Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.'s Legacy
I never expected to write a memoir. But age puts one in a contemplative mood, and the onset of the millenium induces reconsiderations of a traumatic century. I have lived through interesting times and had the luck of knowing some interesting people. And I concluded that if I were ever to do a memoir, I had better do it while I can still remember anything.--A Life in the 20th Century
He was never elected president of the American Historical Association, a sore subject with many that came up again at the recent Atlanta convention. But Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., was without doubt one of the most influential historians of his generation. He was certainly the most famous. He is remembered as a public intellectual, stellar writer, confident liberal, and as the author of seminal books on four presidents--Jackson, FDR, JFK, and Nixon.
What do you think of Schlesinger ... and his legacy? Drop down to the bottom of this page to comment.
Reviews of his Journals
David Kaiser: A Lost World--the Journals of Arthur Schlesinger Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: His journals reviewed in NY Review of Books Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: His friendship with Justice Jackson explored by Jackson biographer Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: His journals reviewed by Sid Blumenthal Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: Journal excerpts published by Vanity Fair Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: Journals reviewed by Douglas Brinkley Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: Journals reviewed in the NYT by Maureen Dowd Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: A Schmoozer Shares All Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: Was mum about his journals for years Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: NYT raves about his journals Obituaries, Remembrances
As remembered by Jon Meacham As remembered by Eric Alterman As remembered by Victor Navasky As remembered by E.J. Dionne As remembered by Norman Birnbaum Clare L. Spark: Arthur Schlesinger’s Missing Vital Center Roosevelt biographer remembered As remembered by Henry Graff Mary Dudziak: Are There No More Schlesingers? As remembered by Sam Tanenhaus As remembered by Sean Wilentz As remembered by Bill Buckley Still unpublished ... years and years of personal diaries Vernon Horn at the AHA Blog: Schlesinger, Dead at 89 Robert B. Semple, Jr.: A Historian’s Valedictory Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: Exchange between Norman Podhoretz & Ron Radosh Jonathan Zimmerman: Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. ... The Public's Historian Alonzo Hamby: Arthur Schlesinger ... The Last Progressive David Greenberg: Not Just Camelot's Historian ... The vibrant scholarship of Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Frederic Smoler: Interview with Arthur Schlesinger Jr. (1992) New York Times Obit Reuters Obit Washington Post Obit Associated Press Obit