The Realignment 581 | Jeffrey Rosen: Hamilton vs. Jefferson and the Battle Over Government Power in 21st Century America
Nov 7, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National Constitution Center and constitutional scholar, dives into the enduring clash between Hamilton and Jefferson. He explores how their contrasting views on government power continue to shape American politics. The dialogue includes reflections on the rise of Hamiltonian economics and the cultural resurgence of his ideas. Rosen also discusses why understanding these historical debates is crucial for modern civic discourse and the implications of recent presidential actions on government structure.
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Founders' Debate Frames U.S. History
- The Hamilton vs. Jefferson debate has shaped every major constitutional clash in U.S. history.
- Their persistent tension explains disputes over executive power, federalism, and constitutional interpretation.
The Dinner That Symbolized The Split
- Rosen recounts the dinner where Hamilton called Julius Caesar the greatest man and Jefferson named Locke, Bacon, and Newton.
- That split epitomized their divergent visions and helped spark the Jeffersonian political movement.
No Single Founder Holds All Answers
- Rosen refuses to pick a winner because each founder supplies necessary counterweights at different moments.
- The productive tension between them, not victory, sustains the Republic.
