The Declaration of Independence has a story that is much bigger than July 4^th, 1776. From its origins in enlightenment thought to its evocation by modern politicians, the document has had a life that can teach us a lot about who we are and have been. In this episode, Ted Widmer joins us to discuss his new book, The Living Declaration: A Biography of America’s Founding Document, which brings together an impressive set of documents that demonstrate the Declaration’s impact on people in the US and around the world.

The Living Declaration drops on June 23, 2026. Click here to preorder a copy and make sure to visit LivingDeclaration.org for a calendar of events related to the book.

Come join Ben as he hosts a live conversation with his friend and History That Doesn’t Suck host Greg Jackson about Greg’s new book Been There, Done That in Nashville on Thursday, June 24! Click here for more info and to get tickets!

This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.