After reviewing some things I have in common with John Adams, I had to remember why I started studying the Founding Fathers anyway. As a young lawyer I was appointed by the mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, to be a member of his “Citizens Crime Commission,” a group of volunteers who met monthly and discussed methods the Mayor could use to alleviate crime in the City.

In those days, every major city in America had such a commission. There was a National Citizens Crime Commission. It was 1976, the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. The National Commission was holding its national convention in Philadelphia that year. I was elected to represent the Arizona Crime Commission at the national convention. What an honor.

The convention was held in the Belleview Stratford Hotel in the middle of the city. You may remember that is the hotel where “Legionnaires Disease” was first introduced and claimed several lives. Our convention was held there just a few months after that catastrophe. There were several hundred at our convention.

We had our organization meetings during the morning and early afternoon for 3-4 days. We let out of our meetings early enough for the members to tour the historical sites in the City.

As you can imagine, it being the Bicentennial, the city was decked out in its finest to welcome visitors. I took advantage of several tours. Independence Hall, the Franklin Museum, the Betsy Ross house, and several others. I found a little brochure which invited visitors to the “Graff House.” I didn’t know what that was. I suspect you don’t either.

It’s a two story brick house built by Jacob Graff on what was then the outskirts of the city—less than a mile from Independence Hall. That’s where Thomas Jefferson stayed when he was a young lawyer (I was then a young lawyer) representing Virginia at the Continental Congress. It’s where he drafted the Declaration of Independence—without book or pamphlet.

I was awestruck! I couldn’t imagine creating that magnificent of a document relying only on my experience and training in the law. I was hooked. I began studying about Jefferson. This led to learning about his friends and fellow patriots, George Washington, Patrick Henry, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, and others.

I began sharing stories about our early history as a nation with friends and organization. That led to requests for a book. And out sprung my book “Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes.”

I love to speak about these men, their wives, and our History. If you need a patriotic speaker at one of your organization meetings, please invite me! I’d love to share some tales of inspiration and motivation. Contact me at www.stevenwallenjd@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!