Walter Isaacson: The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

A fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident ..."
About this Event

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, bestselling biographer Walter Isaacson has taken a fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation.
Join us as Isaacson returns to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to unpack the word-by-word genius of the sentence, illuminating the then-radical concepts behind it. He’ll explore not just the power of the words but how, in these polarized times, they can be used to restore an appreciation for our common values.

Notes

Photos courtesy of the speaker.

Speakers

Walter Isaacson, Professor of History, Tulane University; Author, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

Moderator: TBA

11:30 a.m. doors open & check-in
12–1 p.m program
1 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific Time)