We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution

Part 4 examines the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a period marked by constitutional celebration, political polarization, and a waning faith in amendment as a democratic tool. Lepore opens with the bicentennial of the Constitution’s signing on September 17, 1987, a moment defined by spectacle as much as reflection. The anniversary was marked by elaborate commemorations, including events featuring Charlton Heston and a constitutionally themed celebration approved by President Ronald Reagan at Disney World. Chief Justice Warren Burger played a prominent role in shaping the official tone of reverence, even as popular culture—most memorably through Bugs Bunny’s reminder that “it was intended! To be amended!”—offered a more ironic commentary on constitutional meaning (434).

Despite the grandeur of the celebrations, Congress declined to make Constitution Day a national holiday, signaling a reluctance to embed constitutional reflection into civic life. At the same time, debates over interpretation intensified. Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court—and the subsequent televised confirmation hearings—brought judicial philosophy into public view in unprecedented ways. Originalism, championed by figures such as Antonin Scalia, entered mainstream political