An Empire of Reason

The story

Docudrama about the debate surrounding New York State's ratification of the United States Constitution. Historical figures wear modern dress and use familiar language to help today's audience understand firsthand the forces that shaped this country two hundred years ago. The argument, characters, passions and debating points are historically accurate, but the language and the medium of the debate is modern in form. Present day newscasters and commentators play themselves, reporting on the events of the 1780s as though they were occurring now.

Cast

C Cokie RobertsSelf - Host W William F. Buckley Jr.Self W Walter CronkiteSelf J John ChancellorSelf P Phil DonahueSelf R Robert MacNeilSelf A Andrea MitchellSelf A Al RokerSelf F Forrest SawyerSelf J Jamey SheridanDaniel Shays E Ed KochMayor of New York City, 1788 J James RebhornJesse Woodhull

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M Mario CuomoSelf C Charlayne Hunter-GaultSelf F François GirodayAlexander Hamilton C Christopher CurryJohn Lansing, Jr. N Nesbitt BlaisdellGov. George Clinton S Sol WachtlerJohn Jay D Drew SnyderDemonstrator J Joseph WarrenRobert Yates J John C. VennemaRobert R. Livingston E E.G. MarshallFederalist Spokesman R Rex RobbinsIsaac Roosevelt E Edwin McDonoughDonahue Audience Member R Richard BrightDonahue Audience Member R Richard SeffDonahue Audience Member W William DuellDonahue Audience Member M MacIntyre DixonDonahue Audience Member P Patrick ClearDonahue Audience Member E Eli WallachAnti-Federalist Spokesman R Roberts BlossomMelancton Smith G Guy PaulConvention Secretary J Jonathan BoltAnti-Federalist Delegate S Stu DalyVoice-over Announcer