American Dialogue: The Founders and Us

American Dialogue is a 305-page book by Joseph J. Ellis who introduces us early on to his organizing construct that consists of dialogues “between then and now.” He presents four current American topics: Race, Economic Inequality, Law, and Foreign Policy. He then selects Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and George Washington to present their views and concerns about each topic and reviews what the founding fathers thought about each of them. He then returns to the present and discusses in more detail how he sees the issues now as a historian. 

Jefferson’s conflicts between his inspiring oratory and writing, and his personal views and actions about Blacks and slavery is a perplexing contrast accentuated by his relationship with Sally Hemings. Ellis then presents our current dilemma with racism today. 

Adams notes that aristocracies have been the undoing of civilizations throughout history and is determined not to establish one in the founding of the United States. But also predicts that a “pseudo” economic aristocracy will evolve that could be our undoing. Ellis mentions our own Scholar-In-Residence, Harvard University Professor William Julius Wilson, for his work on Black economic inequality.     

Madison discusses the importance of the constitution and the rule of law. Ellis follows with his views on the destructive influence of Scalia’s judicial philosophy of originalism as manifested by the incredible influence of the advocates of the second amendment in spite of the destruction of gun violence. 

Washington’s views of foreign policy are actually represented by his attempts to protect the Native Americans from the devastation of our westward expansion which completely ignores their rights and exploits what treaties we do make. Ellis uses our perpetual wars to illustrate the present problem. 

Ellis concludes with a chapter on leadership, or lack thereof, and notes how unusual it was to have such remarkable men as our founding fathers emerge from Virginia with a population that he compares to that of the present greater Wilkes-Barre PA area. The book provided a stimulating discussion for our book club. It was felt to be well worth the read. Several members commented it was “one of the most interesting American history books they had read.”

Fred G. Davis