The Supreme Court Historical Society invites you to a special virtual event with Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, as he discusses his new book The Pursuit of Liberty. Rosen’s work traces the constitutional ideals that have shaped the American experiment, offering a rich exploration of the figures, debates, and Supreme Court moments that continue to define our nation’s understanding of freedom.
In The Pursuit of Liberty, Jeffrey Rosen explores the clashing visions of Hamilton and Jefferson about how to balance liberty and power: Jefferson championed states’ rights and individual liberties, while Hamilton pushed for a strong Federal government and a powerful executive. This ongoing tug-of-war has shaped all the pivotal moments in American history, including Abraham Lincoln’s fight against slavery and southern secession, as well as the expansion of federal power under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Rosen also shows how Hamilton and Jefferson’s disagreement over how to read the Constitution has shaped landmark debates in Congress and the Supreme Court about executive power.
The Pursuit of Liberty is a compelling history of the opposing forces that have shaped our country since its founding, and the ongoing struggle to define the balance between liberty and power.
Join us for an engaging conversation that brings history to life, illuminates the Court’s enduring role in the constitutional story, and offers fresh insight into the pursuit of liberty across generations.
Jeffrey Rosen is President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, where he hosts We the People, a weekly podcast of constitutional debate. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor at The Atlantic. Rosen is a graduate of Harvard College, Oxford University, and Yale Law School. He is the author of nine books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Pursuit of Happiness and Conversations with RBG. His essays and commentaries have appeared in The New York Times Magazine; on NPR; in The New Republic, where he was the legal affairs editor; and in The New Yorker, where he has been a staff writer.