Episode 3: Justice Neil Gorsuch and Janie Nitze discuss their new children’s book, Heroes of 1776
In this special episode of Civic Parenting, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, honorary co-chair of the National Constitution Center, and his co-author and former law clerk Janie Nitze join Julie Silverbrook to discuss their new children’s book, Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence. The book introduces readers to both familiar figures such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere, as well as lesser-known participants in the American story, including Caesar Rodney, and Mary Katharine Goddard. Together, their stories highlight the risks, choices, and debates that shaped the nation’s founding.
Justice Gorsuch and Nitze also discuss how stories can help children connect with the founding era, why it matters to introduce young learners to both famous and lesser-known figures from our nation's past, and how families can use America's 250th anniversary as an opportunity to deepen civic curiosity, strengthen historical understanding, and help prepare the next generation for the responsibilities of citizenship and self-government.
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This episode was produced and mixed by Bill Pollock. It was recorded by David Stotz. With production support from Charles Sahm. Research was provided by Anna Salvatore, Trey Sullivan, and Tristan Worsham.
Participants
Neil M. Gorsuch took his seat as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 2017. He has served as honorary co-chair of the National Constitution Center since 2019.
Janie Nitze has co-authored two previous New York Times bestsellers with Justice Gorsuch: Over Ruled and A Republic If You Can Keep It. She has also worked as a Senate-confirmed board member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, and a law clerk for Justices Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor.
Julie Silverbrook is chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, where she leads the strategy, development, and delivery of the Center’s content, public programs, and educational initiatives, advancing its mission of nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue.
Additional Resources
- Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence
- National Constitution Center, Civic Story Hour with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Janie Nitze
- National Constitution Center, The Declaration of Independence
- National Constitution Center, Family Learning Resources
- National Constitution Center, Civic Quest, a new play-based family learning experience
- National Constitution Center, NCC Trivial Pursuit: Exploring America’s Story (Bitesize)
- Julie Silverbrook, “At 250, America Needs Civic Parenting, Not Just Civics Classes,” The Fulcrum (May 5, 2026)
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