George Washington
1732-1799
First President of the United States
- Founding Era
- Military
Politics & the Founding
Ask the Founders — and Statesmen Throughout the Ages
From the Constitutional Convention to the French Revolution to more modern fights over power and liberty — historical figures, modern politics!
The record, cited — not a talking point
Most AI will happily put a modern opinion in a Founder's mouth. We won't. Every response is built from their actual speeches, letters, and writings and retrieved with a citation, so you can read the source for yourself. When the record is silent, the answer says so — it never fills the gap with a guess, and it never takes a side for you.
- Documented in the Record
The answer is grounded in their recorded words — a speech, letter, or document — quoted and cited.
- Inferred from Their Writings
No record addresses it directly, so the answer reasons from what they did write — and says so.
- Outside the Record
The historical record doesn't speak to it. We won't invent a position for them — we'll tell you so plainly.
Founders & Statesmen
Ask each of them individually today. Debate Mode — Hamilton vs. Jefferson on the size of government, Lincoln vs. Douglass on the path to freedom — is coming next.
Thomas Jefferson
1743-1826
Author of the Declaration of Independence
- Founding Era
- Liberty
Alexander Hamilton
1755-1804
First Secretary of the Treasury
- Founding Era
- Finance
Benjamin Franklin
1706-1790
Founding polymath. Poor Richard's wit.
- Politics
- Science
- History
Abraham Lincoln
1809-1865
The Union, and a new birth of freedom.
- Politics
- History
Frederick Douglass
1818-1895
From bondage to the nation's conscience.
- Civil Rights
- History
- Politics
Theodore Roosevelt
1858-1919
The strenuous life. The bully pulpit.
- Politics
- Conservation
Coming Soon 
Charlie Kirk
1993-2025
Conservative commentator and political activist
- Politics
- Media
Want another statesman added to the library? Sign up free and we'll tell you when they arrive.
The Political Source Library
42 primary sources — speeches, letters, and founding documents — across 7 figures. Every answer is grounded here and cited.
George Washington
Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour
Book · 1744
Public domainFirst Inaugural Address (1789)
Speech · 1789
Public domainThird Annual Message to Congress (1791)
Speech · 1791
Public domainFourth Annual Message to Congress (1792)
Speech · 1792
Public domainFifth Annual Message to Congress (1793)
Speech · 1793
Public domainSecond Inaugural Address (1793)
Speech · 1793
Public domainSixth Annual Message to Congress (1794, Whiskey Rebellion)
Speech · 1794
Public domainFarewell Address (1796)
Speech · 1796
Public domainWashington: Writings
by George Washington
Book
Public-domain text · modern edition
Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence
Speech · 1776
Public domainNotes on the State of Virginia
Book · 1785
Public domainFirst Inaugural Address (1801)
Speech · 1801
Public domainSecond Inaugural Address (1805)
Speech · 1805
Public domainWritings of Thomas Jefferson Vol. 1 (incl. Autobiography)
Book · 1821
Public domainJefferson: Writings
by Thomas Jefferson
Book
Public-domain text · modern edition
Alexander Hamilton
Notes in the Federal Convention (1787)
Transcript · 1787
Public domainThe Federalist Papers (complete)
Book · 1788
Public domainOpinion on the Constitutionality of the Bank of the United States (1791)
Letter · 1791
Public domainHamilton: Writings
by Alexander Hamilton
Book
Public-domain text · modern edition
Benjamin Franklin
Franklin's Way to Wealth (Poor Richard Improved)
Book · 1758
Public domainFranklin Constitutional Convention Speech (1787)
Speech · 1787
Public domainThe Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Book · 1791
Public domainFranklin: Writings
by Benjamin Franklin
Book
Public-domain text · modern edition
Abraham Lincoln
First Inaugural Address (1861)
Speech · 1861
Public domainGettysburg Address (1863)
Speech · 1863
Public domainEmancipation Proclamation (1863)
Speech · 1863
Public domainSecond Inaugural Address (1865)
Speech · 1865
Public domainThe Papers and Writings of Abraham Lincoln (Complete)
Book · 1894
Public domainA Short Life of Abraham Lincoln (Nicolay)
Book · 1902
Public domainLincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865
by Abraham Lincoln
Book
Public-domain text · modern editionLincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858
by Abraham Lincoln
Book
Public-domain text · modern edition
Frederick Douglass
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)
Book · 1845
Public domainWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? (1852)
Speech · 1852
Public domainMy Bondage and My Freedom (1855)
Book · 1855
Public domainCollected Articles of Frederick Douglass
Book · 1892
Public domainLife and Times of Frederick Douglass (1892)
Book · 1892
Public domainThe Essential Douglass: Selected Writings and Speeches
by Frederick Douglass, ed. Nicholas Buccola
Book
Public-domain text · modern edition
Theodore Roosevelt
The Rough Riders
Book · 1899
Public domainRoosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (1904)
Speech · 1904
Public domainAfrican Game Trails
Book · 1910
Public domainTheodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography
Book · 1913
Public domainTheodore Roosevelt: Letters and Speeches
by Theodore Roosevelt
Book
Public-domain text · modern edition
Used in civics classrooms, debate prep, and dinner-table arguments
Settle the argument with the source instead of a vibe — and bring the citation to class, to the group chat, or to the table.
What the Founders have been asked
- What did Benjamin Franklin say about paper money?Benjamin Franklin
- What would Benjamin Franklin say about social media?Benjamin Franklin
- What did Benjamin Franklin say about helping the poor?Benjamin Franklin
- What did Lincoln say about colonizing freed slaves?Abraham Lincoln
- What did Lincoln say in his Thanksgiving proclamation?Abraham Lincoln
- What did Lincoln say about labor and capital?Abraham Lincoln
- What did George Washington say about education?George Washington
- What did Lincoln mean by a house divided?Abraham Lincoln
- What did Benjamin Franklin say about freedom of the press?Benjamin Franklin
- What did George Washington say about public debt?George Washington
- What did Lincoln mean in the Gettysburg Address?Abraham Lincoln
- What did George Washington say about the Whiskey Rebellion?George Washington
Frequently asked questions
Does this take political sides?
No. Every figure, across the ideological spectrum, is quoted from their own recorded words, not editorialized. Answers are marked as documented, inferred, or outside the record, the same standard for every figure in the library.
Does it tell me what the Founders would think of today's politics?
It answers from what they wrote and did, and labels each answer Documented, Inferred, or Outside the Record. When the record is silent it says so and does not take a side for you.
Are these the real Founders?
No. They are AI reconstructions grounded in primary sources such as speeches, letters and founding documents. Every answer links to the passages it relies on.
Can I use the answers for a civics class or debate prep?
Yes. Cite the underlying speech, letter or document that each answer links to, not the AI.
Which Founders and statesmen can I ask?
Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin, Lincoln, Douglass, Theodore Roosevelt and more, each built from their own writings.
AI reconstructions grounded in primary sources — not the real people, and not an endorsement of any political position.