Here, in a single volume, are the documents, speeches, and letters that have forged American history, now updated with new content such as Trump's inaugural address.

Accompanied by interpretations of their significance by noted historian Richard D. Heffner and journalist Alexander Heffner, this book includes important documents such as:

  • The complete text of the Declaration of Independence
  • The complete Constitution of the United States
  • The Monroe Doctrine
  • The Emancipation Proclamation
  • Woodrow Wilson's War Message to Congress
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" Speech
  • John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech
  • Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Addresses
  • Documents relating to September 11, 2001 and the Iraq War

  • This edition has been expanded and updated to include a chapter on the Presidency of Donald Trump.
    Richard D. Heffner received his A.B. and M.A. from Columbia University and taught history and political science at the University of California, Sarah Lawrence College, and the New School for Social Research. He was University Professor of Communications and Public Policy at Rutgers for more than forty years. He produced and moderated the prizewinning weekly public television series, The Open Mind, and for twenty years was chairman of the motion picture industry’s film rating system.  View titles by Richard D. Heffner

    About

    Here, in a single volume, are the documents, speeches, and letters that have forged American history, now updated with new content such as Trump's inaugural address.

    Accompanied by interpretations of their significance by noted historian Richard D. Heffner and journalist Alexander Heffner, this book includes important documents such as:

  • The complete text of the Declaration of Independence
  • The complete Constitution of the United States
  • The Monroe Doctrine
  • The Emancipation Proclamation
  • Woodrow Wilson's War Message to Congress
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" Speech
  • John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech
  • Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Addresses
  • Documents relating to September 11, 2001 and the Iraq War

  • This edition has been expanded and updated to include a chapter on the Presidency of Donald Trump.

    Author

    Richard D. Heffner received his A.B. and M.A. from Columbia University and taught history and political science at the University of California, Sarah Lawrence College, and the New School for Social Research. He was University Professor of Communications and Public Policy at Rutgers for more than forty years. He produced and moderated the prizewinning weekly public television series, The Open Mind, and for twenty years was chairman of the motion picture industry’s film rating system.  View titles by Richard D. Heffner