History's Verdict

His gift for writing is legendary, and he constantly encouraged others to write. As general editor of the Times Books Series on 24 presidents, he recruited many friends to become presidential biographers. In my case, it was to be James K. Polk, the ignored and forgotten 11th president. "Why me?" I asked. "Polk," he answered, "was from Tennessee and you are the only person I know in Tennessee who can write a simple, declarative sentence." Again, the sense of history and the sense of humor.

In November of last year, I moderated a panel with three noted historians, Alan Brinkley, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Sean Wilentz, honoring Arthur at the John F. Kennedy Library. Arthur arrived in his wheelchair, Alexandra at his side. Before the program, I sat beside him and asked if he would close the program with some remarks. He looked up at me with a twinkle in his eye and said, "Well, of course, I will. What would you expect?"

When his moment came, he delivered his telling remarks in a measured and studied tone and held a standing-room crowd with every word. It was, as I think on it, a prayer (and I don't know that Arthur prayed much) that the nation recognize the intrinsic power of history in understanding the present, in evaluating the future—and recognize, as well, the illuminating role of the historian. It was, I think, his valedictory. Vintage Arthur Schlesinger!

The country has lost its premiere historian, liberalism has lost its most reasoned and unapologetic voice and I have lost a friend of 50 years.

© 2007