Event Recaps

WATCH LIVE: Renewing the Founders’ Promise at the National Constitution Center


Join us by watching live on March 15, 2018 for “Renewing the Founders’ Promise,” as we and our ReFormers Caucus of nearly 200 former members of Congress, governors and Cabinet secretaries from both parties launch a new, national campaign to fix the broken political system.

Today, the stakes could not be higher for the country. As we head into midterm elections that are reflective of the deep social and tribal divisions shaping the political landscape, Congress cannot agree—much less debate—on how to defend our elections from meddling by foreign actors seeking to do the United States harm.

Washington is facing a leadership crisis that demands bold solutions to fix the broken political system and a path forward for the country that makes us the envy of the world once again.

Issue One is filling that void as the “newest and most heavyweight” political reform group, according to veteran Washington columnist Morton Kondracke. In the past year, we have succeeded in reshaping the conversation on Capitol Hill, inspiring members of Congress from both parties to unite for the good of our country.

And now we are taking our message of unity for the sake of country over party on the road. Our new movement will stop first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—host of the First Continental Congress—where we will convene more than 50 ReFormers, in partnership with the National Constitution Center and Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Jon Meacham and Joseph Ellis, to unveil a declaration to renew the Founders’ promise and the values America was built on.

Renewing the Founders’ Promise is the first convening of its kind that will launch a political reform movement that Republicans, Democrats and independents can all support. This sold-out event features a moderated conversation with:

  • Joseph Ellis, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
  • Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
  • Former Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-NC)
  • Former Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA)
  • Jeffrey Rosen, National Constitution Center CEO, historian and author of William Howard Taft
  • Moderated by: Former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies (D-PA)

The evening will also feature a short musical performance by Grammy-nominated vocal artist, education activist, motivational speaker, author and pastor Wintley Phipps.

This program is in partnership with the National Constitution Center as part of their America’s Town Hall program. It will be streamed live at http://www.constitutioncenter.org/live beginning at 8pm ET on March 15.

This campaign is part of Issue One’s ongoing efforts to bridge partisan divides and solve the root cause of the dysfunction crippling Washington. Issue One has recruited leaders including former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, former Ambassador to India Tim Roemer, former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and former CIA Directors Leon Panetta and Porter Goss, among others to the cause. These elder statesmen may have been on opposing sides on the campaign trail, but they are now united, and are working in collaboration to chart a new path forward for Americans dissatisfied with the current political system.

Following the event, Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus, led by former Reps. Tim Roemer (D-IN), Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Connie Morella (R-MD), will continue the conversation about the need for political reform in states around the country. Follow Issue One on Twitter and Facebook for more updates.