Finding, Framing, and Hanging Jefferson : A Lost Letter, a Remarkable Discovery, and Freedom of Speech in an Age of Terrorism

by Dershowitz, Alan

• ISBN13: 9780470450437
• ISBN10: 0470450436
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-27
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The #1 New York Times bestselling author, Harvard Law School professor, and tireless defender of civil liberties unearths a little-known letter by his hero, Thomas Jefferson, and shares its secrets. The letter illuminates Jefferson's views on freedom of speech in a way that has important implications for the country today, particularly in the struggle against terrorism. This book is about the remarkable letter Dershowitz found, how he found it, and why it matters not only to him, but to us today.

Author Biography

Alan Dershowitz, the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, is one of the country's foremost appellate lawyers and a distinguished defender of individual liberties. His many books include the #1 New York Times bestsellers Chutzpah and The Case for Israel. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
The Collector and His Passions
My Passion for Collecting	p. 3
My Passions for Freedom of Speech, Criminal Law, and Thomas Jefferson	p. 27
The Letter
Finding the Jefferson Letter	p. 45
The Provenance of the Jefferson-Boardman Letter	p. 75
My Letter to Jefferson
Where We Have Come since 1826	p. 97
Jefferson's First Argument: An Expressed Opinion Can Never Constitute an Overt Act	p. 107
Jefferson's Second Argument: If Conscience Is the Umpire, Then Each Judge's Conscience Will Govern	p. 121
Jefferson's Third Argument: "We Have Nothing to Fear from the Demoralizing Reasonings of Some, if Others Are Left Free to Demonstrate Their Errors"	p. 127
Jefferson's Fourth Argument: "The Law Stands Ready to Punish the First Criminal Act Produced by the False Reasoning"	p. 133
Jefferson's Fifth Argument: "These Are Safer Correctives than the Conscience of a Judge"	p. 139
What Would Jefferson Say About Terrorism And Freedom of Speech Today?
Jefferson's Views on the "Terrorism" of His Era	p. 147
Jefferson's Actions in the Burr Case	p. 153
Jefferson's Views on Torture, Habeas Corpus, and Other Issues Currently Debated in the Context of Terrorism	p. 169
How Would Jefferson Strike the Balance between Freedom of Speech and Prevention of Terrorism?	p. 181
My View, as Influenced by Jefferson and the Experiences of Our Time	p. 189
A Transcript of the Jefferson Letter and a Letterpress Copy	p. 195
Excerpted from "Discourse: Truth Its Own Test and God Its Only Judge"	p. 199
Notes	p. 209
Index	p. 235
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