you don't have good people managing those dollars and efficient and good customer service -- the government can't be in one small place. you have to be talking to people and engaging. the individual citizens are like because tumors. the customer is always right -- are kindidual citizens of like customers. the customer is always right. you have to make that system work for everyone. interviewer: the free state project. gov. sunuu: it goes back a number of years.

we are a state that champions individual liberties and real freedoms. we really open ourselves up to having businesses and individual responsibilities and really live by those types of freedoms. we really are a laboratory democracy in the new hampshire. we can try things out because we are a small state. we have a lot of accountability in government. testingvides a great ground for a lot of new ideas. as individuals, empowering individuals, when you at all that together, it became the obvious -- when you add all that together, it quickly became the free state movement. it added a lot in terms of pushing those ideals to make

sure we are keeping government small and things simple. we are running them efficiently. we don't let bureaucracy get in the way or big government get in the way. you are the youngest governor in the united states. do feel that age affects the way you govern? gov. sununu: i have governed differently. have a i definitely different style than other governors. i don't feel that young. i feel it i have lived five lifetimes. age does come into play. are advertising and promoting certain things, how you are governing millennials. you have to love what you do and be aggressive about it. beingf the job of governor is inspiring others to

put their ideas on the table. having an open atmosphere. people to come into the room and put their ideas down and make sure they are part of the solution. i try my best to be energetic and up beat. you have to be firm and make sure that you are sticking hard to policies. you try to have a positive attitude. it is amazing what you can get done. interviewer: you come from a political family. you have a background as an engineer. how do those two things affect you politically? gov. sununu: engineering. i was an environmental engineer. i designed waste sites. my specialty was chlorinated solvents. you always try to make the system efficient and cost-effective. get a system that is going to work well and get results. and go on to the next project.

that is my approach to government. you want things that are efficient and stay out of people possible way. you want to provide good structure and achieved the goals you can achieve. and what are you trying to achieve? howard are you going to check whether -- how are you going to check whether you have been successful go you really is -- -- whether you have been successful? when you have the best and brightest together, you can do well. you can have a system that is flexible. you can make sure you are meeting the needs of the people. is that kind of engineering aspect i try to bring to the table. interviewer: are there any new hampshire politicians who have influenced you? gov. sununu: a coiu -- a couple. my father was a great father.

the real start to the political aspects of our family started with my mom, on the school board. thesee dragged to some of school board meetings and have to sit in the corner while she did her staff. -- while she did her stuff. but it is all about giving back to your community. my dad was on the planning board. inn you have eight kids school, you have a direct interest in making sure schools are being run well. the schools in new hampshire are tremendous. i like to give my mom credit for that. those two people have the most in terms of that aspect of giving back to your community. politics is not a career. it is a way i am trying to use my skills, my engineering and

business experience, to give back and make things more efficient and focus on the priorities. interviewer: is there a story from new hampshire's history you find interesting? gov. sununu: if you are talking politics, one story i tell -- i was born november 5, 1974. it was election day. my mom was giving birth in boston. the hospital in boston. had asked my father to get a couple of absentee ballots, which they filled out. my mom looked at my dad and said, you voted, right? forgotten. he had the absentee ballots in

his pocket. he jumped in the car and drove as fast as he could, 30 minutes north out of boston, and went up to salem. the doors had been shot. he was knocking on the door. he had a conversation with the gentleman and side. -- inside my dad. passes to absentee ballots for the republican candi date, who won by two votes. it was a special election. he lost in august of 1975. those votes my dad got him ready to votes that gave louie wyman a win. my dad got in at the last minute gave louie wyman

a win. people take their politics seriously, that responsibility of casting that boat -- that vote, very seriously. what is next for you and the state? gov. sununu: this is it. i have no desire to go to washington. 603 pride, our area code. i love this state. from my step away business. because i knew we could do better. even just in the first six months, we have come so far in terms of being open to business, reducing regulation, all those

things to make sure cancer isn't hampshire isn't just on is on theont -- forefront of individuals' minds. i'm going to go back to a normal life at some point. we don't let politics get in the way. seventh oranked eighth in the country, i want to be ranked first. i want to have the best opportunities or businesses and the lower tax base. i want to make sure we have individual responsibilities. that we are not getting complacent and falling back. we are different. this is a very special plate -- special place. in termsee an influx of the immigration into the state.

people realize those special intangibles we have. but you have to stay on top of it. i think there is no end to the potential we can have. interviewer: thank you for your time. gov. sununu: thank you. it was great. >> people in new hampshire to politics very seriously. spend a lot ofnd time meeting with candidates. reading about candidates and interviewing candidates. all levels.cs at new hampshire people are very serious about their politics at the local level. they are equally passionate about politics at the county level, and the state level,

particularly as they get into national politics. especially in regard to the presidential primary. we are to take a look at some items that reflect on new hampshire's politics, and politics within the larger scope of national and international politics. is governor wentworth. he has the distinction of being the longest tenured governor. he served for almost 26 years. to 1767.rom 1741 tempered, arrogant. made lots of enemies.

it is a miracle he survived one or two years in office. his own father was lieutenant governor. he had friends and relatives in england and new hampshire. he learned how to make the system work. he understood the whole colonial system, to the point he knew how to please authorities in london. they could hire and fire him. he could please almost everyone in new hampshire. he gave a vermont away. away. -- gave vermont away. through patronage, politics, and connections, he survived for and made years, himself very rich and the process. he was forced out because of age. he suffered badly from gout. authorities in london came to

he was operating to much out of private interest and not out of the public good. after he left office, he was replaced by john wentworth. the last of the royal governors. had such a trunked chief executive, new hampshire executive, new hampshire was very leery of having a strong executive. -- newd no government -- hampshire had no government. new hampshire found itself without government. our leaders went down to the continental congress meeting and said, what are we supposed to do? wanted a new england

state to be the first state to declare a form of government independent of the crown. form ofed a small government, it seems here. approved by the congress. january 15, 1776. this states that, we, the small provisional congress, are now the government. we don't have any executive branch. nothing about judiciary. a very flimsy document. the so-calledt of state constitutions, independent of the crown. most are paintings of our distinguished native sons. had some clout in

the early 19th century. -- new hampshire had some clout in the early 19th century. bster. right, daniel we a lawyer. served in the new hampshire house of representatives. he would move on to massachusetts and become a major national figure. he never lost his interest in new hampshire. -- a farmd farm here here. he knew all of the political leaders in new future. he kept in touch with them. here, even ifways he was living in washington or boston. he was too big too ignore. one of those who he detested

during much of his political career was our other famous native son, franklin pierce. webster was a federalist and later a wink. his -- later a whig. his key opponent was pierce. he was a jeffersonian, and turned into a jacksonian democrat. he did serve in the u.s. senate, but didn't stay there long. his wife hated public life. he returned to new hampshire. ofwas known as an enforcer democratic harmony and unity. he wanted the democratic party -- he was known as a true democratic party man. everyone knew a democratic nominee would win in 1952. time, the potential

nominees sat holman and hope someone -- sat home and hope someone would bring them the good news. pierce wasn't on anyone's radar. but the democratic members of the convention couldn't arrive at any kind of consensus. ballots, people mentioned franklin pierce. he was a good, solid democrat. he had no particular bias against the south. southern delegates sent telegrams up, asking questions of pierce. they liked his answers. pierce was finally nominated, to everyone's surprise. but no one outside new hampshire knew who he was.

this painting was done to publicize franklin pierce, what he looked like. there were photographs taken of him, wearing his mexican war uniform. his college classmate from bowdoin, daniel hawthorne, wrote those authorized -- nathaniel hawthorne, wrote one of those authorized biographies of him. not one of his great works. but he went on to win the election in 1952. cornisha picture of a town meeting in 1947. new hampshire is proud of the of its town meetings. is typical of what you might have seen in 1947.

people would have gathered in the town hall. this picture, there are a group concerned.ho are the know what items are on agenda and who they are going to vote for. these meetings would sometimes last two or three days. it goes back to massachusetts, in the 16 30's, when they began to incorporate separate, small towns around the boston area. the allowed these towns the privilege of electing their own officers and to tax themselves. incorporated use polities in new hampshire -- municipalities in new hampshire today. one of the things that new hampshire developed during the progressive area -- era during

the 20th century is a system for holding primary elections for state officials, and developed a system for holding a presidential primary for actual delegates to the -- to go to the conventions. since 1919, new hampshire has been the first state to select delegates to go to the presidential convention. he people participated. candidates out of a hat. we changed the law in 1949, saying that we would not only pick individuals for future primaries to go to conventions, we would have a "beauty contest." we would put the names of candidates on the ballot. our presidential

primary didn't just let candidates from new hampshire, and lifted the actual -- it lif ted the actual names of candidates. each town runs its own election in the way it sees fit. what happened in a few of the they had to do it on the day of the primary. some of them jumpstarted the time. in small town and did that 1948. voters.0 it was a railroad town. the only time you can get everyone together was around midnight. after that, the railroad workers all took off. decided to have its primary, its presidential primary in 1948 at midnight. time, other small

towns have jumped in. millfield. there is a state law which says, if you have less than 100 voters, you can hold your presidential primary at midnight. it became h proud -- a proud tradition. what you have here is a wooden ballot box used by the voters of hart's location. most-- this box is our valuable artifact. the one plane, this is a little wooden box, and artifact. -- an artifact. on the other plane, this box is a symbol of who we are. we are a republic.

republic is by definition, a form of government. according to the laws that they make. the minute we fail to see this wooden box as a symbol of who we to be a republic. it is important people understand the concept of building this box as a way o fsh -- of showing it. the new hampshire primary was not very significant until 1952. the front-runner for the republican nomination was robert taft, a fairly conservative republican. he was well known by party regulars. many party regulars thought he was too far to the right and didn't like him. a number of new hampshire people rallied around their governor, sherman adams. the decided to push

candidacy of dwight d. eisenhower. a backdoor effort amshestrated by lodge and ad to get eisenhower on the ballot. he said, he was ok with having it on the ballot. on the democratic side, president truman was planning to run for another term. he was contested. he had problems in terms of the korean war and other things. consisted -- contested by a senator. he headed up a crime commission that got a lot of television publicity. open,52 primary breaks with eisenhower versus taft. we have lots of artifacts.

figure,er was a popular but he did not campaign in get in new hampshire. -- yet in new hampshire. finally, campaign in new hampshire. maybe he shouldn't have. he was not a popular figure. new hampshire came out in force , saying "i like ike." eisenhower won the primary. much has been made about the first in the nation primary. indidn't need to do that 1952. it was by accident. the decision was made to hold the primary election on the same get a our meeting day, to bigger crowd. you wouldn't have to have two different elections.

it would cost a lot of money. the decision was made to hold the 1952 presidential primary on town meeting day. -- other thing that made it that is why it is first in the nation. the other thing that made it a big deal was the nature of the election. an incumbent running against a challenger with in his own party. and an established republican running against a popular military official. one of the reasons it is polls,nt -- we have lots of talk about who is going to win a. who is the front-runner. until we get to the new hampshire primary, we haven't

asked ordinary voters if the privacy of polls, lots of talk about who is going to win a. the polling pla allows themce to cast -- place allows them to cast their votes? you get an election by individuals, ordinary people, casting their preference. looking at new hampshire politics, it is fun. it is a small state. it is not unimportant. every vote and town meeting is important. every congressional session in concord is important. people have the right and willingness and be attitude and -- the attitude and desire to make themselves heard. >> new hampshire is known for presidential politics.

we play an amazing role of being the first in the nation when it comes to presidential primaries. people don't quite understand, literally within hours after the november election for president, candidates start showing up in new hampshire. pitch, just fever before the primaries, usually in february of that year. people start coming in. concord is a political mecca. the place you have to show. pulse of state politics and national politics happens. if you are a republican and you want to make sure that you are a republican -- that you want a governor, this place becomes politically important. it is politically important to presidential campaigns.

anyone who has an interest in the outcome of political elections here, it lays a foundation for presidential campaigns. you want to be able to have a say. concord and new hampshire becomes such an important place. in candidatese saying, i have this person, and that person. we are so small. it takes time and relationships. concord is at the center. i remember when i moved here. i had always experienced concord as a politician. but never as a resident. i moved into a remarkable house that had been owned by a power- political couple. he was a powerful democrat. she was a powerful republican. the best of marriages. no children. politics was their child.

marty and caroline gross. incredibly important. they have lots of presidential candidates here. when the co-owner said -- heard that i was looking for a house to buy for my aunt, he said, name a price. he wanted someone who would appreciate the political history and continue that history into the future. the lowestred gross price in north america, knowing said, my aunt's money, i please forgive me for this price. i promise this house will always be open and available to president in waiting. presidents-in-waiting.

i have kept that promise. be knew 150 people would here the minute they said a candidate was coming. clinton came to speak. doors.pened his at that time, bill clinton was a third stream democrat. -- a third stream democrat. even associating with anyone knew thisisk, gross was the guy. if anyone had a shot, it was bill clinton. by embracing him and opening his house, he put that stamp of approval. it happened in that room. this used to be the formal living room. those doors it used to open to the dining room. this door, to the entryway.

the would invite presidential candidates. this is where they met jimmy carter. bob dole. they would invite these people in. the candidate would sit here. ows onould have their elb the mantelpiece and they would talk to 150 people. everyone would say, that is where i met clinton. elbow heests, put your re. you put your elbow where clinton did. it tells you how many decades of history and how many people of power have walked into houses and became the leader of the free world. the story goes that jimmy carter slept here. martin wasn't sure he was going to support jimmy carter.

he slept in this room. jimmy carter was notorious for always writing thank you. we have a plaque we put above the door that was here when i moved in. martin gross was so proud of it. jimmys a note from carter. over the door in this bedroom. the secret service had to calm -- had to come when gore was here. they are supposed to have a big event for the vice president. says, you service don't have a safe room. we can't bring the vice president here. a safe room is a room without windows to the outside. martin says, let me introduce

you to the al gore bathroom. so the secret service would have ifown him into this room something happened. bernie sanders began his campaign in this room. i have known him for 30 years. when you are a liberal progressive, you all know each other. radio in vermont. he was the only congressman from vermont. he would be a regular on my show. we feel lonely. we need to talk to each other. i get a phone call. i answered the phone. this is bernie. how are you? can i borrow the house?

what for? this is the senator. he goes, i am thinking of running for president. i try not to laugh. -- the house has all the boxes if you want to run for president. but i am in the media. i don't endorse candidates. however my going to do this? but i promise to the owner. -- i promised the owner. i siad, -- said, i will move the furniture. and put out water. january of 2015. bernie stands in the dining room. the furniture was moved out. 150 people show up.

people were standing in the kitchen. they came down from for much. it was unbelievable. he is talking. i raise my hand. whatid, it is your house, is the question? i said, which party? whole roomis -- the gets sucked out of oxygen. i said, if you don't pick a party, i am not sure you should stay here. people are here for a conversation and not for a solo performer. he gets quiet. i think i amys, going to run as a democrat. everyone was excited.

it was kind of remarkable. no one took it seriously initially. even when the "concord monitor" sent a reporter, they thought he wasn't going to go very far. no one could imagine what would happen. uninsulatedthis attic into a living space. part of the reason i designed it this way was that i do appreciate the role concord and new hampshire place in presidential politics. i wanted a place where i could invite students to meet with editors and publishers and political leaders and political science professors to talk about the campaigns happening. a 2015, from the end of november through january of 2016. over 220 students came through

this living room. 22. came in groups of 15 or from harvard, from union college. we would have dinner and sit and talk about what campaigns were like in the past. why this campaign seemed so different. which people to interview. so that as they were studying the primary, they got a firsthand taste of what made new hampshire so important. i designed this space not because i like open, but because i wanted to make sure this was kind of a salon, where people could come and learn. we had over 200 students for this most recent campaign. i am hoping to do it again. concord is ano

american television exclusive, as part of the introduction to our american cities tour. for six years, we have brought historical sites to viewers. watch more at cspan.o rg/citiestour. nancy -- secretary betsy devos, speaking at harvard's kennedy school of government. on theyan is indeed administration's energy policy plans. on then zinke administration's energy policy plans. then president trump at the national association of manufacturers. tom price has resigned. his resignation letter reads, i have spent --

>> the white house said that don wright will serve as acting hhs secretary. betsy devos talked about education policy at the kennedy school of government at harvard university. and thestudents audience protested her appearance by raising their face, snapping fingers, -- raising their fists and snapping fingers. this is just over an hour. [applause] >> item the academic dean of the harvard kennedy school. joined by a very special guest to explore the critical question of how to improve our education system.