An Empire of Reason (1988)

Docudrama about the debate surrounding New York State's ratification of the United States Constitution. Historical figures wear modern dress and use familiar language to help today's audience understand firsthand the forces that shaped this country two hundred years ago. The argument, characters, passions and debating points are historically accurate, but the language and the medium of the debate is modern in form. Present day newscasters and commentators play themselves, reporting on the events of the 1780s as though they were occurring now.

Cast (34)CrewGenresDetailsReleasesMediaAwards

Cokie Roberts

Self - Host

William F. Buckley Jr.

Self

Walter Cronkite

Self

John Chancellor

Self

Phil Donahue

Self

Robert MacNeil

Self

Andrea Mitchell

Self

Al Roker

Self

Forrest Sawyer

Self

Jamey Sheridan

Daniel Shays

Ed Koch

Mayor of New York City, 1788

James Rebhorn

Jesse Woodhull

Mario Cuomo

Self

C

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Self

François Giroday

Alexander Hamilton

Christopher Curry

John Lansing, Jr.

Nesbitt Blaisdell

Gov. George Clinton

S

Sol Wachtler

John Jay

Drew Snyder

Demonstrator

J

Joseph Warren

Robert Yates

John C. Vennema

Robert R. Livingston

E.G. Marshall

Federalist Spokesman

Rex Robbins

Isaac Roosevelt

E

Edwin McDonough

Donahue Audience Member

Richard Bright

Donahue Audience Member

R

Richard Seff

Donahue Audience Member

William Duell

Donahue Audience Member

MacIntyre Dixon

Donahue Audience Member

Patrick Clear

Donahue Audience Member

Eli Wallach

Anti-Federalist Spokesman

Roberts Blossom

Melancton Smith

G

Guy Paul

Convention Secretary

Jonathan Bolt

Anti-Federalist Delegate

S

Stu Daly

Voice-over Announcer

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