Good afternoon and welcome to the theater here at the national archive. Im the archivist of the United States and it is a pleasure to have you with us this afternoon whether youre here in the theater for joining us on facebook and Youtube Channels and a special welcome to the cspan audience. Before we hear from william junior i would like to tell you about two other programs coming up next month. On tuesday september 10 at noon, Sidney Blumenthal will tell us about the recently released volume three of the biography of Abraham Lincoln all the powers of earth, the political life 1856 to 1863. And on monday, september 16 at 7, the associate justice will tell us about his new book a republic if you can keep it in which he explores the aspects of the constitution and the importance of civic education, civil discourse and mutual respect. Check the website or sign up at the table outside to get email updates and find information about other programs and activities. Another way to get involved in the archives is to become a member of the National Archives foundation. The Foundation Supports all of our education and outreach activities. And you can check out their website, archives foundation. Org to learn more about the organization and join online. Upstairs in the rotunda there is the mural that commemorates the two founding documents of the nation. The declaration of independence and the United States constitution, and a depiction of the constitution the Central Group of the figures that represents those that play key roles in the creation of the document along with George Washington, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin is george mason. One of the most frequent speakers in the convention that at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in september, 89, may send and sign the document. The primary objection the declaration of individual rights led to the creation of this Group Charter and the rotunda, the bill of rights. Today we look forward to hearing more about the Critical Role and formation of the nation from his biographer. William hyland junior is the author of the widely praised historical biographies including in defense of Thomas Jefferson which was nominated for the virginia literary award and also hes had a long journey with mr. Jefferson the biography of the jeffersonian historian and an intimate life of Thomas Jefferson. He is a litigation attorney with the National Firm and with nearly 30 years of highprofile trials experience, hes also an adjunct professor of law at Stetson University college of law and teachers an undergraduate course in political science. His lecturers have included speeches at the National Archives and Colonial Williamsburg foundation. Hes a member of the virginia and new york social societies and serves on the board of directors of the Thomas Jefferson heritage society. Please welcome william. [applause] thank you and thank you to the archives for inviting me back. This is my third time back here, and ive enjoyed my visits back here because i feel the closeness of history when i come back here. It gives me chills to know the three most Important Documents in our founding history were 200 feet above us. The declaration of independence, the constitution of the United States and the bill of rights. And i very much feel close to history. I am a lawyer by practice, and i always start off my speeches telling the story even though the george mason wasnt a lawyer, he had a wealth of legal knowledge but he didnt go to law school like jefferson and madison. But this is a story that i want to tell about a lawyer, doctor, a priest and a little boy. They were all on a small plane, and writing together, they developed a little engine trouble. The pilot said we are having trouble. Everyone is going to have to bail out. He grabbed a parachute and jumped out. The doctor grabbed the first parachute and said i am a doctor. I save lives, so i must live and he jumped out with the first parachute. The lawyer came along. They are the most important people in world, thus i must live, grabbed up your shoot and jumped out. The priest looked at the little boy and there was only one parachute left inside my son, i have lived a long and prosperous life. You have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last pair issued and take off. He turned to the priest inside no worries, father. Smartest man in the world just took off with my backpack. [laughter] lets talk about george mason. Not a lot of people know about george mason. They basically know George Mason University may be the final four that theyve reached a few years ago. I hope that my big changes that opinion. If Thomas Jefferson was a genius professionally and personally, which he was and has been for george mason was a mere genius. America was woven together on three revered pieces of paper. The declaration of independence, constitution and the bill of rights. George mason had a hand in formulating and writing the blueprints for all three documents. In 1776, he emerged as a revolutionary and left in indelible footprint is one of the ablest constitutionalists of all time. The historians opinion, quote, mason became generally acknowledged as the premier republican theorist. Even though he never attended college or law school but was selftaught in his ow uncles 10 Volume Library in virginia. It is true enduring legacy was the creation of the american experiment, the nations capacity to create hope in a world in fear. Some of the writings is an opposing accomplishment. His name was lost to public fa fame. Anonymity however was more than a byproduct of the character is historical work. It also became a matter of preference. His advice to his sons was to be for the happiness and independence and a private station to the troubled public business. They elect him to office with refusals on his part, yet the cooling of the detailed constitutional operations hypnotized many elected audiences. As one scholar concluded, george mason was a thinker and advisor rather than a publicist. My biography is neither patriotic nor a freefall into the idolatry. It is a broad portion of the world in which he lived. While not discounting his vibrant intellectual life, ive tried to gather anecdotal accounts that would bring this brilliant man to life for the public. The resulting portrait i hope will offer a fresh and surprising interpretation even to the best burst into a literature of the revolutionary period. I hope that might have blended together the political and personal side of the story leaving one with the inevitable conclusion george mason deserves careful and renewed focus. For the historical notoriety hasnt been afforded to george mason. He has tended to lack the multivolume biographies that have varnished the other founders. And in my view hasnt been accorded the same that is due to him. Every fact bearing upon the character and the services this visionary gift created a model for the government to receive a warm greeting from the public and those that are interested in the origins of individual freedom. Mason grasped the conception of true liberty. His philosophy of the citizens to control the government seemed thorough and complete yet his great flavors are not as widely known or established in the public mind as some of the other founders. The blueprint for the declaration of independence which was the virginia declaration of rights was said by one historian to have, quote, more wisdom and concentration of thought in one sentence then all writings on the subject. Pretty powerful words. It is a littleknown fact that mason was personally responsible for the famous words in the final version of jeffersons eloquent declaration of independence. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were his own words within a month before jefferson penned his eloquent version of the declaration of independence. Mason added the words to the constitution giving congress the power to, quote, declare, not make more. He also supplied the phrase of aid and comfort in that definition of treason and he wrote the words high crimes and misdemeanors in the impeachment clause. Most people dont know that. Along with madison an, he also wrote major portions of the oath of office that the modern presidency to a wind sworn in today. Quite simply given the length and the breadth of the political writings and influence, his name should be more recognizable in the Public Domain and in the same context as with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and alexander hamilton. Pragmatic mind mentioned the principal and infused them with expansion of life turning abstract theory into government realities. And he never wavered. Individual life and liberty over governmental power to jefferson and madison changed their views within the Political Climate of the time suffering from what one prominent historian turned a disarming the ideological promiscuity. Unfortunately, history has confined him to a second tier of historical significance. The goal of my book is not to take the recognition away from jefferson or madison or hamilton but to assign more credit as jefferson himself admitted the declaration of independence was, quote, neither aiming at the originality of the principal or the sentiment, nor copied from any particular and previous writing. It was intended to be an expression of the american mind. In effect, the declaration of rights are merged as the brilliant and eloquent blueprint if not first draft of the declaration of independence. The way your personality also played a notable part in so many important intellectuals including government law, the free exercise of religion, agriculture, architecture and philosophy. He was among the american authors of rights and independence whose articulations of the american creed articulated a vision and set the course of history yet he remained a somewhat reclusive figure up until the American Revolutionary war that precipitated his constitutional brilliance. The war for independence didnt progress swiftly. The course became National Policy towards the colonies he met it with a resolution no less fixed indexed fast and forceful language. He wrote that there were englands subjects we will use every means with which heaven hath given us to present our becoming slaves. With the commanding strength he became in the emotional appeal and vigor of words. All is at stake, he wrote to washington, and the little conveniences and comforts of life in competition with our liberties off to be rejected off with reluctance but with pleasure. Mason wasnt a bold commander like washington, nor in the orator like Patrick Henry but she gained fame as a virginia declaration of rights. He had a National Audience outside of this country and only the slow passage of time revealed the significance of his proposal. Yet heate he didnt and rest whs were circulated. He was a builder and at the center of the architect of the american bill of rights which one scholar called arguably the most creative and consequential act of Political Leadership in american history. The virginia declaration of rights affirmed the modern fundamental freedoms, the right to free press, the right to a jury trial, the right to not self incriminate. These were all the words written 12 years before the constitution was written. They became the blueprint for the first amendments known as the bill of rights. It was mason, not jefferson or madison, not hamilton who wrote the first version of the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms. And i found it to be amazing. These were the famous words, quote, 12 years before the constitution was even written these were his words on the Second Amendment a well regulated militia composed the body of the people trained to honor mr. Potter natural safe to send the free state. That is his wife who died at the age of 39. She loved and adored his wife and their 12 children and he had 25 grandchildren. She also loved his books, his estate, good wine, architecture, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, history, the commonwealth of virginia and the latest in forming ideas. The home team though they discovered the pleasures of the scholarly pursuit or an alternating world of quiet and solitude with the family that proved to be as desirable tonic. It is a good family man unlike some other founders that they know, that was never a hint or suspicion involving his personal life. Indeed, it is impossible to fully understand his intensity for liberty, sacrifice or virtue. Words that have explicit meaning and a century apart from his family. The examination of surviving letters and documents reveal a caring husband and the living father. His sons recollections give us an additional window into the private life of mason. He never ceased to be for the companionship of a superior mind enterprise good manners. Although born privileged, he opposed all of the trappings of an aristocratic society. Liberty was his chief concern. Individual freedom was his concern. The freedom of the spirit, the freedom of the mind. Although he didnt attend college, he was a cultivated gentleman. He didnt attend law school like i said with jefferson or with madison. Mason emerged as a lifelong advocate for all. To call him a vote of the enlightenment is the best way to sum up his thoughts. The political strength lay in as many friendships among the leaders of all shades of political vigor. One of his best friends of course was George Washington. And in fact they had a tremendous falling out after they refused to sign the constitution. And that ended the friendship they assumed response abilities by virtue of the towering intellect. At times he may have seen the sensitivity to criticism was recognized by some of his colleagues also recognized him as a devoted family man and loyal friend. Assets in any private circle. His industry couldnt be questioned though he didnt become a soldier during the war due to age and health, he was recognized by his peers as a man of capacity and courage. The. The papers are not voluminous the papers run a comparatively scanty three volumes. The diversion drives from politics and family considerations. They curtail the political careers after the Constitutional Convention in the ratifying conventions 1788 so there were few papers in the first three presss. In 1820, his grandson george mason the fifth, sixth began to correspond with and who knew his father including James Madison. He sympathized with the young mans drug altogether the papers. He said and wrote of the achievements highly distinguished as he was, the accounts are scant benefit many of his contemporaries. Far to the intellectual powers and public service. Although some have largely dismissed the same as a man but simply refused to sign the constitution, this is not in my view a historically accurate picture. Heres generosity was unmatched when it came to the family solicited through his mother while she was still alive as what his younger brother and sister. By adulthood hed already begun to be a collector of books. He cultivated the arts, sciences and agriculture and even though he lost his wife at the age of 39 and lifelong friendship with George Washington over his objection to the constitution, mason believed in the fundamental goodness of life. A close study of surviving documents and letters have revealed the intricate character. Those whove commented on his life has captured him as a reluctant statesman. A gentleman revolutionary or the man who didnt sign the constitution. Indeed, he may be all of these things. The militia officer they are remembered best as the dissenting delegates to quote the federal constitution as it was called. He didnt sign the constitution jerry and edmund randolph. He refused to sign the final document that he perceived sanctioned human slavery for the next 20 years. This constitution had a compromise for the importation of slaves for another 20 years and he objected to that vigorously. But his main objection to the constitution was to emissions of a bill of rights. There was no bill of rights for the people, he said, and that is the fundamental reason he did not signed the constitution. The first six words of the now famous objection to the constitution they wrote at the convention were heard in every town and every village. There is no declaration of rights. He carried his struggle and left barely long enough to see his efforts crowned with congressional victory, the monumental bill of rights. Although professional historians are familiar with me since you see, it seems that his renowned name has drowned in the public obscurity. He is by far one of the unknown figures in history with more respect by revolutionary scholars than known by the general public. The perception seemed to like that of Benjamin Franklin and they were both dominant for George Washington or the personal charms of Thomas Jefferson. In fact, he received so much in the collective memory that he had become nothing more than a modest broad statute here in washington, d. C. However, in his own time and place they grasped as superlatives to describe george mason. Madison exuded that he possessed the greatest talent for the debate of any man i have ever seen, heard or speak. Patrick henry announced the greatest statesmen i ever knew. Jefferson complemented his mind as great and powerful. They were met within days of arriving in america and as they said in my opinion, he isnt well known enough. Shes one of those brave, where talented man who caused the effort to produce. They ranked him as one of the intellectual giants writing that he is one of those strong and grayer intellects that are created only by the special effort of nature like that of a makkah valley, galileo, newton, end of quote. Most people know little of his private life and family life. The private world of hamilton and jefferson have recently attracted a great deal of attention. My book reexamines by telling his personal as well as political journey while probing his 18th century worlds and also touches on the significant contributions to the political lives and liberties. He became a leading virginia and before, during and after the revolution with great personal cost confronted with the entangled history of slavery in the political revolution. Placing him among the most famous of the american founders for both civil rights and freedom of religion. James madison gives credit for the bill of rights whereas he initially opposed the concepts and agreed to support such a document only as a last resort. George mason by contrast has been an opponent of the constitution. Whereas the truth is that he was a Major Intellectual contributor to the creation. Except for matheson probably no one contributed more to the actual document dan did george mason. He deserves to be considered one of the fathers of the national government. Indeed, the greatest political documents and the series of concentric circles leading back to george mason. Mason should emerge as one of the preeminent literary architects of the american revolution. Most americans should read his declaration of right in his later constitution as a part of the common stock of the german discourse. They had the determination of washington, the literary skills of medicine and the personality and temperament of jonathans. A man seemingly lost in the public dislikes could yield in the most importan remote politid in u. S. History. Why then is he not among the sacred gallery it is lamented that most do not know him as well as they should especially on what they achieved devoted to has been of 12, fluent in both languages, architect of the declaration of independence and the bill of rights and one of the strongest proponents in america of religious liberty in history. Losers received little credit from history. Most historical impressions depicted him as a grumpy old patriot who lost his political arguments in philadelphia and then took his pen and went home and that is why he refused to sign the constitution for his own reasons, some argued. I hope to give the reader a renewed look at the connector, the life and accomplishments. He is shown to be in my book to be a compassionate, sensitive well loved devoted husband and father. Jefferson never made a secret of the fact that he revered. Monticello they called him the wisest man of his generation. Jeffersons famed biographer agreed summarizing the contributions he said he charged that the rights of human beings much more fully than jefferson did in the compressed paragraph and document referring to the declaration of rights. Of the contemporary impact of the declaration, he went on to say there can be no possible question. There can be no single american did you hear that any more than any other single american, george mason may be regarded as the herald of the new era. Quite simply, mason developed into a private fan of renaissance interest but with an abiding conviction. The faith of individual liberty, individual freedom was paramount to the governmental power. He believed individual freedom was a national right. Individual liberty was a national right. He wrote in the virginia declaration of rights, quote, all power is vested in and consequently derived from peop people. The government is and ought to be instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the people, nation or community. They were three and literary skills helped propel the colonies towards independence. He drafted and viewed some of the most creative and consequential political practice in the revolutionary history yet they have anointed others while theyve languished in the obscurities. I hope this separates from the contemporaries will be clear at the end of my biography. It is said that biography ends with death. However as did most great statesman he thought of the next generation. Had he lived longer perhaps he could have found a viable solution for the next generation to end slavery and institution he condemned in the most stringent of terms and did he ever freedom of slaves. I hope the reader can feel the patriot, the father, the husband, the former come of this offer. No doubt intimately and still is but it seemed a privilege to know him. I also hope i biography will invite the reader to define patriotism as they send david and his time. It is the necessity of the debate in the society as one historian eloquently concluded that historic evaluations actions speak louder than words. Emulation rather than rhetorical evaluation and virtue is the better test. The finally, george masons true importance is to be found in the public achievements. Its the rights of the human spirit, life and liberty. And the final analysis the political should make him a historical figure. The declaration of rights should be considered a monumental and important text. He was one of the most eventful, colorful and consequential lives of all time. From the written principles to shield mankind from, quote, the lash of tyrants. As eloquently expressed by a scholar. Quote, those that carry the torch of the freedom are soon forgotten perhaps to be rediscovered centuries later. The moving words indeed offer an abiding legacy on individual liberties and constitutional government. Which in my view would have few equals. Thank you very much. [applause] i would be glad to take any questions. I think you just have to move to the podium. The i was struck when you quoted a draft of the Second Amendment that became the Second Amendment and as i heard you say that it, it didnt appear that there was an individual right to bear ar arms, is that correct . That was his original words, but he believed in individual, the right for individuals to bear arms. The major goal and major objection to the constitution was he was afraid of another george the third. He was afraid that the government would turn into a tyranny. So, he believed in individual rights, individual liberties and he believed that the individual had the right to arm them even though he didnt put them in the actual document. Thank you for the question. Thank you very much. The last phrase that you just said brings potent in my ears right now and said to shield mankind from the tyrants how do you think he might view the development and integration of Artificial Intelligence into our society . Whawould you view this inevitability as a potential threat to individual human rights . I have no idea. Artificial intelligence, that is a great subject even though mason was a near genius and Thomas Jefferson was a genius i dont think they thought that far in advance quite frankly but again, going back to his main clarion call was for individual rights and individual liberty. He was against anything that the government intruding on the individuals rights and individuals liberty. Maybe he would think that would be a governmental intrusion, Artificial Intelligence. He would believe very strongly in the freedom of the press and freedom of expression as far as the. You have done your research. Do you think that he might feel the need to define individual now as organic . Again, i have no idea. I have no idea how he would think about that. I appreciate the research. Thank you very much. Can you tell us why that reasons those brilliant men that wrote the constitution and who knew about the ideas in the declaration of rights, men like madison, why did these writers initially object to and reject the ideas of the declaration of rights which they eventually agreed to in the bill which the ratification requires in the bill of rights . That is a great question and that goes to the essence of the disagreement between mason and washington and madison at the convention. Washington and madison thought the declaration bill of rights is superfluous to the constitution. They thought anything that wasnt in the constitution referred back to the states and that they did not need a document to say that there was national rights, individual liberties. They believed that it was superfluous. He completely disagreed and said Patrick Henry. He wanted an individual document, appended to the constitution and enumerating the bill of rights, the right to a jury trial, the right to the free press, the right to free expression. He believed that should be written out. Washington and madison thought that was superfluous and it was already inherent in the constitution yes sir. You may have hinted to the tr this question but in virginia politics at the time, was mason more closely aligned with jefferson and madison or Patrick Henry . He was a closely mentor to jefferson and a colleague of Patrick Henry. Patrick henry and he teamed up in the convention tthe conventit or at least get a bill of rights pended to the new constitution so he was a mentor to jefferson that he was a political ally to Patrick Henry at the Virginia Ratifying Convention and with him Patrick Henry was one of the most vociferous objectors to the constitution. They came within three or four votes of defeating the constitution. In the bill of rights and compromising that took place, was there any particular rights if you will on the original list that didnt survive the process . There were approximately 24th amendments act the Virginia Ratifying Convention that were actually sent to congress. James madison expertly come and i give him credit, edited these amendments down to the modern version of the bill of rights but you have to remember nine states have to ratify the convention so each state had their own set of amendments that i believe there were approximately 24 that came out of the Virginia Ratifying Convention that going back to the major concerns, his nature Freedom Committee for freedom of the press was an absolute fundamental. The the access to the extensive family library. Is there any indication as to what the political thinkers and philosophers may have impacted his thinking most . I have one chapter in the book that is devoted exclusively to death. He read extensively in his uncles valium that he read all of the english jurors walk and had a major influence montesquieu is what they read the most and it gave him the idea of the separation of powers that there should be three branches of government, but that is by his own colleagues thought that he was the ablest constitutionalist in virginia because he was so well read and verse on all of the bills of rights, the english bill of rights in 69, the magna carta, russos writings, and thats why he really was a genius because he knew and had read all of these constitutions before. I think that does it for questions. You have one more . I had a question about the Second Amendment and the insight to the right to bear arms [inaudible] i am not sure he found those two to be tied together but again, one of the basic fundamental differences in form of the reasons he didnt sign the constitution is because there was a compromise at the Constitutional Convention between the northern and southern states, and they basically sustained the importation of slavery for the next 20 years. He was against slavery and he wrote about slavery and he was a he just thought it was an abomination he supported. But like jefferson, he didnt know how to solve the problem of slavery in his lifetime. He basically kicked it down the road to the next generation. But that was one of the main reasons he didnt sign the constitution because it sustains the compromise for importing slaves for 20 more years. Could you please fill us in a little bit more on his education . Did he have a tutor, how old was he when he really started . You said something about collecting books. And also, his age with regards to jefferson and the other people he was working with because they said his wife died at 39. How old was he . He was 67 when he died. He was about 15 years older than both madison and jefferson at the time. He did have to jurors as a child, but like George Washington and one of the things they did have in common is both of their fathers side when they were young boys at the age of ten. So, he really didnt have a mentor so to speak. So his uncle who was a lawyer had a vast library over 1500 volumes of english law and things like that so he was under the tutelage after his father died of his uncle john mercer and he basically taught him to become a lawyer, to become a jurist, to become a scholar. So that was really his main mentor was his uncle. And reading from the age of 11 all of these various volumes. One of the interesting things you didnt mention is when he did remarry seven years after his wife died, his second marriage, and they did not have children, but at the time of the death of his wife, he had 12 children to raise by himself. The thank you. I think thats it. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. [applause]. I am the coowner of politics and prose on behalf of my wife thank you very much for coming down to our location. We are very pleased to have alan taylor with us this evening to talk t