Charleston, SC
August 7 & 8, 2026
Francis Marion Hotel
387 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Image courtesy of WikiMedia Commons
America at 250 Years
Classical Liberalism: A political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, equality, liberty, and consent to be governed.
Concept and Goals
The 2026 Classical Liberals in the Carolinas Conference celebrates a pivotal moment in history with the theme “America at 250 Years”, marking both the nation’s semiquincentennial and the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations. This conference will explore how classical liberal principles have shaped and continue to influence American prosperity, liberty, and institutional frameworks from the founding era to the present. Drawing on the timeless insights of Smith — whose ideas on free markets, individual agency, and economic liberty revolutionized economic thought — the program will reflect on how these principles helped forge the United States and remain essential as we look ahead to the future.
Participants will engage in rigorous discussions on the philosophical foundations of individual rights, limited government, and the rule of law, connecting America’s past to contemporary policy challenges and opportunities. By situating Smith’s legacy alongside the broader narrative of 250 years of American development, the conference aims to highlight enduring classical liberal ideas that have underpinned economic freedom and social flourishing. Attendees from academia, business, and public policy will explore how these ideals can guide future growth, civic engagement, and institutional reform in the Carolinas and beyond.
Registration opens Spring 2026
Interested in sponsoring?
Contact us at: admin@classicalliberals.org
Keynote Speakers
Senator Phil Gramm
Senator Gramm joined Lone Star Funds as Vice Chairman in December of 2012. He served as Vice Chairman of UBS Investment Bank from December 2002 to December 2011. At UBS he provided senior leadership in such landmark IPOs as Visa, the China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), the China Merchants Bank and LG Phillips in Korea. He was instrumental in the follow-on equity offering for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the privatization of Telstra in Australia and the sale of 20% of Akbank in Turkey to Citibank.
Senator Gramm served six years in the US House and eighteen years in the US Senate. His legislative record includes landmark bills like the Gramm-Latta Budget, which reduced federal spending, rebuilt national defense and mandated the Reagan tax cut, and the Gramm-Rudman Act, which placed the first binding constraints on federal spending. As Chairman of the Banking Committee, Senator Gramm steered through legislation modernizing banking, insurance and securities law, which had been languishing in Congress for 60 years. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act allowed banks, securities firms and insurance companies to affiliate as part of a Financial Services Holding Company.
Gramm is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
Phil Gramm holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in economics, the subject he taught at Texas A&M University for 12 years. He has published numerous articles and books, including The Myth of American Inequality published in 2022.
He is married to Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm, former Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission under Presidents Reagan and Bush. They have two sons and five grandchildren.
Appreciation to Our Sponsors
Venue and Hotel Information
Named for Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion (the “Swamp Fox”), the Francis Marion Hotel became an instant Charleston landmark when it opened in 1924. Rising 12 stories above the Historic District, the hotel offers spectacular views of Charleston’s church steeples, historic mansions, and famous harbor, providing easy access to the wealth of Charleston’s attractions.
With continuous restorations throughout the years, the Francis Marion features 235 modern and comfortable guestrooms and suites while preserving our historical architecture. Located downtown on Marion Square, the hotel is within walking distance of the magnificent gardens, house museums, antique shops, local boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife that has made Charleston one of the south’s premier cities.
CLC has secured a group of rooms for attendees and speakers at the discounted rate of $209+++/night
Conference Agenda
Coming Soon
Speakers and Panelists
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Coming Soon