The preamble and beginning of the original Constitution, in the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

The preamble and beginning of the original Constitution, in the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

It’s the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. As the country reflects on his death and legacy, the author of a new book says one basic fact of Lincoln’s life cannot be overlooked: where he is from. Legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar argues that Lincoln’s home in Illinois was key to his views on slavery and secession, making geography central to Lincoln’s contributions to the U.S. Constitution. It’s just one example of how America’s distinct regional differences shape the law of the land. We take a Constitutional road trip with Akhil Reed Amar.

Guests

  • Akhil Reed Amar Professor of law and political Science at Yale University. He is also periodically a visiting professor at Harvard, Columbia and Pepperdine Law Schools and author of four books, including "America’s Constitution."

Video: Behind The Scenes With Akhil Reed Amar

Akhil Reed Amar broke down his new book, “The Law Of The Land,” for the Huffington Post.

Featured Excerpt

Excerpted from “The Law of the Land: A Grand Tour of our Constitutional Republic Hardcover” by Akhil Reed Amar. Copyright 2015. Reprinted with permission from Basic Books.

Related Links

Topics + Tags

Most Recent Shows

Donald Trump’s Money Troubles

Thursday, Mar 21 2024Donald Trump faces a cash crunch as he struggles to pay more than half a billion dollars in legal fines. Edward Luce is U.S. editor and columnist for The Financial Times. He joins Diane to break down Trump's money problems and what these penalties could mean for him and his candidacy.

How Old Is Too Old? Age And The 2024 Election

Thursday, Mar 14 2024Age has become a central issue in the presidential election. With the two oldest candidates in history running for the office, it should be, according to aging expert Tracey Gendron. But, she warns, we're talking about it all wrong.

The Human Cost Of The War In Gaza

Thursday, Feb 29 2024Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib is a U-S citizen from Gaza and a Middle East analyst. He has lost 31 family members in the conflict so far. He joins Diane to talk about the current conditions in Gaza and what the global community must do to address them.