Washington (CNN) The White House Correspondents' Association ditched its tradition of having a comedian roast the president and press corps at its annual fundraising dinner Saturday, instead having historian Ron Chernow as its featured speaker.

Chernow, the author of six books including biographies on Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, made the case for the First Amendment, all while giving a recounting of the press' historic relationship with presidents dating back to Washington.

For the third year in a row, President Donald Trump skipped the annual dinner and, this year, he ordered his White House officials to boycott the event.

Here are several of the key lines about the free press and the First Amendment from Chernow's speech.

On the legacy of the press

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