In this episode of Senators x History, Senator Mark Kelly selects Thomas Edison as the historical figure he’d teach about. Edison, often called “the Wizard of Menlo Park,” was a prolific inventor whose creations, including the light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera, reshaped how people lived, worked, and connected with one another.
For Kelly, who spent decades as a Navy pilot and NASA astronaut before serving in the Senate, Edison represents the spirit of innovation that fuels both space exploration and America’s broader progress. Edison’s relentless experimentation, thousands of failed attempts before achieving success, serves as a reminder that perseverance is at the heart of discovery.
Kelly’s choice highlights how science and technology don’t just solve problems, but also inspire new possibilities for the future. His lesson underscores that America’s greatest breakthroughs have come from those willing to push boundaries, embrace failure, and keep working toward bold ideas.
Stay tuned for more episodes of Senators x History, where U.S. Senators share the lessons from history they’d bring to the classroom.
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