This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed Human.

And we return to our American stories.

Up next, another installment of our series about us, The Story of America

Series, with Hillsdale College Professor and author of the fantastic book, Land of Hope, Dr. Bill

McClay. When the framers finished their masterpiece, the Constitution, they knew the impact

it would have upon the world. Many thought it would decide the fate of Republican government for all of eternity.

But that document wasn't without controversy.

Let's get into the story.

Here's Bill McLeigh.

So the Constitution, the handiwork of this secretive convention gathered in Philadelphia

in the summer, a hot muggy summer of 1787, was finally completed and signed on September 17, 1787.

It's worth stepping back to contemplate what an achievement this was. Without getting into the details of the Constitution, just make one point. We've lived ever since then under the same Constitution, the same set of rules and principles that were being debated and discussed all the

way back in the late 1800s. That's remarkable. We are the oldest Constitution in the world. Oldest

functioning Constitution in the world. A lot of people think of America as a young country,

in many ways we are,

but our Constitution is venerable. It's shown its ability to stand the test of time. It's taken a

licking and keeps on ticking. It says a lot about us that this is the case.

To dispense with our Constitution, as occasionally as advocated,

is something that would be very troubling because it's always been a part of us.

It's always been a part of the way we have lived together.

We've altered it. We've amended it, sometimes misunderstood parts of us. It's always been a part of the way we have lived together. We've altered it,

...