We The People Podcasts

Governor Tom Ridge joins the National Constitution Center to discuss The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege…And How We Can Be Safe Again, a memoir of his time as secretary of Homeland Security. Writing with praise and criticism for both Democrats and Republicans, Ridge recounts the politics in and around the Bush administration, offering candor on both the successes and missteps of the Department of Homeland Security and the challenges faced in his new post. Author, journalist and policy advisor Tony Blankley moderates. This program is sponsored by Cozen O'Connor, as part of the Knight Constitutional Conversation Series, which has been generously underwritten by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Program recorded on 09/14/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Governor Tom Ridge joins the National Constitution Center to discuss The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege…And How We Can Be Safe Again, a memoir of his time as secretary of Homeland Security. Writing with praise and criticism for both Democrats and Republicans, Ridge recounts the politics in and around the Bush administration, offering candor on both the successes and missteps of the Department of Homeland Security and the challenges faced in his new post. Author, journalist and policy advisor Tony Blankley moderates. This program is sponsored by Cozen O'Connor, as part of the Knight Constitutional Conversation Series, which has been generously underwritten by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Program recorded on 09/14/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center, in partnership with Slought Foundation and the Community Design Collaborative, presents a dialogue between designer Teddy Cruz, whose photo narrative of the U.S.-Mexico border has been prominently displayed on front lawn of the Center, and Michael Sorkin, respected architecture critic and professor exploring the original ways architects are collaborating to foster civic engagement and build better communities. The program was recorded on 04/08/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

2009 marks the 70th anniversary of one of the most dramatic concerts in American history: world famous African American contralto Marian Anderson’s concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. In a conversation moderated by scholar Sheldon Hackney, award-winning historian Raymond Arsenault tells the story of Marian Anderson, one of the most enduring and iconic figures of the Civil Rights movement. Through immense raw talent and unrelenting determination, Anderson overcame racial prejudice to inspire all Americans and to become one of the greatest singers of her time. The program was recorded on 04/08/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

2009 marks the 70th anniversary of one of the most dramatic concerts in American history: world famous African American contralto Marian Anderson’s concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. In a conversation moderated by scholar Sheldon Hackney, award-winning historian Raymond Arsenault tells the story of Marian Anderson, one of the most enduring and iconic figures of the Civil Rights movement. Through immense raw talent and unrelenting determination, Anderson overcame racial prejudice to inspire all Americans and to become one of the greatest singers of her time. The program was recorded on 04/08/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center welcomes Visiting Scholar A.E. Dick Howard, White Burkett Miller Professor of Law and Public Affairs at the University of Virginia School of Law, for a discussion about the founding periods in France and America, including how the U.S. constitutional experience influenced the debates on the first French Constitution and the divergence in French and American constitutionalism after those early years. This program is presented in conjunction with the Center's summer American history teacher workshop "A Revolution in Government" and the Center's summer exhibition, NAPOLÉON. The program was recorded on 07/20/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center welcomes Visiting Scholar A.E. Dick Howard, White Burkett Miller Professor of Law and Public Affairs at the University of Virginia School of Law, for a discussion about the founding periods in France and America, including how the U.S. constitutional experience influenced the debates on the first French Constitution and the divergence in French and American constitutionalism after those early years. This program is presented in conjunction with the Center's summer American history teacher workshop "A Revolution in Government" and the Center's summer exhibition, NAPOLÉON. The program was recorded on 07/20/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center hosted a unique public program, in partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures, examining how states have responded to the current economic crisis. In particular, this discussion addresses the varied approaches among states, and their lawmakers, to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with State Senator Don Balfour from Georgia; Joe Hackney, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives; and David Thornburgh, Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government. The program was moderated by Tom Ferrick, Jr. of the Philadelphia Inquirer and recorded on 07/19/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center hosted a unique public program, in partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures, examining how states have responded to the current economic crisis. In particular, this discussion addresses the varied approaches among states, and their lawmakers, to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with State Senator Don Balfour from Georgia; Joe Hackney, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives; and David Thornburgh, Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government. The program was moderated by Tom Ferrick, Jr. of the Philadelphia Inquirer and recorded on 07/19/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston leads a discussion with Miguel A. Estrada, partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and former Assistant to the Solicitor General of the United States, Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor and legal correspondent for Slate, and Richard H. Pildes, the Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law, about the most significant rulings of the 2008-2009 Supreme Court term and how these decisions will impact the lives of Americans. The program also addresses the announced retirement of Justice David H. Souter and how the nature of the Court might change when his successor joins the bench. This program is presented as part of the Knight Constitutional Conversations series. Program recorded on 07/08/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston leads a discussion with Miguel A. Estrada, partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and former Assistant to the Solicitor General of the United States, Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor and legal correspondent for Slate, and Richard H. Pildes, the Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law, about the most significant rulings of the 2008-2009 Supreme Court term and how these decisions will impact the lives of Americans. The program also addresses the announced retirement of Justice David H. Souter and how the nature of the Court might change when his successor joins the bench. This program is presented as part of the Knight Constitutional Conversations series. Program recorded on 07/08/09. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

A conversation about Kelo v. City of New London four years after the Supreme Court's highly controversial 5-4 decision involving the use of eminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another to further economic development. Since the 2005 decision, 40 states have passed legislation limiting the state government’s power of eminent domain for economic development. In practice, however, solutions have proven elusive. Guests include investigative journalist Jeff Benedict, author of Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage, and attorneys Brian Blaesser and Scott Bullock. Veteran Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston moderates. Program recorded on 06/10/2009. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

A conversation about Kelo v. City of New London four years after the Supreme Court's highly controversial 5-4 decision involving the use of eminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another to further economic development. Since the 2005 decision, 40 states have passed legislation limiting the state government’s power of eminent domain for economic development. In practice, however, solutions have proven elusive. Guests include investigative journalist Jeff Benedict, author of Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage, and attorneys Brian Blaesser and Scott Bullock. Veteran Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston moderates. Program recorded on 06/10/2009. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Award-winning New York Times-bestselling author Mark Kurlansky takes us back to the food and eating habits of a younger America. In the 1930s, with the country gripped by the Great Depression and millions of Americans struggling to get by, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Federal Writers' Project under the New Deal as a make-work program for artists and authors. A number of writers, including Zora Neale Hurston and Eudora Welty were dispatched all across America to chronicle the eating habits, traditions, and struggles of local people. The project, called "America Eats," was abandoned in the early 1940s because of the World War and was never completed. This program is presented as part of the Knight Constitutional Conversations series. Program recorded on 05/14/2009. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Award-winning New York Times-bestselling author Mark Kurlansky takes us back to the food and eating habits of a younger America. In the 1930s, with the country gripped by the Great Depression and millions of Americans struggling to get by, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Federal Writers' Project under the New Deal as a make-work program for artists and authors. A number of writers, including Zora Neale Hurston and Eudora Welty were dispatched all across America to chronicle the eating habits, traditions, and struggles of local people. The project, called "America Eats," was abandoned in the early 1940s because of the World War and was never completed. This program is presented as part of the Knight Constitutional Conversations series. Program recorded on 05/14/2009. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org