AMERICA S TOWN HALL Timely constitutional conversations uniting thought leaders from all sides of the debate FALL 2016 constitutioncenter.org/debate
Dear Friends, I m thrilled to share with you the Fall 2016 lineup for America s Town Hall! As we prepare for a new Supreme Court Term and race towards Election Day, our mission remains the same to bring together the leading voices on all sides of the constitutional debates at the center of American life. In the heart of the presidential campaign, we will seek to put the 2016 election in historical context. In celebration of Constitution Day, we will host a discussion with New York Times Company CEO Mark Thompson on the history of political rhetoric, from FDR to the 2016 election. We will also launch our new free Interactive Constitution app! Later in the season, we will tackle the constitutional visions of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the future of the Supreme Court, and the media s role in the 2016 election. Finally, we will assess the constitutional legacy of President Obama, the historical roots of Black Lives Matter, and the relationship between populism and constitutionalism. We look forward to a series of conversations on America s Founding, including a Hamilton v. Jefferson debate at Mount Vernon in Virginia and symposia on George Mason and the Declaration of Independence here at the Constitution Center. Our focus on the Founding will culminate in a series of exciting talks on Bill of Rights Day on December 15 celebrating the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. We will host discussions with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Linda Greenhouse, leading free speech voice Timothy Garton Ash, Judge David Barron, and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, as well as a conversation on the state of free speech on U.S. university campuses, in partnership with the literary and human rights group, PEN America. On the road, we will host debates in Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York exploring voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and whether to call a constitutional convention. Finally, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 14th Amendment at the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. The National Constitution Center is a private nonprofit whose inspiring work is made possible by our Members. That s why the greatest access and discounted admission to our Town Hall programming comes with membership. Please join us for as many of these wonderful programs as possible, at the Center or online at constitutioncenter.org. 2016 LIBERTYMEDAL CIVIL RIGHTS ICON ê CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS 2016 LIBERTY MEDAL RECIPIENT SEPTEMBER 19 CEREMONY & GALA RECEPTION For tickets and more information, visit constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal. With appreciation, Jeffrey Rosen President & CEO National Constitution Center Cover image: Monika Bickert of Facebook (center) discusses online speech with Eric Posner (right) and Geoffrey R. Stone (left) of University of Chicago Law School.
FALL PROGRAMS GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Call 215.409.6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org/debate. SEPT 8 6:30 P.M. Alberto Gonzales 9/11 from Inside the White House $10 Members, teachers & students $15 Non-members for 1787 Members Join us as we kickoff the fall season with Alberto Gonzales, former U.S. Attorney General and Counsel to President George W. Bush, for an evening of never-before-told stories behind the controversial decisions made during the crucible of the 9/11 attacks. OCT 5 12 2:30 P.M. The Reluctant Statesman George Mason and the American Tradition of Dissent In a special afternoon symposium, acclaimed historians Linda Monk, Stephen Solomon, David O. Stewart, Ralph Young, and others discuss George Mason one of the three dissenters of the Constitution and the role dissent has played in shaping America. FRIDAY SEPT 16 2 P.M. Mark Thompson What s Gone Wrong with the Language of Politics? (Includes all Constitution Day observed programming*) New York Times Company CEO Mark Thompson provides a wideranging, provocative examination of free speech and political rhetoric from FDR and Churchill to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. *Visit constitutioncenter.org/constitutionday for the full schedule of programming. TUESDAY OCT 11 PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump The Constitutional Stakes $10 Members, teachers & students $15 Non-members for 1787 Members Conservative and liberal analysts discuss how the two leading presidential candidates interpret the Constitution and where they stand on the most important constitutional questions facing America today. SEPT 21 The Nixon Court and the Rise of Judicial Conservatism Pulitzer Prize-winning Supreme Court journalist Linda Greenhouse and Rutgers University School of Law Professor Earl Maltz return to the Warren Burger Court years for a look at the rise of the conservative court that still defines the constitutional landscape we live in today. OCT 17 David Barron The Clash between the President and Congress, 1776 to ISIS First Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David Barron traces the ongoing struggle between America s presidents and Congress over who has the power to declare and wage war as described in his new book, Waging War. TUESDAY SEPT 27 Timothy Garton Ash Ten Speech Principles for a Connected World Don t miss internationally acclaimed political writer and Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash in a rare U.S. appearance around his new book, Speech hitting on controversies abroad from censorship in China to Charlie Hebdo. OCT 26 The Supreme Court in Transition A View from the Frontlines Top legal journalists Robert Barnes, Lincoln Caplan, and Marcia Coyle examine the state of a 4-4 Supreme Court in transition and look forward to the differences between a Clinton Court and a Trump Court.
FALL PROGRAMS GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Call 215.409.6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org/debate. NOV 3 2:30 P.M. A Declaration of Life and Liberty Invite-only The Declaration of Independence asserts a right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. But what did the Founders believe to be linked in the ideas of life and liberty? Distinguished speakers come together for a daylong symposium exploring the Declaration s promise. NOV 28 Robert Strauss America s Worst Presidents Michael Gerhardt, Center Scholar-in-Residence, and Robert Strauss, author of Worst. President. Ever., offer an enlightening and highly entertaining account of James Buchanan s presidency and explain how historians rank presidents over time. NOV 9 6:30 P.M. The Day After Analyzing the Media s Role in the 2016 Election $10 Members, teachers & students $15 Non-members for 1787 Members A day after the votes have been tallied, Todd Brewster of Temple University will sit down with Dylan Byers, senior reporter at CNN, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, Bryan Monroe, former editor of CNNPolitics.com, and other journalism watchers to discuss the performance of the Fourth Estate in the 2016 presidential election. NOV 30 6:30 P.M. The Constitutional Legacy of President Obama for 1787 Members $10 Members, teachers & students $50 Non-members (*Includes an Individual Patriot Membership) As Obama s presidency shifts from headlines to history, what will we remember most? Jonathan Chait of New York magazine, Michael Days of the Philadelphia Daily News, and David French and Ramesh Ponnuru of the National Review explore the president s constitutional legacy. *Admission includes one ticket (a $15 value) and a National Constitution Center Individual Patriot Membership (a $50 value). Individual Patriot Members receive discounted admission for one person to Town Hall programs and much more! Visit constitutioncenter.org/membership to view all membership levels and benefits. NOV 14 Rethinking America s Founding Michael Klarman, Harvard Law Professor and author of The Framers Coup, and Patrick Spero, Director of the American Philosophical Society and editor of The American Revolution Reborn, discuss their new books, putting a human face on America s Framers and reassessing the clashes that helped define the Founding era. DEC 5 6:30 P.M. Black Lives Matter The Next Civil Rights Movement? $10 Members, teachers & students $15 Non-members for 1787 Members Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law Professor and leading scholar on race, and others explore the history of Black Lives Matter and its parallels with past civil rights movements. NOV 17 7 P.M. The State of Campus Speech Explore the current challenges around free speech on U.S. university campuses with scholars and activists from all sides of the debate. DEC 8 Populism, Demagogues, and Constitutional Democracy Many voters across America and around the world are frustrated with establishment politics. But is the rising tide of populism a threat to constitutional values? Don t miss this important conversation with foreign policy expert Robert Kagan, historian Michael Kazin, and law professor John Yoo.
FALL PROGRAMS BILL OF RIGHTS DAY DECEMBER 15 10 A.M. 3:30 P.M. $5 (Includes museum admission and access to all Bill of Rights Day programming) On the 225th Anniversary of the Bill of Rights, don t miss our annual book festival featuring four back-to-back discussions with constitutional expert Akhil Reed Amar and other acclaimed authors. Seating is limited. Advanced registration is highly recommended. OPEN THROUGH ELECTION DAY Experience Headed to the White House, the only exhibit designed to engage visitors of all ages with the excitement of the election season. Join the race, earn the nomination and win the election as you go from campaign trail to the Oval Office all in one visit. For tickets, visit constitutioncenter.org or call 215.409.6700. Thanks to the support of Pennoni Associates Inc. and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Includes a book sale Presented as part of the Center s election 2016 programming The National Constitution Center s onsite Town Hall programs are generously supported by the Paul S. Levy Programming Fund.
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Call 215.409.6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org/debate. GENERAL INFO ê Registration is recommended for all programs. ê For faster check-in, present your eticket at registration. OPEN THROUGH JANUARY 20 NEW EXHIBIT From George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, FDR to Richard Nixon, presidents have been defining and redefining the office while testing the boundaries of presidential power. Discover both key actions by wellknown presidents as well as the constitutional legacies of lesser known forgotten presidents, and the impact that they all have had while holding our nation s highest office. with general admission. For tickets, visit constitutioncenter.org or call 215.409.6700. ê Seating begins one hour prior to program start time, and programs last approximately one hour unless otherwise noted. ê Parking is available for most programs in our parking garage on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability will be posted on our website two weeks prior to each event. ê Topics and speakers are subject to change. Ç LIVE Ç at Can t make it to a Town Hall? Watch programs live or catch up by video or podcast at constitutioncenter.org/debate. Read our blog, Constitution Daily. Get the latest coverage of constitutional issues at blog.constitutioncenter.org. Listen to our weekly podcast featuring Center President Jeffrey Rosen. Search for We the People in your favorite podcast app or at constitutioncenter.org/debate. Have a question for our Town Hall team? Email us at programs@constitutioncenter.org.
JOIN US ON THE ROAD TRAVELING TOWN HALLS TUESDAY SEPT 27 GEORGE WASHINGTON S MOUNT VERNON MOUNT VERNON, VA DEC 1 NATIONAL ARCHIVES MUSEUM WASHINGTON, DC 7 P.M. Hamilton v. Jefferson: A Clash of Constitutional Visions in Washington s Cabinet 7 P.M. The 14th Amendment at 150: Liberty and Equality, Yesterday and Today Sponsored by OCT 5 CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER CHICAGO, IL DEC 7 KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER NEW YORK, NY 6 P.M. Resolved: State Voter ID Laws Are Unconstitutional Sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation* 6:45 P.M. IQ2US Debate: Call a Convention to Amend the Constitution Sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation* NOV 14 GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC 6 P.M. IQ2US Debate: Gerrymandering Has Destroyed the Political Center Sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation* For tickets and more information, visit constitutioncenter.org/debate. * These programs are made possible through the support of a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed during these programs are those of the program participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.
MEMBERSHIP JOIN TODAY! 1787 Society & Chairman s Circle Become a member of one of the National Constitution Center s annual giving societies. With a contribution of $1,000 or more, you ll be recognized as a member of the 1787 Society and have access to exclusive benefits including previews, private events and programming with the nation s leading scholars, judges, and policy makers in Philadelphia and across the country. The Chairman s Circle is a national annual giving society of engaged citizens who contribute $25,000 or more and actively participate with the National Constitution Center s leadership in promoting its nonpartisan mission and building its national reach. Generous support from individuals, foundations and corporations ensures that the National Constitution Center can provide constitutional education for people of all ages. Members enjoy greater access to exhibits, programs, and special events while directly supporting the Center s nonprofit, nonpartisan mission to bring people together of all ages, backgrounds and perspectives to learn about, debate and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. Membership begins at $50 for an individual and $95 for a family. Member benefits include: Discounted admission to evening Town Hall programs, plus complimentary ticket(s) for select evening programs unlimited Museum admission Invitations to Members-only exhibit previews and special events with guest speakers Members-only E-newsletter with advance notice of feature exhibits, events, and special offers 10% discount in the Museum Store and Delegates Cafe 4EASY WAYS TO JOIN & SUPPORT Mail the attached order form to National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 Call us at 215.409.6767 Visit us online at constitutioncenter.org/membership Visit our Box Office during regular museum hours LEARN MORE about the benefits of membership at constitutioncenter.org/membership or by calling 215.409.6767. See the attached membership order form for a complete list of membership options. The National Constitution Center is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit, nonpartisan private organization.
Independence Mall 525 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 AMERICA S TOWN HALL JOIN the CONVERSATION RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY FOR THESE MUST-SEE TOWN HALL PROGRAMS. Visit constitutioncenter.org/debate. PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 6072 PHILADELPHIA, PA