Barack Obama: “I also direct, that in honor and tribute to this great patriot, that the flag of the United States shall be displayed at…”

The success of this experiment was never a given.

In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the Declaration's promise, leaving slavery intact, allowing states to restrict the franchise to white men who owned property.

No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed.

There’s no doubt that we are going through a period right now of disruption, polarization.