Founding father's honest, nothing being overturned (8)
I believe the answer is:
franklin
'founding father's' is the definition.
(US founding father Benjamin Franklin)
'honest nothing being overturned' is the wordplay.
'honest' becomes 'frank' (similar in meaning).
'nothing' becomes 'nil' (eg nil is zero in football).
'being overturned' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'nil' backwards is 'lin'.
'frank'+'lin'='FRANKLIN'
(Other definitions for franklin that I've seen before include "Tale-bearer" , "Statesman" , "One with a tale to tell" , "[PILGRIM in the CANTERBURY TALES]" , "Benjamin or Roosevelt" .)