Author Walter Isaacson calls it the greatest sentence ever written. As America turns 250, Judy Woodruff sat down with him to explore why those words still matter, where the country has lived up to them, and where it has fallen short.
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July 9, 2026
Author Walter Isaacson calls it the greatest sentence ever written. As America turns 250, Judy Woodruff sat down with him to explore why those words still matter, where the country has lived up to them, and where it has fallen short.
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Ahead of America's 250th anniversary, author Walter Isaacson has turned his attention to a single sentence in the Declaration of Independence. Judy Woodruff spoke with Isaacson about the enduring power of those words and his new book, "The Greatest Sentence Ever Written." It’s part of her series, Crossroads: America at 250.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
Now it is your turn to find a sentence that you consider to be the most important in representing the ideals of the U.S. First, use a resource like the National Archives to examine some of the foundational documents of the U.S. You might talk to your teacher about other documents that might that might apply, from state constitutions or the Declaration of Sentiments to speeches such as the Gettysburg Address or MLK Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech.
After you have found the sentence that you think is critical to your understanding of the ideals of the country, write it down on a piece of paper. Then, write a few lines about why you think the sentence best captures what is most important about American ideals to you. Here are some guiding questions that might help you write about your sentence:
This collection traces the nation’s journey from colonial life and growing resistance to British rule, through the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, and the creation of a new constitutional government. Organized thematically, the resources support instruction in U.S. history, civics, and ELA while encouraging inquiry, discussion, and critical thinking.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
