Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Declaration of Independence coming to town

As if Nashville couldn't get any more patriotic for debate week, we'll have our very own copy of the Declaration of Independence in town the weekend before the debate. One of the 25 surviving original copies of the document (printed July 4-5, 1776) will be at the downtown library Oct. 4-6. The dates and times for the free viewings are below:

Oct. 4: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Oct. 5: 2 - 5 p.m.
Oct. 6: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The copy is owned by Norman Lear, a patriot in his own right for producing shows like All in the Family, Sanford and Son and The Jeffersons. He bought the copy for $8.14 million after it was discovered behind a painting bought at a flea market. Lear's tour is part of his Declare Yourself initiative (which has one slick Web site) to register young voters.

The viewing will have actors portraying figures including Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, and even a video hosted by our very own Reese Witherspoon.

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