Tomáš G. Masaryk Memorial
Tomáš G. Masaryk
“He had the mind of a scholar, the figure of a sportsman, the bearing of an aristocrat, the position of a king. But he had the heart of a democrat. ...”
Dorothy Thompson, NBC broadcast, September 24, 1957.
This memorial honors Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
(1850-1937), founder and first president of the
Republic of Czechoslovakia. Although born to a
family of humble origins, he achieved considerable
renown as a scholar and university professor and
entered politics. During World War I, he founded
the Czechoslovak National Council in Paris to advocate for independence from Austria-Hungary.
In support of the Allied cause, he organized the
Czechoslovak Legion, an army of volunteers that
fought in Russia, Italy and France.
In 1918 Masaryk won the support of U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson for independence. With the fall of Austria-Hungary, he became President of Czechoslovakia. He thrice was reelected, holding
the office until 1935. Supported by his American-
born wife, Charlotte Garrigue, and inspired by
U.S. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and
ideals of free elections, the rule of law, the separation of powers, universal suffrage, and the fundamental liberties of speech, assembly, and religion.
[Inscriptions, base of statue, north face]
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
1850-1937
Professor, creator of democracy and
champion of liberty
President of Czechoslovakia
1918 - 1935
[Inscriptions, base of statue, west face]
Seven decades ago, an unprecedented partnership began between two presidents; the philosopher, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk; and the idealistic scholar,
Woodrow Wilson. It was a partnership as well among Czechs and
Slovaks to join together in federation. And, yes, it was a long, hard road
from their work on your Declaration of Independence to this magnificent celebration today. I
am proud to walk these last steps with you as one shared journey ends and another begins.”
Commemoration of the end of Communist rule,
President George H.W. Bush
Wenceslas Square, Prague
November 17, 1990
[Inscriptions, base of statue, east face]
“We accept the American principles as laid down by President Wilson:
the principles of liberated mankind, of actual equality of nations,
and of government deriving all their just power from the consent
of the governed.”
Declaration of Czechoslovakia
T. G. Masaryk
Independence Square
Philadelphia
October 26, 1918
[Inscriptions, base of statue, south face]
Presented as a gift to
The United States of America
from
The Czech Republic
and
American Friends of the Czech Republic
September 19, 2002
Marker is at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest and 22nd Street, Northwest on Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest.
Courtesy hmdb.org
