Library Hour | Jefferson vs. Hamilton: The Pursuit of Liberty with Jeffrey Rosen

With the ink barely dried on the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson ignited a debate over government power that continues today. 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 many pivotal moments in American history, including Abraham Lincoln’s fight against slavery and southern secession, the expansion of federal power under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and Ronald Reagan’s and Donald Trump’s push to cut government regulation. More than ever, this clash of ideals defines the debate over whether modern presidents are subverting the Constitution—the very threat to American democracy that both Hamilton and Jefferson were determined to avoid.

Listen to Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, for a discussion of the enduring battle to define the balance between liberty and power.

This program was be hosted in-person at the League House on January 20, 2026.

Founding Forward’s Library Hours are humanities-based programs that focus on a variety of topics including history, art, architecture, science, and travel. These programs focus on authors and recently published books.

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