We the People The Pursuit of Liberty: A Conversation with Jeffrey Rosen and Jeffrey Goldberg
Oct 23, 2025
Join Jeffrey Rosen, a constitutional expert and author, in a thought-provoking conversation with Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic. They explore the intense rivalry between Hamilton and Jefferson and its impact on American governance. The duo delves into civic education in the digital age, the role of citizens in sustaining democracy, and how past presidents engaged with foundational texts. They also contemplate modern threats to democracy from social media and discuss whether Hamilton would support today’s executive powers.
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Founders' Tension Built The Republic
- Hamilton and Jefferson's opposing views act like woven threads shaping American political life across history.
- Their productive tension sustains the republic and prevents single-vision dominance.
The Bank Debate As Political Axis
- The Bank debate condensed their differences: national power versus states' rights and elite rule versus popular democracy.
- This single clash recurs as the axis for most constitutional and political disputes.
Contrasting Views Of Human Nature
- Jefferson held a rosy view of human perfectibility that blinded him to slavery's horrors and French violence.
- Hamilton had a sterner, more realistic view of human limits and dangers from mob rule.
