Celebrating American Ideas

Featuring Dr. Bill Bennett, Former US Education Secretary

On March 25, 2010 Sagamore Institute hosted its first “Celebrating American Ideas” gala. Former Secretary of Education and renowned author William J. Bennett gave a rousing keynote address on the American Idea. His address emphasized the essential role of citizens and our responsibility to learn our nation’s history in order to define and defend democracy.

America: The Last Best Hope

In a democracy like the United States, knowledge of history is vital. Yet we face a great threat to our national identity today: most American students nearing voting age know startlingly little about the foundational democratic principles and ideals that comprise the history of this nation. Few others understand this challenge better than our featured speaker, Dr. William J. Bennett. Most recently, Dr. Bennett is known as a renowned author, but his experiences as U.S. Secretary of Education, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and college professor uniquely position him to share insights into the imperative for and response to restoring excellence in history education.

Recognizing that American students today know startlingly little about the innovative and foundational ideas that comprise the history of this nation, Dr. Bennett has published a gripping and memorable three-volume history of the United States entitled America: the Last Best Hope, which appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. Click here to learn more.

Watch Bennett's Remarks