LaRue writes at Structure Matters. He is former deputy director of the Eisenhower Institute and of the American Society of International Law.
Few people are better able to relate the U.S. Constitution and its history to today's civic challenges than Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
In this Constitution Day conversation, we connected the "American Idea" at its roots to the present. We also highlighted the lessons that still resonate from the work of the nation's founders.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Rick LaRue: What stands out from your experiences on Constitution Day?
Jeffrey Rosen: The most inspiring memories I have of Constitution Day are without question participating in naturalization ceremonies. We do it every year at theNational Constitution Center. There is never a dry eye in the house when you hear speeches from the most eloquent spokespeople for the American idea — new citizens. It’s just a privilege to participate.
RL: What’s next for the Constitution Center?
JR: This Constitution Day we are launching our newConstitution 101 class in collaboration with theKahn Academy. It is the Kahn Academy’s first civics course and we think it will be a game changer, making the Constitution Center’s nonpartisan approach to constitutional education available to hundreds of thousands of high school students for free. That is the kick-off for our initiatives leading up toAmerica250 in 2026. We are creating a new civics tool kit on the core principles of the Declaration [of Independence] and the Constitution and the American idea — liberty, equality, democracy, separation of powers, federalism and the Bill of Rights — that will help learners of all ages relate these principles to current questions in American life.
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RL: Is there an underappreciated delegate to the Constitutional Convention whom you think should be more recognized?
JR: There’s the great James Wilson, the apostle of popular sovereignty. It was Wilson who came up with the idea that we the people of the United States, rather than we the people of the several states, were sovereign. There’s Gouverneur Morris, the most eloquent opponent of slavery at the convention. And George Mason, whose opposition to the Constitution led to the adoption of the Bill of Rights.
RL: Are there other standouts?
JR: James Madison, because he understood the dangers of faction and the central importance of moderation, compromise and listening to differing points of view. He is the most important framer of the Constitution, but George Washington is the most important delegate to the Constitutional Convention because of the quiet force of his authority. Had he not shown up, then we wouldn’t have a Constitution.
RL: Is there an amendment that stands out for you?
JR: Amendments are determined by “we the people.” We love them all. If you have to choose, it would have to be the First Amendment, dedicated to what Jefferson called the illimitable freedom of the human mind. It’s so inspiring to see the founders’ devotion to freedom of conscience embodied in all five freedoms of the First Amendment.
RL: The conventional wisdom right now, although it’s cracking a bit, is that it’s impossible to amend the Constitution. Do you agree?
JR: We’ll see, Things change fast. … It’s true that our politics have become extremely polarized and therefore it’s hard to mobilize a consensus even around structural amendments, but politics can change, so there’s no reason to think the Constitution has in fact become unamendable.
RL: There are partisan initiatives to try to call a constitutional convention and, with some exceptions, equally partisan opposition or concern. What are your thoughts about this?
JR: We posted some great debates about whether to hold a constitutional convention. The arguments in favor include that it is hard to get amendments through Congress, and therefore a convention might better represent the views of the majority of the American people. The argument against a convention is that it could go rogue. Madison was very opposed to holding another convention on the grounds that it had been a miracle that the first one succeeded, and a second one might undo its good work. Opponents of a convention today fear that it would be subject to the same dysfunction as state legislatures and could subvert constitutional values. The counterargument is that you need three-quarters of the states to ratify the special convention’s work, and therefore any unusual proposals would be checked at the ratification process. Just as Madison feared another convention, Jefferson thought we should have a convention every 19 years. Much depends on whether you share Jefferson’s faith in direct democracy or Madison’s skepticism of it.
RL: Your recent book, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” marvelously touches upon the intellectual roots of our system and the role and value of virtue (perhaps considered “character” today). Each chapter highlights one founder for each of the 13 classical virtues that Ben Franklin cherished. Any one you’d like to mention?
JR: That would be John Quincy Adams. For me, he most inspiringly embodies the classical ideal of self-mastery, self-improvement and using your powers of reason to overcome your unreasonable passions and emotions. His story of recovering from his defeat at the presidency, as well as the tragic suicide of his oldest son, and reinventing himself as the greatest white abolitionist of his age is unmatched in American history.
RL: The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of course will be followed in 11 years by the 250th anniversary of the Constitution, 2037. That will be a big Constitution Day. It won’t be as big as the Declaration’s anniversary, but how do you envision it being marked?
JR: Well, we hope that 2037 will be as big as 2026, and in fact we view the path from ’26 to ’37 as a decade of commemorating the American Constitution and the American idea. The Constitution is the silver frame around the Declaration’s apple of gold, as Lincoln put it, and it is urgently important for Americans to view these documents’ anniversaries as part of the same story of freedom and to think about celebrating them together.
RL: Any thoughts for how we can all observe Constitution Day?
JR: Learning and reading about the American idea is the best way to celebrate the anniversary.
RL: Thank you, Jeff.
