The 250-Year Republic:
Today’s Lessons from Ancient Rome and the American Founding Fathers
“Let us not forget that while Rome flourished as a Republic, it was because the people held their leaders accountable, and the concentration of power was resisted. The loss of that balance led to the ruin of their liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Samuel Kercheval, 1816
Is America entering its late republic stage—the same perilous era that preceded Rome’s collapse? History suggests that republics rarely endure beyond 250 years without a continued commitment to their foundational values, civic reinvigoration, and institutional strength. As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial, we must ask: Can we defy the pattern—or are we destined to repeat it?
From October 12–18, 2025, a small group of business, military, philanthropic, and civic leaders will journey through Rome and Florence—walking the very path the Founders studied, from Cicero and Cato to Sulla and Brutus, through the Medici to Machiavelli to seek the answer. Together, we’ll examine how Rome fell, what lessons the Founding Fathers took from that fall, how America was built to endure, and what it will take to renew the republic for another 250 years.
This is an immersive journey through power, legacy, and the ideas that shape civilizations. This is Italy like you’ve never experienced. With rare access to historic sites and intimate dialogue with world-class thinkers, this experience is a call to stewardship and an invitation to shape the future.
All donations are made to and through Eagle Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Delegation Highlights
This is not a luxury vacation in Europe. It’s a mission.
From October 12–18, 2025, a select group of leaders will travel to Italy for an invitation-only experience designed to wrestle with the question: Can America avoid the fate of late-stage Rome? Alongside world-class thinkers, we’ll explore the places that shaped the Founders’ understanding of virtue, power, and decline—and ask what must be done to renew the American republic.
What to Expect:
- Private, Unforgettable Access – From hidden corners of the Roman Forum to after-hours Florentine palaces.
- Deep Dialogue in Historic Places – With historians, philosophers, and civic visionaries.
- Immersive Design – Helicopter transfers, sacred spaces, and vineyard dinners (including Brunello in Tuscany).
- Rome to Renaissance to Now – Study the return of concentrated power in the Renaissance, the Medici’s legacy and the connections to today.
- Relevance Without Abstraction – Themes like institutional decay, elite responsibility, and civic decline are woven throughout. Actionable philanthropic initiatives will be elevated and supported.
Participants will leave with more than a deeper grasp of history—they’ll leave with clarity about their own role in what comes next.
Join Us for The 250-Year Republic Delegation
This delegation is invite-only, with limited availability and a required application. It’s designed for serious leaders in business, philanthropy, public service, and civic life who want to engage the defining question of our time: Can America avoid the fate of Rome?
Details:
- Dates: October 12–18, 2025
- Locations: Ancient Rome and Renaissance Tuscany
- Lodging: St. Regis Rome & Four Seasons Florence (TBD)
- Contribution: $34,000 (before July 4), $37,000 (after)
- Application Deadline: July 1, 2025
Approved participants will also receive an invitation to join Eagle Society and participate in future Impact Cycles—transformative experiences that turn insight into impact.
All contributions are made to and through Eagle Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Draft Itinerary
Ancient Rome, Renaissance Tuscany, and the Fate of Free Societies
Day 0 – Rome
- Arrival & check-in at St. Regis Rome
- Welcome dinner: Are We the Republic—or the Empire?
Day 1 – Foundations of Republics
- Cicero, Augustus, and the illusion of reform
- Roman Forum & Curia Julia (private access)
- Dialogue: What the Founders Feared—and Built Against
Day 2 – Collapse from Within
- Nero’s Palace, the Colosseum, and the rise of spectacle
- Vatican and Capitoline Hill tours
- Dinner: When Civic Virtue Is Not Enough
Day 3 – Moral Leadership in Crisis
- Pantheon visit, Jewish Ghetto walk
- Machiavelli vs. Washington roundtable
- Facilitated dinner: How Will You Use Your Power?
Day 4 – Transition to Tuscany
- Helicopter transfer to Florence
- Brunello wine dinner with Ferragamo: Power Across Generations
Day 5 – The Medici & Elite Power
- Palazzo Medici Riccardi (after-hours)
- Salon: Patronage, Innovation, and Legacy
Day 6 – What Outlasts Empires?
- Uffizi, Medici Chapels, Laurentian Library
- Final dinner: The Next Founding—or the Last Days?
Day 7 – Departure
Guiding Values & Inquiries
Philosophy & the Nature of Civilizational Power
- What sustains virtue in a republic?
- How do culture, belief, and beauty act as moral architecture?
- Are we preparing successors capable of stewarding liberty?
Rome’s Collapse & the American Founding
- What did the Founders learn from the transition from Republic to Empire?
- What did the Founders learn from Cicero, Cato, and Sulla?
- What structural and cultural failures led to the fall of the Roman Republic, and how did the Founders try to guard against them?
- What’s the difference between a republic in decline and an empire rising?
- How did the fear of civic decay shape the Constitution?
The Renaissance & the Return to Power
- What can we learn from the Medici and their manipulation of patronage?
- Can elites choose stewardship over self-interest?
- How do modern networks of influence (corporate, political, digital) compare to historical patronage systems like those in Rome and Florence?
- How does power shift in times of crisis, and what can leaders do to manage it effectively?
- What responsibilities come with economic or cultural power?
Renewal
- What must be rebuilt—or reimagined?
- Can we renew the American experiment without starting over?
Our Mission
At Eagle Society, we champion the power of citizen leadership to address society’s most pressing challenges. Inspired by America’s founding leaders, we create transformative experiences through Impact Cycles that engage influential networks to overcome problems, shape civic culture, and empower communities to live freely and well.
Impact Cycles: Turning Wisdom into Action
Eagle Society’s Impact Cycles are immersive, invitation-only experiences that move timeless ideas into modern action. Each cycle engages a small group of purpose-driven leaders in historical reflection, strategic dialogue, and mission-aligned philanthropy.
The full Impact Cycle connected to The 250-Year Republic includes:
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Support for veterans and civic entrepreneurs
- Site-based exploration of Ancient Rome and Renaissance Tuscany
- Civic salon dinners with experts, investors, reformers, and thinkers
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Multimedia learning tools (Rome’s fall, America’s founding, today’s challenges)
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Curated relationships among participants and thought leaders
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Priority access to future cycles – incubating missions include:
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Revolutions in Dignity and Liberty – Boston & Philadelphia
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A House Divided – Antietam, Gettysburg, Washington D.C.
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A More Perfect Union – Memphis & Birmingham
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The Changing World Order – Vietnam
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The Wealth of Nations and Moral Sentiments – Scotland
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Foundations of Civilizations – Israel & Morocco
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Future Engagements
Future Impact Cycles will be available to Eagle Society supporters only. Contributions to Eagle Society supports vital educational and civic engagement programs. Continued support advances Eagle Society’s mission-driven projects, including access to future Impact Cycle Delegations, scholarships for veterans and civic entrepreneurs, educational resources, and philanthropic partnerships. Additional opportunities to support our work are available for those who seek a deeper level of involvement and impact.
More information about Eagle Society, future Impact Cycles, and the ways in which you can support our mission can be found by reaching out to our Founder Michael P. Davidson.
Your support funds enable meaningful initiatives, lifelong relationships, knowledge resources, scholarships for veterans, and mission-aligned programming.
Deductibility
The Eagle Society (EIN: 99-3123437) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. - Franklin, TN.