Yesterday was the grassroots Ron Paul march/rally on the National Mall, six thousand marchers and more than a dozen speakers, from Tom Woods to G. Edward Griffin (author The Creature From Jekyll Island) to Michael Scheuer to Naomi Wolf — and, of course, Dr. Paul himself at the climax of the day’s events. Woods gave a forceful, well-received speech reminding the crowd that the national-security state has roots that extend back to Harry Truman. He was rewarded with the longest line for any of the speakers at the book-signing that followed the rally. (He had copies of The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History, 33 Questions About American History You’re Not Supposed to Ask, and the just-published Who Killed the Constitution, coauthored with Kevin Gutzman, on sale.)

At the signing, I had to get an autographed copy of Wolf’s The End of America — I’ve been an improbable fan of Wolf’s ever since I saw her interview Harvey Mansfield on C-SPAN two years ago, the most surreal interview I’d ever seen. It was zen. Her speech at the march contended that the greatest gift the founding fathers left to America was not the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence but “the psychology of liberty.” I don’t know whether I really agree with that or don’t agree with it at all. I often feel that way when I listen to Naomi Wolf, which is something I like about her.

Most of the marchers came from far afield. Phoenix, Arizona was heavily represented (as was Tucson). Pennsylvanians were out in force. The District itself, perhaps unsurprisingly, seemed poorly represented. I did run into some former RP presidential campaign staff, as well as Jeff Frazee with the Campaign for Liberty and Norm Singleton from Dr. Paul’s congressional office. Jeff and Norm wore congressional campaign T-shirts (with slogans such as “the second amendment was the original department of homeland security”) which drew admiring onlookers eager to get photographs, mostly with Norm.

Dr. Paul took the stage around 3:40 p.m. and gave a talk adapted from his campaign stump speech, with dual emphasis on monetary policy and foreign affairs. I’m encouraged that some 6,000 Americans from across the country would come together for six hours on a blazing hot Saturday afternoon — I’m day-glo pink with sunburn — to hear about currency depreciation and noninterventionism. Constitution Party presidential nominee Chuck Baldwin preceded Dr. Paul; Richard Heller, of District of Columbia v. Heller fame, followed him, though the crowd dissipated quickly once the good doctor had spoken. Less a sign of disregard for Heller, I think, than a measure of the toll the sun was taking on everyone.