Tom DeWeese
America at 250: The remarkable story behind the first public reading of the Declaration
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By Tom DeWeese
July 4, 2026

As America marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, this special presentation goes beyond a traditional Independence Day reading. Tom DeWeese, President of the American Policy Foundation, shares an extraordinary chapter of his own family's history—revealing that his ancestor, Philadelphia Sheriff William DeWees Sr., was the official who proclaimed the Declaration of Independence before its first public reading on July 8, 1776.

In this commemorative program, DeWeese retraces that historic moment by reading the Declaration himself while reflecting on the enduring principles of liberty, self-government, and the sacrifices that shaped the American Republic.

Whether you're a student of history or simply celebrating America's Semiquincentennial, this is a compelling tribute to the nation's founding and the legacy of those who helped bring it into existence.

WATCH NOW

© Tom DeWeese

 

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Tom DeWeese

Tom DeWeese is one of the nation's leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education, and American sovereignty and independence... (more)

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