On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia to sign into being the Constitution of the United States, a document that established a framework of government for the new nation. Each year, the nation commemorates this day, understanding that it is this document, its amendments, and our faith in its principles that both undergird and continue to shape civic life and democratic institutions to this day.
The Rockefeller Center has a longstanding tradition of honoring Constitution Day through prominent speakers who explore the Constitution's enduring impact, via its academic courses that address core Constitutional questions, and by highlighting past presentations that educate students and the broader Dartmouth community about the principles and challenges of our constitutional order. Over the years, this series has featured leading legal scholars, thinkers, and educators, including:
- Sherrilyn Ifill, 2024, civil rights lawyer and former President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund with her talk, "Reimagining a New American Democracy, Racial Equity, and the Constitution"
- William Hitchcock, 2023, James Madison Professor of History at the University of Virginia, with his talk: "Don't Join the Book Burners: Eisenhower at Dartmouth '53"
- Judge Laurence Silberman '57, 2022, Senior Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, who presented: "Free Political Speech Under Threat: Eisenhower Would Be Ashamed"
- Sonu Bedi, 2021, Joel Parker 1811 Professor of Law and Political Science at Dartmouth, discussing: "The Science of the Constitution: The Supreme Court and a Practice of Disagreement"
- Linda Greenhouse, 2020, Senior Research Scholar, Yale Law School, on "Aren't We All in This Together? How the Supreme Court Is Helping to Pull Us Apart"
- Ken I. Kersch, 2019, Professor of Political Science, Boston College, with his talk, "Conservatives and the Constitution"
- Governor Kelly Ayotte, 2018, New Hampshire Governor, Former U.S. Senator from NH, and 2017-2018 Perkins Bass Distinguished Visitor who presented, "Can Federalism – The Genius of the Constitution – Restore Public Confidence in Congress and U.S. Government Institutions?"
This year, we are honored to welcome Professor James Read, author of Sovereign of a Free People: Abraham Lincoln, Majority Rule, and Slavery. He will be leading a Constitution Day Discussion on Friday, September 19th.
Event Details:
- Date: Friday, September 19th
- Time: 11:30 am to 12:30 am
- Location: Class of 1930 Room, Rockefeller Center
- Registration Link: http://dartgo.org/CDLunch
The Rockefeller Center will also be engaging students in conversations about the Constitution throughout the 2025-2026 Academic Year as part of our upcoming "Law and Democracy: The United States at 250" series. Join the conversation as we examine the Constitution's history, its relevance today, and its continuing significance for the future.
For more details, visit our Constitution Day Lecture page here.