George Washington’s First “State of the Union,” Building a Foundation for the Young Republic
On January 8, 1790, President George Washington walked into the Senate chamber of Federal Hall in New York City to deliver his first Annual Message to Congress – what we would now call the first State of the Union Address. His remarks were concise, rooted in the...
Trust No One: The Founders’ Warnings on Power and Liberty
The Founders warned us – again and again – that power always expands, no matter who holds it. You can’t trust anyone with power, no matter how much you like them or what they’re doing with it, because that same power will eventually fall into the hands of...
Duty Bound: James Madison’s Six Principles to Stop Federal Tyranny
The states are “duty bound to interpose.” That’s how James Madison put it in his Virginia Resolutions, passed on Dec 21 and 24, 1798, in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts. His resolutions answer a timeless question: What should be done when the federal...