The Declaration:

Continuity & Commerce

A Coolidge Foundation Conference

at the Library of Congress

January 10, 2025

Introductions: Historians and policymakers opened the conference with reflections on the Declaration

Matthew Denhart, President, Coolidge Foundation

Sherri Sheu, Historian, Library of Congress

Gov. James H. Douglas, 80th Governor of Vermont

Hon. Kurt Schmoke, 47th Mayor of Baltimore

America’s Dutch and English Heritage: The ideas that invigorated the American Founding did not spring into existence ex nihilo. English and Dutch traditions crossed the Atlantic with the Pilgrims and New Amsterdam merchants.

Moderator: Garland Tucker, Author, 1924

Michael Barone, Author, Our First Revolution

Samuel Gregg, Friedrich Hayek Chair in Economics & Economic History, AIER

Judge Janice Rogers Brown, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, retired

Jerry Z. Muller, Professor Emeritus, Catholic University of America

The Colonies Find Their Footing and Build Institutions: America’s colonists did not passively receive Dutch and British political traditions. They put them into practice for generations before Parliament’s usurpations triggered the Revolution.

Moderator: Christopher DeMuth, Distinguished Fellow, Heritage Foundation

Christopher DeMuth, Distinguished Fellow in American Thought, Heritage Foundation

Danielle Allen, Professor of Political Philosophy, Public Policy, & Ethics, Harvard University

Yuval Levin, Director of Social, Cultural, & Constitutional Studies, AEI

Rich Lowry, Editor in Chief, National Review

Luncheon Address

Coolidge Applies the Principles of the Declaration

Amity Shlaes

The Framing of the Declaration and Roads not Taken: The Founders crafted their Declaration to honor continuity as much as revolution. In subsequent Founding documents, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, they again both honored liberty and imposed limits on future revolt.

Moderator: Roger Ream, President & CEO, The Fund for American Studies

Dr. Paul Winfree, Emeritus Dean, James Madison College at Michigan State University

Allen Guelzo, Thomas W. Smith Distinguished Research Scholar, James Madison Program, Princeton University

John Berlau, Author, George Washington, Entrepreneur

Hon. French Hill, Congressman, Arkansas (AR-02)

The Framing of the Declaration and Roads not Taken: The beginning of the Twentieth Century brought progressivism, a shift away from traditional interpretations of the Founding documents and American law.

Moderator: Amb. Richard Graber, President & CEO, Bradley Foundation

Judge Edith Jones, Federal Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Hon. Christopher Cox, Author, Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn

Bradley C.S. Watson, Associate Professor of Government, Hillsdale College

Judge Chad Readler, Federal Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit