The Lost Founder: James Wilson

We the People

National Constitution Center

News Commentary, News, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2026

⏱️ 57 minutes

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Summary

This week, we explore the life of an influential and yet, often overlooked founder, James Wilson. Whose ideas and influence continue to shape current debates about popular sovereignty, constitutional structure, and democratic self-government. Legal scholar William Ewald of the University of Pennsylvania and Jesse Wegman of the Brennan Center for Justice join to discuss Wegman’s new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution, which explores the life and legacy of this founder and Supreme Court justice. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources Jesse Wegman, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution Jesse Wegman, Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College 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 Explore ⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Follow, 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.
0:07.6	I'm Julie Silverbrook, Vice President of Civic Education.
0:11.5	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit,
0:14.9	chartered by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the U.S. Constitution
0:19.3	among the American people.
0:21.6	This week, we explore the life of an influential and yet often overlooked founder, James Wilson,
0:27.6	whose ideas and influence continue to shape current debates about popular sovereignty,
0:32.6	constitutional structure, and democratic self-government.
0:35.6	Joining the conversation, our legal scholar, Bill Ewald of the University of Pennsylvania,
0:41.4	and Jesse Wegman of the Brennan Center for Justice.
0:44.6	Together, we discuss Wegman's new book, The Lost Founder, James Wilson,
0:49.2	and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution, which explores the life and legacy
0:53.7	of this founder in U.S. Supreme
0:55.6	Court Justice. Jesse, let's start with you. As the title of your book suggests, James Wilson is
1:02.9	one of America's forgotten founders. Our audience maybe remembers passing reference to Wilson during
1:08.1	high school social studies, but he doesn't feature prominently in the national memory.
1:12.5	For those who are less familiar with Wilson,
1:14.7	can you paint a brief picture of who he was,
1:17.1	what drew you to his story,
1:18.5	and why he was so important to the nation's founding?
1:21.2	Sure.
1:22.0	And thank you, Julie, and to the National Constitution Center
	...

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