Monumental Conversations: Rick Atkinson
Monumental Conversations: On the Road to America’s 250th with Rick Atkinson
The Trust for the National Mall kicked off a new series on May 19, 2025, reprising its Monumental Conversations series with the new theme “On the Road to America’s 250th” in celebration of the upcoming U.S. Semiquincentennial. This rooftop reception and conversation overlooking the National Mall featured a discussion with Pulitzer Prize winning writer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Revolution Trilogy Rick Atkinson.
The event previewed Atkinson’s upcoming release The Fate of the Day, which chronicles the spectacular history of the battles between the Americans and the British—debuting as a #1 bestseller on the New York Times Book List earlier this month.
The evening’s emcee was Eric Hoplin, Trust for the National Mall board member and President/CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW).
Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky, presidential historian, noted author and executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library joined in conversation with Atkinson, digging deeper into the stories and moments in history that helped Atkinson build the compelling narrative of the second book in his Revolution Trilogy.
“We're the beneficiaries of an enlightened political heritage handed down to us from that revolutionary generation…we cannot allow that precious heritage to slip away….And it’s a central reason to commemorate the 250th” — Rick Atkinson
Atkinson and Dr. Chervinsky also welcomed questions from the engaged audience sharing a glimpse behind the history told in their books, how they have connected with historical figures in their books, sharing humor and insights about how their books go from research to first draft, to final draft and onto the bookshelf.
Special thanks to our partners at King & Spalding for hosting the event in their monumental space and terrace overlooking the White House and America’s Front Yard.
