Events

Event Description

The Trump administration has engaged in bold assertions of power, arguing that the President has complete control over the executive branch, sometimes relegating the co-equal legislative and judicial branches to the sidelines. The current administration has used extraordinary powers again and again. Does this presidential moment have historic antecedents? How should we think about presidential power in a democracy? Join us as we discuss the weaponized presidency: past, present, and future.

All Common Ground events are free and open to the public. The event will be streamed live for those that cannot attend. 

Jack Goldsmith is the Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He served as Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel from 2003-2004 under President George W. Bush. 

Bob Bauer is Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the New York University School of Law. He was General Counsel to President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 presidential election campaigns, and then served as White House Counsel to the President from 2009 to 2011. In 2020, he was a senior adviser to the Biden presidential campaign. 

Goldsmith and Bauer co-authored the book After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency and run the Substack Executive Functions, which analyzes presidential and broader executive power issues.

Moderator Michael J. Grygiel ’79, P’23 co-chairs Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s national media and entertainment litigation group. Grygiel focuses his practice on media/First Amendment law. He graduated from the Temple University Beasley School of Law after receiving his B.A. from Hamilton College.

Common Ground is Hamilton’s widely acclaimed multi-format program designed to explore cross-boundary political thought and complex social issues. Topics intertwined with the College’s curriculum are chosen to foster critical thinking and holistic examination of difficult and often contentious national and global policy issues. 

The College is grateful to Mary Helen and Robert Morris ’76, P’16,’17; Eve Niquette and Charles Pohl P’20,’25; Lori and David Hess ’77; Ann and David Hinchcliff ’57, P’85, GP’16,’19; and Kate Pooley ’85 and Monty Pooley ’84, P’16,’19 for their generous support of Common Ground.