In 1799, at the behest of President George Washington, Patrick Henry came out of retirement to defend the Constitution that he had once opposed and to thwart Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, whom Washington accused of putting party over country and threatening the fragile union. Historian John A. Ragosta joins us for a conversation on how the most eloquent public speaker of the American Revolutionary era and a leading antifederalist during debates over ratification of the Constitution reemerged on the side of the federalists and once again changed history.

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Supported in part by the Sally Lanagan Fund. Forums for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution are made possible by a gift from Claire and Joshua Nelson.