|
Award organizers credited the book and musical for having a
“singular impact” by bringing to life and spreading the story of
the U.S. Constitution and Alexander Hamilton, a pivotal figure
in drafting and promoting the governing document. He was also
the first U.S. treasury secretary.
“Hamilton,” which debuted on Broadway a decade ago, has become a
cultural touchstone, winning the Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy and 11
Tony awards.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created the musical, called the award a
deep honor.
“The Constitution is not just a historical artifact — it’s a
challenge. A call to participate. To speak up, to imagine
better, and to work, every day, toward that more perfect union,”
he said in a statement released before the formal announcement.
Chernow's many books have included biographies of former
presidents George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant and, more
recently, of writer and humoristMark Twain.
“In writing about Hamilton, Washington, and Grant, I’ve come to
see that liberty is not a gift passed down through generations —
it’s a responsibility,” Chernow said in a statement. “One that
demands courage, compromise, and commitment. These men were
imperfect, but they dared to envision something greater than
themselves.”
The Liberty Medal was established in 1988 to honor the 200th
anniversary of the U.S. Constitution's 1787 signing. Recent
winners have included the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsburg and PBS documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
|
|
