MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence spoke to a packed house at Middle Tennessee State University’s Tucker Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 17, to round out the university’s annual Constitution Day activities.

Pence, who said he began studying the U.S. Constitution when he was in high school, called the document “the greatest charter for liberty in human history.”

“It created the foundation and the framework for the establishment of the freest and most prosperous nation in the history of the world,” Pence told nearly 900 audience members comprised of students, staff, community members and local dignitaries.

MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes welcomed the audience before Jeff Whorley, a staunch MTSU supporter, introduced his lifelong friend to the crowd.

Evins: Pence a hero of the Constitution

Pence focused on “Defining Democracy,” in keeping with the university-wide examination of the topic, as he was interviewed by history professor Mary Evins, coordinator for MTSU’s American Democracy Project, which hosts and co-sponsors the annual observance.

“We’re delighted to honor a hero of the U.S. Constitution … who, against all odds and against his own personal advancement … stood up for the U.S. Constitution. It was an act of moral and civic courage. The entire nation is sincerely appreciative,” Evins said.

Pence did not shy away from talking about the controversies and challenges of his time in office when he served alongside former President Donald Trump from 2016-2020.

The former vice president reflected on the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol to protest results of the 2020 presidential election, and Trump called for Pence to not certify the Electoral College results from the November 2020 election deeming Joe Biden the president-elect.

“I’ve never hesitated to say that on Jan. 6, President Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election. I had no right to return Electoral College votes to the states or to reject votes,” Pence said. “And the people that engaged in violence at the Capitol that day … need to be held at the strictest account of law.”

Pence also addressed some of the country’s major challenges, including the national debt and China, who he called “the greatest economic and strategic threat the United States faces in the 21st century.”

He also touched on the Russia-Ukraine War and told the audience that “it is absolutely essential for our security and for the security of the wider world, that we give Ukraine what they need to defeat the Russian invasion.”

“I have no doubt (if) Vladimir Putin overruns Ukraine, it will only be a matter of time before he crosses the border that our men and women in uniform are going to have to go fight,” Pence said.

Pence honest about conservative views

Evins did not shy away from the controversy over some of Pence’s conservative views, noting the pushback and on-site protests from members of the LGBTQ+ community who she said “felt fearful” about his visit to MTSU. Historically, Pence has opposed gay marriage and reiterated that position during his Constitution Day remarks.

“No one should ever be mistreated or abused because of who they are, who they love or what they believe,” Pence said. “But I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order. As a Bible-believing Christian, I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman.”

He was met with a mix of boos and applause from the crowd and followed up with the comment, “That’s what freedom sounds like, by the way.”

Pence, however, did say that the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as some lower courts, have affirmed the right to same-sex marriage, and he would respect those decisions, expressing optimism that the high court has also issued rulings protecting the religious freedom of those who feel differently.

During the Q&A portion of the program, a lineup of students as well as community members confronted Pence on a variety of topics, including the Israel-Hamas war, military support for Ukraine, the invasion of Iraq in the wake of 9/11, and climate change.

The last question of the day centered around what was probably the most anticipated — the current presidential race, when Pence — though noncommittal on Trump — adamantly refused to endorse Democratic presidential candidate and current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Pence debated when running for vice president on the GOP ticket with Trump in 2020.

But he also assured the audience that the result of the election will not be “a threat to democracy” and he encouraged civility between opposing sides of the political aisle.

“If you take anything away from some of my reflections on that tragic day three years ago, is that this country is strong,” Pence said. “Be confident that our republic is strong, so long as we stand by the Constitution of the United States, and I always will.”

In addition to the Constitution Day speaker, MTSU also annually observes the U.S. Constitution’s 1787 signing with volunteers reading the living document in its entirety in locations across campus throughout the week. 

You can view Pence’s talk in its entirety on True Blue TV at https://vimeo.com/event/4576580 or on the university’s Facebook page.

You can also learn more about the 2024 Constitution Day observance activities at MTSU on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohzI60j0LJw&t=13s and read about the Constitution Day live readings.

Sponsors of the speaking engagement include the American Democracy Project, Albert Gore Research Center, Seigenthaler Chair for Excellence in First Amendment Studies, Center for Educational Media, Department of History, Department of Political and Global Affairs, College of Liberal Arts, University Honors College, Buchanan Fellows Enrichment Fund, Jeff Whorley, League of Women Voters of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County, Distinguished Lecture Fund and Office of the University Provost.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)