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topicnews · September 9, 2024

Where will the presidential debate take place? Historic venue is the scene of the debate

Where will the presidential debate take place? Historic venue is the scene of the debate

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PHILADELPHIA – One of the defining moments of the 2024 presidential campaign will unfold Tuesday night at a Philadelphia venue founded by Ronald Reagan 15 years before it became a reality, and will also feature a keynote speech by a rising Democratic star.

The National Constitution Center – where Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are facing off in their first presidential debate – is a relatively new attraction in the center of a district central to American history, but it has been in the national spotlight for some time.

While the two campaign teams debated the rules and even cast doubt on whether the debate would take place, there was apparently never any doubt that the center would be the debate site sponsored by ABC News.

What is the National Constitution Center?

The National Constitution Center is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that opened on July 4, 2003. It offers interactive exhibits and programs related to the Constitution, government, and civics. It regularly hosts discussions that bring together people from across the political spectrum and offers a variety of online learning resources (including a blog post about presidential debates).

The center was established in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan with the Constitution Heritage Act. The act called for an institution “within or in close proximity to Independence National Historical Park” that would “disseminate information about the Constitution of the United States on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people,” according to the center’s website.

Current exhibitions include “We The People,” an in-depth examination of the U.S. Constitution; “American Treasures: Documenting the Nation’s Founding”; “Civil War and Reconstruction: The Struggle for Liberty and Equality”; “Enduring Freedom: From the Declaration of Independence to the Bill of Rights”; and “The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Right to Vote.”

Signers’ Hall features 42 life-size bronze statues of the men who signed the Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.

The overview: When will the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump take place? What you should know

Where is the National Constitution Center?

The National Constitution Center is located in Philadelphia, in the heart of downtown. It is across from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other major landmarks in Independence National Historical Park.

The address, 525 Arch Street, reflects the day (May 25, 1787, or 5/25) on which the Constitutional Convention began.

Why is the debate taking place at the National Constitution Center?

The National Constitution Center has hosted major events before.

Its mission is to “inspire people across America to engage with the Constitution and the importance of civil dialogue and reasoned debate,” said President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, who called the debate “a momentous opportunity for civic engagement for all Americans.”

In 2008, the National Constitution Center hosted a Democratic primary debate between then-Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, as well as a town hall meeting with Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate.

That same year, Obama delivered a 40-minute, live-televised speech at the National Constitution Center on race in America. His speech, “A More Perfect Union,” was seen as a turning point in his campaign and is often cited as one of the defining speeches on race by a politician.

The Constitution Center is also home to the annual Philadelphia Liberty Medal, which honors those whose courage and conviction advance the cause of freedom. Recipients include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Anthony Kennedy, Senator John McCain, the Dalai Lama, Muhammad Ali, Representative John Lewis, Hillary Clinton and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.

Another possible reason for the debate in Philadelphia is that Pennsylvania is an important swing state: Both Harris and Trump’s campaign teams have frequently visited the Keystone State.

Contact Phaedra Trethan via email at [email protected], on X (formerly Twitter) @wordsbyphaedra or on Threads @by_phaedra

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