
Tom DeWeese
America at 250: The remarkable story behind the first public reading of the Declaration
Catching Fire News
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.
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© Tom DeWeese
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
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...
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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.
A native of Ohio, he's been a candidate for the Ohio Legislature, served as editor of two newspapers, and has owned several businesses since the age of 23. In 1989, Tom led the only privately-funded election-observation team to the Panamanian elections. In 2006, Tom was invited to Cambridge University to debate the issue of the United Nations before the Cambridge Union, a 200-year-old debating society. Today, he serves as Founder and President of the American Policy Center and editor of The DeWeese Report. Tom also heads up an Internet news site called Freedom21.com.
For 40 years, Tom DeWeese has been a businessman, grassroots activist, writer, and publisher.
As such, he has always advocated a firm belief in man's need to keep moving forward while protecting our constitutionally-guaranteed rights.
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