He was a scholar, and inventor, a bon vivant, and a man of profound political courage and wisdom. Ben Franklin was among the oldest of the Founders (he died in 1890 after presenting two landmark anti-slavery bills to a reluctant Congress). Often regarded as a moralizing gadfly, he nevertheless retained the deep respect of most of his peers. But what were some of Franklin’s unique contributions to the new nation, and his views of its greatness and its greatest challenges? How important were his cultural links to Europe, to France and to Great Britain? Join us for a look at one of the most beloved and least known of our founders.