America: The Founders' Vision

In today's heated political climate, we commonly hear, "That's not what the Founders intended" or "The nation's Founders addressed that." What did our country's Founders really say — about liberty, democracy, the role of states, the military, equal protection under the law, First Amendment rights, and more?

Retired Ambassador Thomas Graham Jr., a former senior US diplomat and leading authority in international arms control and non-proliferation, gathered the Founder's original words from the Federalist Papers, the National Archives, various presidential libraries, and other sources to create America: The Founders' Vision.

The Founders knew the temptations posed by power, money, and fame, and they lived in a time when demagogues and other would-be tyrants were not in short supply.

Democracy is currently under threat from authoritarians the world over, on a scale perhaps not seen since the 1930s. In this volume, the Founders have much to say that can help us defend democracy today and preserve it for future generations.

"This is a rich book. One can read it all in a single sitting, or take a moment to read a passage or two at a time. Whatever one's preference, one cannot but feel fortunate that, at a moment in history, these singular individuals — well read, thoughtful, and experienced — came together to form a nation. Luckily for us, they also wrote. We're also fortunate that Tom Graham has chosen those passages that are particularly relevant for us today as we continue the work of providing liberty and justice for all." —Kathleen Kennedy Townsend