Civic Story Hour with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Janie Nitze

About this episode

Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Janie Nitze discuss their children's book about the Declaration of Independence.

In this episode, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, honorary co-chair of the National Constitution Center, and his co-author and former law clerk Janie Nitze join the Center to discuss their new children’s book, Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence (HarperCollins; May 5, 2026). Designed for families and learners of all ages, this Civic Story Hour program invites audiences into the human stories behind the Declaration of Independence. Heroes of 1776 introduces readers to both familiar figures such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere, as well as lesser-known participants in the American story, including Caesar Rodney, Thomas Paine, and Mary Katharine Goddard. Together, their stories highlight the risks, choices, and debates that shaped the nation’s founding. Blending vivid storytelling with historical detail, the book centers the lived experiences behind the founding era and invites young readers to consider the enduring ideals of the Declaration. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of…

People in this episode

Host: Julie Silverbrook

Guests: Neil M. Gorsuch, Janie Nitze

Topics covered

• children's literature
• Declaration of Independence
• American history
• Civic education
• storytelling

Keywords

• Supreme Court
• Civic Story Hour
• Heroes of 1776
• American founding
• historical figures

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Constitution Center

Books & works: Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence

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