In this episode, Gary Berton, the president of The Thomas Paine Historical Association, joins Scott Cleary, co-editor of New Directions in Thomas Paine Studies and author of The Field of Imagination: Thomas Paine and Eighteenth-Century Poetry, to discuss the revolutionary life, ideas, and legacy of Thomas Paine in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is generously sponsored by Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.

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In celebration of Black History Month, scholars Lucas Morel and Melvin Rogers join to discuss how African American leaders and citizens, such as Prince Hall, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. have invoked the ideas and principles of the Declaration of Independence throughout American history to push for a more free and equal America. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

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In this episode, Legal scholar William Ewald joins Jesse Wegman to discuss Wegman’s new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution, which explores the influence and legacy of forgotten founder and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

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In this episode, Matthew Continetti, author of The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism, joins prize-winning biographer Sam Tanenhaus to discuss Tanenhaus’s new book, Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America, and to trace American conservatism’s evolution from the Progressive Era, through the rise of William F. Buckley Jr., to today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

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In this episode, John Q. Barrett, discoverer and editor of Robert H. Jackson's acclaimed book That Man: An Insider's Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt and writer of the popular blog The Jackson List, joins author and constitutional scholar Gerard Magliocca, author of The Actual Art of Governing: Justice Robert H. Jackson's Concurring Opinion in the Steel Seizure Case, and G. Edward White, author of Robert H. Jackson: A Life in Judgment, to discuss the Justice’s influential concurrence in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, his approach to constitutional interpretation, and the lasting legacy he left on debates over presidential power. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is presented in partnership with the Robert H. Jackson Center.

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In this episode, the National Constitution Center launches its Article V Project, a new initiative exploring the founders’ vision for Article V and an historical look at the use of the Article V process from 1789 to the present. Project contributors and constitutional law experts Gerard Magliocca, Sanford Levinson, Michael Rappaport, and Stephen Sachs explore the origins, debates, and ongoing challenges surrounding Article V in this conversation about their new essays.Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is presented in conjunction with the Article V Project, made possible by Democracy Restated. 

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In this episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward Larson discusses his newest book, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Still Matters. This book traces the idea of American independence in one pivotal year—1776—and explores why this year continues to hold significance today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is generously sponsored by Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.

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In this bonus episode, we are sharing recordings from the Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness podcast launch event featuring a performance of Jeffrey Rosen’s The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness and Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses in Philadelphia.  

Jeffrey Rosen, author of The Pursuit of Happiness and host of the podcast, performs his original songs inspired by the book’s exploration of the classical writers on virtue that shaped the founders.   

This performance features Jeffrey Rosen and pianist Jennifer Blyth with arrangements by Greg Strohman. 

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Timeline

Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses

[00:00] Episode Introduction 

[01:14] Twelve Titans Introduction 

[05:10] 1. Twelve Titans  

[08:15] 2. Apollo, Helios, and Hyperion  

[11:15] 3. Pythia  

[14:49] 4. O Diana  

[17:36] 5. Athena  

[20:00] 6. Mighty Aphrodite  

[22:42] 7. Mercury  

[25:28] 8. The Three Fates  

[28:25] 9. Apollo’s Rising  

[31:04] 10. Dame Fortune  

[33:29] 11. Enthusiasmos  

[36:16] 12. Divinity Is One 

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In this bonus episode, we are sharing recordings from the Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness podcast launch event featuring a performance of Jeffrey Rosen’s The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness and Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses in Philadelphia.  

Jeffrey Rosen, author of The Pursuit of Happiness and host of the podcast, performs his original songs inspired by the book’s exploration of the classical writers on virtue that shaped the founders.   

This performance features pianist Jennifer Blyth and baritone James Martin with arrangements by Greg Strohman. 

Resources 

Timeline 

The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness

[00:00] Episode Introduction 

[01:33] 1. Order: The Golden Mean  

[04:10] 2. Temperance: Calm Self-Mastery  

[06:40] 3. Humility: Judge Not  

[08:28] 4. Industry: Industry Alone  

[11:06] 5. Frugality: Thomas Jefferson  

[13:51] 6. Sincerity: The Light Within  

[16:50] 7. Resolution: Just Do What You Resolve  

[19:00] 8. Moderation: Alexander Hamilton  

[21:05] 9. Tranquility: Security Is an Illusion  

[23:57] 10. Cleanliness: John Quincy Adams  

[26:55] 11. Justice: Love’s the Answer  

[29:40] 12. Silence: Silence Is Golden  

[32:37] 13. Coda: Song of Devotion and The Pursuit of Happiness 

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In this episode, Susan Stokes, author of The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies, and Cass Sunstein, author of On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom, explore the current challenges facing liberalism and why liberalism remains essential to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

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