Citadel CEO Ken Griffin believes American prosperity is a testomony to the facility of the Structure. And because the nation will get able to rejoice its 250th anniversary subsequent 12 months, the hedge fund billionaire needs to develop public entry to the 1787 doc.
Griffin introduced Tuesday that he’ll lend his first-edition copy of the Structure to the Nationwide Structure Heart in Philadelphia for a public exhibit devoted to the founding doc of the U.S. authorities. He will even mortgage the middle his copy of the Invoice of Rights, which he has not beforehand acknowledged proudly owning publicly, and has made a $15 million donation for the exhibit – the biggest within the middle’s historical past.
“The authors of the Structure had unbelievable foresight in designing a system of presidency that has withstood the take a look at of time and now, greater than ever, protects the American Dream,” Griffin mentioned in an announcement.
Jeffrey Rosen, CEO of the Nationwide Structure Heart, known as Griffin’s mortgage of the paperwork and the donation a “transformative alternative.”
“Ken Griffin’s generosity goes to permit us to create a brand new Founding Rules gallery that can inform the story of the American thought from the revolution via the Constitutional Conference via ratification and all the way in which as much as the adoption of the Invoice of Rights,” mentioned Rosen, including that the brand new exhibit will even mark the middle’s largest renovation because it opened in 2003.
The help comes because the Structure is more and more cited, as all three branches of presidency navigate questions about who must be controlling what.
“The Structure Heart’s mission has by no means been extra related,” mentioned Rosen, including that the nonpartisan nonprofit middle tries to cut back polarization by providing a platform for each conservative and liberal Constitutional students. “It’s an honor to convene individuals of various views for these Constitutional debates and conversations. And we’re very a lot wanting ahead to persevering with these conversations.”
A longtime Republican megadonor, Griffin has lately drawn consideration for his criticisms of President Donald Trump.
“The USA was greater than only a nation. It’s a model,” Griffin mentioned on the Semafor World Economic system Summit final month. “It was like an aspiration for many the world. And we’re eroding that model proper now.”
However Griffin’s representatives mentioned the donation and mortgage to the NCC have been deliberate for years.
“The Nationwide Structure Heart is a strong platform for celebrating our nation’s founding ideas,” mentioned Julia Quinn, Citadel director of philanthropy. “The work it has accomplished to extend consciousness and understanding of the Structure, at each the middle itself and thru its broadly obtainable academic programming, is finest in school and we’re thrilled about this partnership.”
Griffin bought the uncommon first printing of the Structure at public sale at Sotheby’s in New York for $43.2 million in 2021, with plans to make the doc obtainable for public viewing. He declined to say when he acquired the uncommon first printing of 17 proposed constitutional amendments handed in 1789 by the Home of Representatives for consideration by the Senate — which, after additional debate, turned the Invoice of Rights.
Caroline Klibanoff, govt director of Made By Us, a nonprofit that helps museums and historical past establishments higher join with these below 30, mentioned subsequent 12 months’s 250th anniversary of the USA is an “unbelievable alternative” to assist members of the biggest youth technology hyperlink their futures to their histories.
And at a time when youthful generations present an elevated mistrust of establishments, the Nationwide Structure Heart can tackle that challenge by showcasing such necessary paperwork, Kilbanoff mentioned.
“They’re the fact-checking technology. They need to see the unique supply materials and never take your interpretation for it,” she mentioned. “Having the paperwork be on the forefront will likely be actually fascinating.”
Griffin’s crew mentioned he needed to rejoice the important American values of particular person freedom, democracy, and alternative together with his philanthropy – together with his help of the lately opened Nationwide Medal of Honor Museum and his donation to the Nationwide Structure Heart.
“Ken loves America and has proven a unprecedented dedication to our founding ideas,” mentioned Cason Carter, Citadel head of public affairs. “He cares deeply about increasing entry to the American Dream, which is underpinned by these historic paperwork, and he believes that America is effectively price celebrating, notably on its 250th anniversary.”
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
