Historian Walter Isaacson discusses the significance of the Declaration of Independence

Historian Walter Isaacson discussed the enduring significance of the Declaration of Independence during the 2026 Flinn Foundation Centennial Lecture at Arizona State University. Isaacson described the sentence “We hold these truths to be self-evident” as a perpetual challenge to uphold human and American values, potentially serving as a unifying force during times of political polarization.

Isaacson highlighted the collaborative nature of the document's drafting, noting how Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams balanced rationality with divine providence. He noted that Franklin changed Jefferson’s original wording from “sacred” to “self-evident” to emphasize a nation based on reason.

In a related commentary on American principles, the concept of the nation’s secular creed—rooted in the promise that “all men are created equal”—was examined. The discussion contrasted the historical ideals of the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address with modern political tensions regarding equality, citizenship, and civil rights.