GOP Rep. confronts Smithsonian director with past activism' quotes

Director Hartig, do you believe that the American History Museum should be politically neutral? Yes, sir. Do you believe that the American History Museum should advocate for contemporary political or social causes? No, sir, the American History Museum does not advocate. Do you think the American History Museum should avoid the appearance of bias? Absolutely. Do you believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to advocacy and activism? No, sir, I do not. You do want to be clear on this. You don't believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy? I believe perhaps you're quoting from some of my public speeches. 2020 University of California, Riverside virtual lecture, which you said that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy. You said that in 2020. And so I just want to be clear on the record that in the video that I watched, this 2020 online, you can watch it on YouTube, everybody at home will put it up for folks. But you're now saying that you don't believe that that is one of your roles. Has your position changed on this topic? Thank you. I better understand your line of querying. I think what's important for me is that. I only have five minutes. I just want to be direct, just real clear. You just answered my question differently than you answered it five years ago, which is positions can change. So I just want to understand, in 2020, did you believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy? In 2020, did you believe that? So one of the roles of an historian. Just yes or no. I mean, in 2020, it was real, real straightforward. And for the record, you said this, so it should be an easy yes. It shouldn't be complicated on my side, but maybe it's complicated on your side. In 2020, I'm not even asking what you believe today. In 2020, did you believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship with advocacy and activism? Yes. One of the key things a historian does, especially at the National Museum of American History, is to tie threads together. I'm going to just note you're filibustering on the answer. You said it. So in 2020, you said it. So I'm going to assume in 2020, you believed it, unless you said things you don't believe. So in 2025, in 2026, as we sit here today, I'll ask you, for the record, one additional time, today, do you believe that one of your roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy? As a historian, I believe that intellectually, we can connect those two together. So you think that—so it is one of your roles. As a historian, absolutely. To be an activist. No, sir. One of your roles as a historian is to—go ahead. One of my roles as a historian and the director of the National Museum of American History is to help connect the long history of activism and advocacy on all topics, from gun rights to identity to immigration. That is a connection that I make. And do you think that that is important, to show that advocacy and activism at the National History Museum? I believe our work is grounded in rigorous scholarship and that we often will connect both our objects and the two million that we share with the American people to the major— So I'm just trying to—help me square this. You think that the American History Museum should not advocate for political or social causes. You just said that. You think it should be politically neutral. We also are stating that one of your core roles is connecting research and scholarship to activism and advocacy. One of the core roles— Do you support activism and advocacy, or do you think your goal at the museum should be neutral? Our goal at the museum is to educate all Americans and everyone who comes through our door free of charge. To persuade them? Our goal is to educate them about the history of the United States— In a neutral way? Absolutely. Do you think—you noted in your statement that you love America. I love America, too. For me, that's not complicated. Do you believe loving America is complicated? My personal belief is that loving America is not complicated, but as a historian, I can tell you that— So for you, loving America is not complicated? It's unconditional.