Episode 17: Voracious Horatius

May 5, 2021

Was there an election season crazier than 2020?  Check out the Election of 1800!  And, The Words That Made Us is published!

As Akhil and Andy celebrate the publication this week of The Words That Made Us, Akhil tells a story from the book – the crazy election of 1800 and the just-barely-peaceful transfer of power.  And what is John Marshall up to?  He’s everywhere:  Secretary of State and Chief Justice at once, a pseudonymous scheming columnist, and in the end, the man with the Bible in his hand to swear in the eventual winner:  his cousin.

Show Notes:

Rave Review #1

First long review of The Words That Made Us – Professor John O. McGinnis writes “Akhil Amar’s 1789 Project” in Law and Liberty.

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Rave Review #2

The New York Times reviews The Words That Made Us – Adam Cohen writes “The Constitution is More Than a Document – It’s a Conversation.”  So it is.

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Horatius, from Failure of the Founding Fathers

Excerpt from discussion of Horatius/Marshall from Bruce Ackerman, Failure of the Founding Fathers

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