Justice with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln

In this episode, Jeffrey Rosen, Professor David Blight and filmmaker Ken Burns explore how a lifelong love of learning and a desire to promote justice shaped the life of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. He met Abraham Lincoln three times, and those three meetings helped shape Lincoln’s evolving views on emancipation.

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Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness is produced by PRX Productions for the National Constitution Center. It is made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation.

Episode 11, Justice with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln is hosted by Jeffrey Rosen, featuring David Blight and Ken Burns with voice acting by Emmanuel Desarme and Andrew Wilson.

© 2025 National Constitution Center. All Rights Reserved.

From PRX Productions: Genevieve Sponsler, Courtney Fleurantin, David Newtown, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve, Tommy Bazarian, Pedro Rafael Rosado, and Jocelyn Gonzalez

From the National Constitution Center: Annie Stone, Griffin Richie, and Bill Pollock

The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness by Jeffrey Rosen. Arrangements by Greg Strohman. Featuring James Martin, Jennifer Blyth, and Greg Strohman.

© ℗ 2025 Jeffrey Rosen. All Rights Reserved.