We the People

Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation

Listen Later

Charles Sumner was an abolitionist senator who helped to write the post-Civil War Constitution and give birth to modern civil rights law. Zaakir Tameez, author of the new biography Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation, joins Jeffrey Rosen to discuss Sumner as a moral thinker, political activist, and constitutional visionary. 


Resources

  • Zaakir Tameez, Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation 
  • Zaakir Tameez, “What we can learn from the senator who nearly died for democracy,” The Washington Post (June 1, 2025) 
  • Richard Kreitner “Charles Sumner Was More Than Just a Guy Who Got Caned on the Senate Floor,” The New York Times (June 2, 2025


    • Stay Connected and Learn More

    • Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠
    • Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr.
    • ⁠Sign up⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate.
    • Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen.
    • Join us for an upcoming ⁠live program⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠YouTube⁠.
    • Support our important work.

      • ⁠Donate

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      We the PeopleBy National Constitution Center
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      1,081 ratings

      More shows like We the People

      View all
      Political Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

      Political Gabfest

      8,482 Listeners

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker

      4,126 Listeners

      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

      3,546 Listeners

      Conversations with Bill Kristol by Bill Kristol

      Conversations with Bill Kristol

      2,024 Listeners

      Live at the National Constitution Center by National Constitution Center

      Live at the National Constitution Center

      146 Listeners

      The Lawfare Podcast by The Lawfare Institute

      The Lawfare Podcast

      6,310 Listeners

      Civics 101 by NHPR

      Civics 101

      2,551 Listeners

      Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

      Radio Atlantic

      2,390 Listeners

      Stay Tuned with Preet by Preet Bharara

      Stay Tuned with Preet

      32,377 Listeners

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

      7,242 Listeners

      Strict Scrutiny by Strict Scrutiny

      Strict Scrutiny

      5,867 Listeners

      Advisory Opinions by The Dispatch

      Advisory Opinions

      3,953 Listeners

      The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

      The Ezra Klein Show

      16,587 Listeners

      Divided Argument by Will Baude, Dan Epps

      Divided Argument

      745 Listeners

      The Opinions by The New York Times Opinion

      The Opinions

      617 Listeners