An Alexander Hamilton Center promoting the study of freedom, democracy and capitalism will open in Clinton - but it won't be affiliated with Hamilton College.
The center's new location: the former O'Conner's Alexander Hamilton Inn in downtown Clinton.
The college first supported, then rebuffed hosting the center last year, giving up a $3.6 million gift from a lifetime trustee who was backing the center.
At issue: Disagreements over how the center was to be structured.
The college trustee, Carl Menges, subsequently resigned and is now a director of a newly constituted Alexander Hamilton Center.
"We will be dealing with issues of interest to conservatives, but the institute is scholarly and not political," said James Bradfield, one of the institute's founders.
The Alexander Hamilton Institute will offer programs focused on the ideals of the nation's founders, he said.
It's a shame that the same college that embraced Susan Rosenberg and Ward Churchill couldn't find the same enthusiasm for the ideals of Hamilton, but in the end things probably worked out for the best. You'll find a lot more information on the history of the Hamilton Center, as well as details on the forthcoming official announcement, over here. The Trustee's attempt to grab the trademark is particularly amusing.
