When tourists journey to Washington, D.C., this year to help celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary, many of them will surely pay a visit to the National Archives to see the original Declaration of Independence. But without the courage of a State Department clerk back in 1814, they would be staring at an empty shrine, the priceless scroll having been incinerated with much of Washington so long ago. More than two centuries after his heroics, it’s time to formally recognize Stephen Pleasonton for saving America’s national treasure.
Visit National Review to read the full article.
One of America’s leading historians, Michael Auslin stands at the forefront of the national conversation surrounding America’s 250th anniversary as the author of the forthcoming history National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America. Through his deeply researched and timely work, Auslin examines how the principles enshrined in the Declaration shaped not only the United States, but the modern world itself. Drawing on his work at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, Yale, and decades of historical analysis, he illuminates how America’s founding ideas continue to influence global politics, economics, and democratic movements.
For event planners seeking a speaker who can authoritatively explain how America’s past forged today’s geopolitical realities—and why understanding that past is essential to navigating the nation’s future—Auslin offers unmatched perspective. His presentations provide audiences with both historical depth and strategic clarity at a pivotal moment in the American story. To host him at your speaking engagement, contact us.
