Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of law and political science at Yale University and a Yale alum who graduated summa cum laude, spoke at OU’s fall Presidential Speakers Series dinner Thursday at Sam Noble Museum of Natural History.
Around 400 people were in attendance, including students, professors, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and College of Law Dean Anna Carpenter.
Amar’s lecture focused on constitutional issues in today’s politics. His speech additionally analyzed the political influence of past U.S. presidents.
Amar encouraged attendees to learn and get informed about political issues, but also unlearn common misconceptions. He said it’s important for college campuses to impart neutrality and nonpartisanship to students.
“It is so important what you all are doing to celebrate constitutional study, not just in law schools but in undergraduates and to try to do so in a nonpartisan way,” Amar said. “I’m going to invite you to rethink, to unlearn, some of the things you were taught.”
Amar earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1980 and a law degree from Yale Law School in 1984. He has worked as a court clerk, judge and informal consultant to the popular TV show, “The West Wing.” His scholarship has been showcased on many broadcasts, including “The Colbert Report,” “Morning Joe,” “Anderson Cooper 360,” Fox News and “Erin Burnett OutFront.” He currently teaches constitutional law in both Yale College and Yale Law School.
Amar has written more than 100 law review articles and several books, including “Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840” released May 2021 and its sequel, “Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840-1920.” He is also the host of “Amarica’s Constitution,” a weekly podcast that focuses on current constitutional issues.
“I have learned a lot of stuff, and I have unlearned a lot of stuff,” Amar said. “I want to share with you some of the things that I have learned and unlearned with particularly the presidents over the years and how they intercepted with the American constitutional story.”
Amar said he admires OU’s nonpartisan approach to constitutional rights and its annual fall and spring speakers events.
“I genuinely believe this place has the single best undergraduate program in constitutional study in America, …” Amar said. “One of the things I admire about the University of Oklahoma is you are trying to reach all parts of this spectrum in this Presidential Speaker Series and elsewhere.”
U.S. presidents
Amar claimed James Madison was not the “father of the Constitution,” despite popular belief. Instead, he said that title belongs to former President George Washington.
“The term 'president’ comes from the fact (that Washington) was ‘Mr. President’ at Philadelphia,” Amar said. “The Constitution was designed by him, … and you miss that because you read Madison’s notes.”
Amar said President Thomas Jefferson was the first to advocate for free speech laws and he praised President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his activism toward freedom of speech. Amar said Roosevelt, similar to former President Abraham Lincoln, carried a pocket Constitution, and Amar encouraged audience members to do the same.
“(The Constitution) says right to vote. Let's take that seriously. It says freedom of speech. Let's take that seriously,” Amar said.
Certain freedoms and/or liberties can be misused, Amar said, speaking of gaps in the Constitution or other government documents that politicians often use to their advantage.
Amar spoke on how the federal government can fire federal workers because of the Federalist Papers, citing recent widespread layoffs of federal workers.
“You need to understand the history or what it is to understand today,” Amar said. “Nothing could be more clear than the fact that (President) Donald Trump can fire a cabinet officer.”
Constitutional rights, freedom of speech
Amar argued that all people born in the U.S., regardless of gender, race or origin, are equal citizens, citing the 13th, 15th and 19th amendments.
“If you're born under the American flag, you're born an equal citizen. Not just free, but equal citizens,” Amar said.
Amar said voters must know the history of the Constitution and the rights they have in order to make an educated decision, which he said OU aims to do for its students.
“You have to know what the Constitution actually says,” Amar said. “That's what this great university is all about, and its commitment to undergraduate education and the Constitution's history.”
Amar said the U.S. is experiencing a "constitutional ignorance” that is independent of political parties. He said a primary issue is that the younger generation reads fewer books and is less informed.
Amar encouraged students to read constantly and pre-law students to befriend people with opposing political views.
“That's not an acute crisis, that's just a chronic condition, and this university honestly, as much as any, I think is trying to improve that condition,” Amar said. “It would be wonderful if some of your very best friends actually canceled out your vote on election day. … That’s what you should be aiming for.”
This story was edited by Ana Barboza, Natalie Armour and Thomas Pablo. Gretchen Schultz and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
