David M. Rubenstein - The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream

DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HOW TO LEAD

THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT

DIALOGUES ON A DREAM

FEATURING:

KEN BURNS

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT

JON MEACHAM

BILLIE JEAN KING

WYNTON MARSALIS

RITA MORENO

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In this fascinating compilation of interviews with historians, musicians, athletes, journalists, and other notables of our times, David Rubenstein paints what he calls the genetic picture of this country, and why it has succeededso far.

Nina Totenberg, Legal Affairs Correspondent, NPR

David Rubenstein is a deeply committed citizen and patriot, and a keen observer of human nature with a passion for history. As fellow citizen experimenters, he is suggesting we all engage in thinking about the past and present in order to forge a future that fulfills the promise of America.

Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist

In this timely and important book David Rubenstein explores the lessons of the past that will help us through this historically challenging time. It is just the right book at exactly the right time.

Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation

David Rubensteins insatiable curiosity and intellect bring out the best from those with whom he is in conversation, evoking rich interactions and making history entertaining. The American Experiment, captures the essence of the American leader and the pivotal moments in our countrys history.

Deborah F. Rutter, President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

An extraordinary opportunity to marvel at the United Statesand to understand her principles so that we might advance them in service to the republic.

Lawrence Bacow, President, Harvard University

In this brilliant book, we hear from the best minds in the country about the unfinished voyage of American life. A must-read to understand our unique nation, its extraordinary legacy, and our collective future!

Admiral James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and author of Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character

David Rubenstein has a unique ability to ask the right penetrating questions that illicit illuminating answers from fascinating people who paint a complete and detailed picture of the American experiment from all sides. As the countrys pre-eminent patriotic philanthropist, David is now doing even more to preserve American history with this important project.

Bret Baier, Chief Political Anchor, Fox News & New York Times bestselling author

The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians

How to Lead: Wisdom from the Worlds Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers

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Copyright 2021 by David M. Rubenstein

Ilustrations 2021 by Mark Summers

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition September 2021

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Interior design by Lewelin Polanco

Jacket design based on series by Rich Hasselberger

Jacket illustration by Mark Summers

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-9821-6573-4

ISBN 978-1-9821-6580-2 (ebook)

To the public servants who protect our democracy

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Preamble to the United States Constitution, 1787

The story is too wonderful not to be apocryphal: as Benjamin Franklin is leaving Independence Hall in Philadelphia at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, he is supposedly met by a womanreputed to be Elizabeth Willing Powel, a prominent Philadelphia socialitewho asks him what type of government the delegates have given the country, a republic or a monarchy. Franklins simple response: A republic, if you can keep it.

For the ensuing 230-plus years, the American people, through extraordinary and at times existential challenges, have kept the republic. Creating such a form of government from scratch was an unprecedented, bold experiment in self-governmentthe American Experiment.

Without doubt, all fifty-five delegates to the Constitutional Convention would be shocked that the compromises they cobbled together from May to September of 1787 (even with some subsequent twenty-seven constitutional amendments) have survived this long.

How did this experiment endure over centuries against all odds? Beyond the constitutional amendments, what legal, social, economic, political, and religious factors came together to ensure the republics survival? In my view, the republic persisted and grew into the most powerful nation on earth as a result of a unique combination of factors that came together in a serendipitous way.

I analogize this to our planet: had the mass that became Earth been much closer to or farther away from the sun, life as we know it almost certainly would not have evolved. That advanced forms of life occurred here required an unbelievable set of factors to coalesce in a unique way.

Similarly, had some of the factors that combined to create the United States not been present to the right degree at the right time, the country as we know it would not have been formed, survived, or evolved to its current state.