Mark Levin is talk radio’s Constitutionalist who frequently refers to the Federalist Papers to rail against big government.
When he quotes the 228-year-old collection of 85 articles and essays written to promote the Constitution, he never gets it wrong.
And now we know why. Levin has one of 500 first edition copies commissioned by Alexander Hamilton in 1787, and he is loaning it to Hillsdale College for two years.
“It sits on my desk next to my computer, where I write my books and prepare for my radio show, as it gives me inspiration,” the New York Times best-selling author told the Examiner.
One set of the Federalist Papers on the website Biblio.com has a price of $225,000.
“And I decided it needed to be on public display, where it could be shared with everyone else. I want it to be displayed at different places around the country over the next many years. But no better place to start than Hillsdale’s Constitution Center.”
The Michigan college has a notable focus on the Constitution and many students come to Washington to get involved on conservative politics, and sees the Levin loan as inspirational to students.
“The Federalist is the greatest source of the political thought of America’s Founders , and the best explanation and defense of the Constitution as understood by the Founders themselves,” said Matthew Spalding, associate vice president and dean of educational programs at Hillsdale College’s Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship.
“This very rare first-edition, commissioned by Alexander Hamilton during the ratification debates of 1787, will be on public display at the Kirby Center after November 16. I invite everyone–especially Members of Congress and their staff who are only blocks away–to visit the Kirby Center and see this rare book as a prelude to learning more about American constitutionalism,” he added.
The details on today’s ceremony:
WHO: Mark Levin, The Mark Levin Show
Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President, Hillsdale College
Dr. Matthew Spalding, VP and Dean of Educational Programs, Hillsdale College
WHEN: Monday, November 16, 2015
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
~ Viewing of the Federalist Papers at 1:30 p.m. ~
WHERE: The Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship
227 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
