R. B. Bernstein, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, traveled to the McConnell Center the evening of September 26th to discuss the Constitutional Legacy of Thomas Jefferson. Dr. Bernstein also spoke on Thomas Jefferson's constitutional theory as well as Jefferson's failures to reconcile his professed commitments to principle with actual practice. Dr. Bernstein's lecture drew a large crowd, with students and avid listeners from many different disciplines. Dr. Bernstein was excited to hear the question of what a modern-day Jefferson would be like and he heartily laughed when he described his anticipation of Jefferson's nervous breakdown in today's America. Bernstein highlighted Jefferson's tendency to believe that human beings were better than they actually are, a major weakness for Jefferson. Bernstein closed with a discussion on the Jefferson vs. Madison debate and explained why Jefferson is much more celebrated in American history compared to Madison when they were of similar worth during their time.
R. B. Bernstein, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, traveled to the McConnell Center the evening of September 26th to discuss the Constitutional Legacy of Thomas Jefferson. Dr. Bernstein also spoke on Thomas Jefferson's constitutional theory as well as Jefferson's failures to reconcile his professed commitments to principle with actual practice. Dr. Bernstein's lecture drew a large crowd, with students and avid listeners from many different disciplines. Dr. Bernstein was excited to hear the question of what a modern-day Jefferson would be like and he heartily laughed when he described his anticipation of Jefferson's nervous breakdown in today's America. Bernstein highlighted Jefferson's tendency to believe that human beings were better than they actually are, a major weakness for Jefferson. Bernstein closed with a discussion on the Jefferson vs. Madison debate and explained why Jefferson is much more celebrated in American history compared to Madison when they were of similar worth during their time.