Justice Stephen Breyer on The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2026

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, retired, honorary co-chair of the National Constitution Center, joins to discuss The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals, a new keepsake volume from the National Constitution Center. Justice Breyer, who wrote the book’s foreword, reflects on the enduring constitutional ideals explored in the volume and their continued relevance today. He is joined by the Honorable Cheryl Ann Krause, judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and member of the National Constitution Center Board of Trustees. This conversation was streamed live from Philadelphia as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall series on May 16, 2026. Resources The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals Justice Stephen G. Breyer, “It's up to us whether the American experiment succeeds,” (USA Today, May 11, 2026) Justice Neil Gorsuch, “How Imperfect People Form a More Perfect Union,” (Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2026) Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals: A Conversation with Justice Stephen Breyer , National Constitution Center, America’s Town Hall Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, this is We the People.
0:07.1	I'm Julie Silverbrook, Chief Content and Learning Officer.
0:10.7	The National Constitution Center is a non-partisan nonprofit, chartered by Congress to increase
0:15.4	awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:19.9	On May 12th, the National Constitution Center
0:22.1	published The Promise of America, Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals. The book is an inspirational
0:27.4	collection of essays exploring the founding principles that continue to shape American democracy
0:32.1	from the nation's leading constitutional scholars. In celebration of the publication and the opening of our newest
0:38.7	permanent gallery governing the nation, we're sharing a conversation from the launch event with
0:43.2	U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Judge Cheryl Ann Krause of the Third Circuit Court
0:48.2	of Appeals. Justice Breyer is honorary co-chair of the National Constitution Center and author
0:53.7	of the Introduction to and author of the introduction to
0:54.8	the Promise of America. He is in conversation with Judge Cheryl Ann Krause, who is also a member
0:59.6	of the National Constitution Center's Board of Trustees. For more information and to order the
1:05.1	promise of America, visit constitutioncenter.org forward slash promise of America.
1:13.6	Here is Judge Krause.
1:19.6	Welcome back to the National Constitution Center, Justice Reyer. And welcome, ladies and gentlemen.
1:23.6	So let's begin where your introduction does. And that is with six founding ideals.
1:31.3	Liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, government by consent,
1:37.3	separation of powers and human rights.
1:40.3	Why those six? And where did you find them? Is it founding documents? Is it philosophical tradition or in Americans' shared experience?
1:52.0	Probably because I was born in San Francisco.
	...

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