Rosen is the author of a number of influential books, including The Pursuit of Happiness and Conversations with RBG. He is the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. His premise is fairly straightforward, beginning with the account of a working dinner meeting of Washington’s cabinet in New York while the president was travelling south. It soon became a spirited discussion of the differences between Jefferson and Hamilton on what the government should be all about. Hamilton wanted a strong central government that used its power to make life better for all citizens. Jefferson preferred states rights and strong trust in the will of the people.
Rosen’s point is that this argument played out for centuries. The irony ensued when presidents such as Lincoln, FDR and Clinton invoked the name of Jefferson, while pursuing Hamiltonian goals in their actions in promoting a strong and active federal government. The book is readable, even in the sections involving economic policy. Cohen maintains that the debate between these two men led to the formation of the two main political parties that control the country today. There is even a chapter at the end that puts this in the context of the Age of Trump. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Terry Ballard
October 21, 2025
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