Episode 919: America 250 – “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written”

Newt's World

Gingrich 360

News, Politics

4.7 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 7 December 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

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Summary

Newt talks with Walter Isaacson, bestselling author and historian, about his new book, "The Greatest Sentence Ever Written," which explores the creation and significance 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” from the Declaration of Independence. Isaacson emphasizes the importance of this sentence as a unifying mission statement for America, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. The book delves into the historical context and the collaborative efforts of figures like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams in crafting this foundational sentence. Isaacson argues that understanding and reflecting on this sentence can help bridge current political divides and foster a renewed sense of patriotism. Their discussion also touches on the broader impact of the Declaration of Independence as a universal document advocating for individual rights and democratic governance. Isaacson's work aims to inspire dialogue and reflection on America's founding principles as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an I-Heart podcast.
0:02.5	Guaranteed Human.
0:08.8	On this episode of Nuit's World, I'm very pleased to welcome as my guest, my good friend and somebody I've worked with, I think, for 30 years.
0:18.3	He is the best-selling author of biographies of Elon Musk, Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo
0:24.0	Da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, Howard Einstein. He's a professor of history at Tulane and was
0:31.9	the CEO of the Aspen Institute, the chair of CNN, and the editor of Time magazine.
0:41.7	And he was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2023.
0:48.5	I'm really delighted that he's joining me today to discuss his new book, a New York Times bestseller, the greatest sentence ever written, which is so appropriate for this time, as we look at the 250th
0:57.5	anniversary, this is a book that should be central to how we approach this. It takes readers on a
1:03.3	fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history's most powerful sentences, quote,
1:09.4	we hold these truths to be self-evident
1:11.6	that all men are created equal,
1:14.1	that they are endowed by their creator
1:15.9	with certain unalienable rights
1:17.8	that among these are life,
1:19.9	liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
1:41.3	Music Walter, welcome and thank you in the middle of your busy schedule for joining me again on Newt's World.
1:44.5	You know, it's great to be with you, Newt, and I know how much of a historian you are, like me, you taught history at Tulane, and you know the importance of a
1:50.9	sentence like that of being our mission statement as we enter our 250th year. Your timing could
1:57.1	hardly be better, and it's such a break from the biographies that you've been doing.
2:03.1	And yet, when I read it, I was fascinated with how you took it apart. What made you decide to take
2:11.5	this one sentence and turn it into a book? I think it's important that we celebrate our 250th in a way that unifies us and
	...

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