Substantial public acceptance of the 1990 BYU-produced film "A More Perfect Union" proves that many Americans are intensely interested in the origins of their nation and in the founding fathers, according to the man who wrote the screenplay.
The screenwriter, Tim Slover, spoke at the Bill of Rights Symposium Sept. 27 at BYU on the subject, "The Characters Behind the Constitution."He drew what he called "a quick sketch of the 55 men who deliberated our government as a nation" and singled out "a few for fuller portraits."
Here are some observations selected from his speech:
"All of the delegates to the Federal Convention were white, male and land-owning. Only eight had been born abroad. A few were of modest circumstances, but the majority were well off. This homogeneity among the delegates has made their deliberations at the federal convention not less, but more remarkable to me for two reasons: that such seeming similar men would have so much to argue about, and that they would deliberate so seriously and, for the most part conclude justly . . . about people in different circumstances than their own."
"Benjamin Franklin, honorary L.L.D., was 81 at the time of the convention, its eldest statesman. By 1787 he had done and been just about everything a man could be to qualify himself for the term renaissance. He was now internationally known as a scientist, diplomat, public servant, Indian negotiator, wit, publisher, revolutionary, businessman. . . . Often immobilized now by gout and racked by the pain of a bladder stone, he was nevertheless currently serving as president of Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive Council, in effect, its governor. On days when he attended the convention, Franklin sallied forth in an elegant, closed lounge-chair which he had designed himself, carried by four convicts from the local prison - supervised, of course, by the warden. The lounge-chair was considered a French affectation in an American town, but that was Franklin all over, going against the grain: when in Paris he loved to dress in Quaker homespun and even a coonskin cap amongst the silked and jeweled dandies."
"It is not going too far to say that [George WashingtonT was to Americans - and to Europeans - a living legend [in 1787T. He was a private citizen now, holding no political or military office. And this very fact added to his personal mythology. When in the face of almost insuperable odds he had secured a victory for the rebel American forces and received the official British surrender at Yorktown, he stood alone at the pinnacle of the infant nation's leaders. Many Englishmen and Americans believed he would take advantage of his unique position as hero and commander-in-chief and, putting aside notions of democracy, crown himself America's first king. The new country was before him for the taking.
" . . . Despite his many virtues, Washington was not, nor did he ever claim to be, a genius. John Adams thought him `slow, but sure.' But many accorded to Washington the perhaps greater virtue of knowing his limitations, listening to and weighing the opinions of others. . . . "
"Many, including myself, revere [theT Constitution as a divinely inspired document. It was nevertheless produced as men - remarkable men, in this case - produce political documents, through argument, compromise and disappointment. It was not a perfect document, as the many improving additions to it - from the Bill of Rights onwards - attest. Washington wondered in private correspondence if it would last 20 years. But it has lasted, to be a blessing to those fortunate enough to live under its principles and a beacon to nations of the world searching for ways to govern themselves democratically."
