On July 4th, 2026, the country will commemorate the 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence. As you plan programming and events around this historic milestone, meet the speakers who can reflect on the Declaration as a living document.
Powerful Storytellers
Ken Burns
Ken Burns is an iconic documentary filmmaker known for masterfully chronicling American history—from the Civil War to jazz, baseball, Vietnam, and the lives of figures like Jackie Robinson and Benjamin Franklin. His unique ability to tell emotionally resonant, inclusive, and visually rich stories makes him perfect for reflecting on America’s identity, contradictions, and enduring aspirations. In November 2025, The American Revolution, a richly illustrated, human-centered history of America’s founding struggle will be published—expanding on the landmark, six-part PBS series to be aired at the same time.
Presidents, Leaders, and Founding Fathers
Ronald C. White
Ronald C. White is a renowned historian and biographer of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. With deep historical insight and accessible storytelling, White talks about how Lincoln interpreted the ideals of the Declaration of Independence to guide the nation and how Grant’s presidency and commitment to Reconstruction represented a critical effort to fulfill the ideals of liberty and equality first articulated in the Declaration.
Joseph J. Ellis
Joseph J. Ellis is one of the most respected historians of the American founding era and the author of bestsellers that include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Founding Brothers and American Sphinx. Ellis examines the fragile birth of a nation and delivers a nuanced portrait of the founding generation—Jefferson, Hamilton, Washington, Adams, Madison, and others—as well as their lasting legacy.
Candice Millard
Candice Millard, the acclaimed author of gripping narrative nonfiction such as The River of Doubt (Theodore Roosevelt), Destiny of the Republic (James Garfield), and Hero of the Empire (Winston Churchill), specializes in bringing historical figures to life through dramatic, human-centered storytelling. For the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, she can offer talks that highlight leadership, perseverance, and the human side of history.
Black American Legacy
Isabel Wilkerson
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Caste and The Warmth of Other Suns, explores the hidden scaffolding of social hierarchy in America—from 1776 to the present. Wilkerson examines how America’s founding ideals have shaped American society and why acknowledging this legacy is essential to fulfilling the promise of 1776.
Dr. Matthew Delmont
Dr. Matthew Delmont, a leading historian of African American history and World War II, and author of Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad, examines how Black Americans have engaged with the meaning of July 4th across history and the unfinished work of the Declaration’s ideals.