Finding Jefferson by Alan Dershowitz

Finding Jefferson by Alan Dershowitz

Freedom of speech, the right to voice one's opinions without fear of government reprisal, is one of America's most dearly held principles--championed by the founding fathers, enshrined in the Bill of Rights, and exercised with passion and frequency by Americans of every persuasion. What happens, however, when a speaker publicly exhorts others to violent acts that threaten to cause injury or death? Can a line be drawn between speech that incites violence and that which does not, or is all speech protected under that Bill of Rights? Even Thomas Jefferson himself was silent on the subject--until now.

In Finding Jefferson, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Alan Dershowitz tells a remark-able story about how his passion for collecting led him to a discovery of tremendous historical and present-day importance. On September 8, 2006, in a dusty old Manhattan bookstore, he found an 1801 letter written by his hero Thomas Jefferson that speaks directly to the issue of intentionally harmful or dangerous speech.

Dershowitz, writing with the ardor of a collector, the energy of an advocate, and the rigor of a scholar, verifies the letter's authenticity, explains its importance within the context of Jefferson's writing, and, in true Dershowitzian style, takes his hero to task, point by opinionated point.

Finally, Dershowitz applies his extensive knowledge of Jefferson to the question of whether to restrict free speech in an age of terrorism and suicide bombings, when deterrence is rarely an option. Quoting freely from Jefferson's many writings on law, rights, and national survival, and citing his actions during the Aaron Burr treason trial, Dershowitz presents a compelling case that, today, Jefferson would probably opt for some narrow restrictions against speech intended to incite violence but would insist on protecting all other types of speech.

Engaging and passionately written, Finding Jefferson is compelling reading for anyone interested in free speech, American history, and the conflict between individual rights and national security in the face of terrorism.

Alan Dershowitz lives and breathes history. The book is both a warm personal insight into Dershowitz, the grown-up whiz kid still fuming because his mother threw out his comic books and baseball cards, and a great lesson on democracy from one of its wisest and most articulate advocates.

Dershowitz, Alan: - Robert S. Mueller III is the special counsel of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and any other matters that arise from his findings. He served as director of the FBI from 2001 to 2013. Mueller, a registered Republican, had dedicated his life to public service and has assembled a decorated criminal justice career. He also served as a Marine in the Vietnam War, and received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for heroism.

The U.S. Department of Justice has a mission to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

Alan Dershowitz is one of the most famous and celebrated lawyers in America. He was the youngest full professor in Harvard Law School history, where he is now the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Emeritus. Dershowitz is the author of numerous bestselling books, including the New York Times bestseller The Case Against Impeaching Trump.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780470167113
ISBN 10	0470167114
Title	Finding Jefferson
Author	Alan Dershowitz
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Wiley
Year published	2007-11-15
Number of pages	256
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable