Join us at Roosevelt House as we celebrate the publication of The Republic of Conscience, the new book by former Senator Gary Hart, in which he examines the growing gap between the founding principles of the United States Constitution and our current political landscape.

In his talk at Roosevelt House, Senator Hart will discuss the ways in which the idea of a true republic has always been threatened by narrow, special interests taking precedence over the commonwealth. The United States Constitution was drafted to protect against such corruption, but, as Senator Hart explains, America is nowhere near the republic it set out to be almost 250 years ago, falling to the very misconduct it hoped to avoid.Senator Hart will discuss why he is especially troubled by “the increasing gap between purpose and performance” in America, emphasizing how the sense of national interest has become distorted and diluted over time. Focusing on the years after World War II, Hart tackles major American institutions–the military, the CIA, Congress–and outlines how these establishments have led the country away from its founding principles, not closer to them. In his talk, Senator Hart will also propose the remedies he believes are a way forward for those Americans who feel jaded, confused, and disappointed by their current government.

Gordon Wood, Alva O. Way Professor of History Emeritus at Brown University, calls The Republic of Conscience, “a passionate and powerful plea for us Americans to recover the democratic-republican principles of the founders, a plea that is made all the more effective by the book’s clear and forceful prose….It’s a very persuasive book.”

We hope you will be able to be a part of this very important conversation, which is particularly timely as we celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.