Constitutional Journal: A Correspondent's Report from the Convention of 1787

A Correspondent's Report Trilogy

by Jeffrey St. John, Jeff Riggenbach (Narrator)

You are there, in 1787, at America s constitutional convention, with the inside story that reads like a modern-day account of the secret proceedings in Philadelphia. Veteran print and broadcast journalist Jeffrey St. John reports each day s proceedings, flavoring his dispatches with quotes from private correspondence and notes of the delegates.

He captures the frustration, conflict, hope, and despair of America s founders during that long, sweltering summer session, as the political future of the country hangs in the balance. It is an enthralling story, never before told in this journalistic form.

Unabridged, 1 MP3 CD (6.8 hours)

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics

MP3 Book

First published June 1, 1987

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creative approach to reading about the events surrounding the Constitutional Convention. If you are a regular newspaper reader, this book is up your alley.

[Bryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

While this book is a fun and interesting read, it should be viewed as nothing more the fiction with a few facts mixed in.

While there are pearls of truth sprinkled here and there, this book is a revisionist history viewed through the lens of modern progressive politics. It frames the convention debates in terms of current political philosophies and describes those debates as if they were indistinguishable from modern debates over any piece of legislation. It was as if this book represented the debates of the constitutional convention as little more that a debate over nationalism vs. federalism or a large powerful national government vs. a federal system with specific enumerated and limited powers with the balance of power devolving to states. In truth, the debate was closer to a federal vs. anti-federal system where anti-federalists feared that federalism took too much power away from the states.

What is entirely missing is the heavy influence of writers such as Cicero, John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, Adam Smith, Edmond Burke, David Hume and other political philosophers as well as the deeply studied history of past governments and governmental structures

Vague mention is made to the trunk of books sent to James Madison by Thomas Jefferson and a small number of over-simplified fictional accounts are made of what was proposed based on those books. Similarly, vague mention is made of the structure of some state constitutions. What is omitted is the substantial role that John Adams played in forming most of the state governments in existence at the time as well as his voluminous study of the above mentioned writings, governments. These state constitutions, particularly that of Massachusetts were especially important in shaping the constitution. Another very important document that was an early influence on the state constitutions as well as the United States Constitution was the Magna Carta. This was entirely ignored.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was not a debate of current whims and issues as contemporary lawmaking often is. It was an intellectual study and debate of all forms of government, past and present. The framers wrestled with complicated issues that would affect their contemporaries as well as generations to come, and they viewed their task as such. The end result was a masterful document that has served as the gold standard for all other constitutions. This book treats the constitution as if it had evolved in the same way that massive pork barrel legislation evolves now.

What a disgrace!

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Constitutional Journal is the first of a trilogy which includes Child of Fortune and Forge of Union, Anvil of Liberty. The three books are the work of Jeffrey St. John and provide a fictional reporter's account of events from the Constitutional Convention of 1787 through the first federal elections and the adoption of the Bill Of Rights.

Constitutional Journal is a day by day reporter's look at the proceedings of the 1787 Convention. It draws heavily on primary materials (Delegates' notes and letters) as well as secondary sources. The book takes what can be a dry subject and makes it feel like you are following events as they occur. This is unique among the other books about the Convention and creates a sense of anticipation for the next day's entry. There is very little sense that the outcome is a foregone conclusion because you really feel like you're getting a daily newspaper update.

This should not be the only book you read about the Great Convention, but it does provide a fresh look at a frequently written-about topic and is both informative and an easy read. It's hard to provide an original, accurate and fun-to-read book on the Convention, but St. John does that that. Kudos to him

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I wrote a review for this book closer to when I had finished reading it, but it got lost and I didn't have the heart to sit down and write a review for it again until now.)

This was an excellent book. I highly recommend it for all citizens of the United States of America. It presents the events of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as if they were a) not secret and b) coming to a modern news reporter (the "correspondent" noted in the subtitle).

While it is long and can be kind of boring at times, I think this book is very valuable. It is exceptionally engaging for a history (note: NOT historical fiction) book. The places where it drags a little are places where the situation dragged a LOT. It gives what I believe to be a very accurate picture of the hard work and long debates that went into the formation of the U.S. Constitution, which I think goes unappreciated by most citizens today.

Jeffrey St. John gave me a new, deeper appreciation for this document that is still the foundation of my country's government over two hundred years after it was written with this book. I think that it would have made excellent summer reading for my AP Government class in high school, and recommend it highly.

[Nyter]

A fantastic read! There were no moments where I wasn't immersed into the book.