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Still unpublished ...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

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