NYT: Arthur Schlesinger, Historian of Power, Dies at 89

[DeepModem Mom]

Arthur Schlesinger, Historian of Power, Dies at 89
By DOUGLAS MARTIN
Published: March 1, 2007


(Associated Press)
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. in 1973.

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., the historian whose more than 20 books shaped discussions for two generations about America’s past, and who himself was a provocative, unabashedly liberal partisan, most notably in serving in the Kennedy White House, died last night in Manhattan. He was 89.

The cause was a heart attack, said Mr. Schlesinger’s son Stephen. He died at New York Downtown Hospital after being stricken in a restaurant.

Twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, Mr. Schlesinger exhaustively examined the administrations of two prominent presidents, Andrew Jackson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, against a vast background of regional and economic rivalries. He strongly argued that strong individuals like Jackson and Roosevelt could bend history.

The notes he took for President John F. Kennedy to use in writing his own history, became, after the president’s assassination, grist for Mr. Schlesinger’s own “A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House,” winner of both the Pulitzer and a National Book Award in 1966....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/washington/01schlesinger.html?hp

[Straight Shooter]

1. "He strongly argued that strong individuals like Jackson and Roosevelt could bend history."

As opposed to strong individuals like bush and cheney who insist on warping history.

RIP, Mr. Schlesinger. You were in a league of your own.

[Captain Hilts]

2. On Nixon's 'enemies' list. Oh well, Carol Channing and Joe Namath can still have reunions. nt

[flamingyouth]

RIP

:(

[Fenris]

3. Sigh.

Another one of the greats. :(

[JohnLocke]

4. A great man.

[EST]

5. My most surprising experience of this talented intellectual

occurred a few months ago, as a result of my own stereotypes.
At a dinner and tribute extravaganza, televised later by cspan, he was asked to speak and, in his halting, old man in deep distress fashion, began reading and speaking from his notes.

His tremulous voice and halting manner did not bode well and I found myself feeling a bit embarrassed that this apparently fairly private get together should receive a public airing.
Resisting the urge to turn off the teevee, I settled myself to endure the obvious struggle between the man whose battle with the clock was wearing down and an attempt to impart something valuable or stimulating to his unseen audience.

Although his beginning was expectedly uncertain and a bit difficult to follow, suddenly I caught something significant. He continued to impress and impel, until I was wide-eyed in anticipation of each succeeding sentence.

What a marvelous, amazingly impressive human being.
Astounded would be an understatement, as he continued wending his way through what had started as a non-sequitur but wound up as one of the most impressive displays of rock solid understanding and sweeping analysis that I have ever seen.

What an amazing human-his loss leaves the world a poorer place.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Thank you so much for that remembrance, EST!

I attended a smallish gathering some years ago that he and his wife also attended -- but I, alas, was too shy to say much more than how honored I was to meet him.

[EST]

12. Welcome.

In the face of such blazing capability, it is a bit overwhelming, isn't it.

[DemExpat]

10. Thanks for sharing this.

DemEx

[wellst0nev0ter]

7. What The - Another Liberal Giant Drops?

I swear there is something going on here. . .

[Vidar]

8. RIP Mr. Schlesinger.

[Pastiche423]

9. Peaceful journey, Mr. Schlesinger

[Ghost Dog]

11. Heart attack in restaurant. Nice way to go.

O8)

[DeepModem Mom]

14. I thought the same. Out on the town, in Manhattan, at 89. nt

[catmandu57]

13. RIP

A great voice and mind that will be missed.

[bmbmd]

15. Ask every person if he's heard the story

and tell him loud and clear if he has not
that once there was a shining gleam of glory
called Camelot.

[AngryOldDem]

16. Kennedy insider Schlesinger dies at 89

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070301/ap_on_re_us/obit_schlesinger

<<NEW YORK - Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and "court philosopher" of the Kennedy administration who remained a proud liberal even as others dared not use the word, has died. He was 89.

Schlesinger was among the most prominent historians of his time, widely respected as learned and readable, with a panoramic vision of American culture and politics. He received a National Book Award for "Robert Kennedy and His Times" and a National Book Award and a Pulitzer for "A Thousand Days," his memoir/chronicle of President Kennedy's administration. He also won a Pulitzer, in 1946, for "The Age of Jackson," his landmark chronicle of Andrew Jackson's administration.

"(He had) enormous stamina and a kind of energy and drive which most people don't have, and it kept him going, all the way through his final hours," Stephen Schlesinger said early Thursday. "He never stopped writing, he never stopped participating in public affairs, he never stopped having his views about politics and his love of this nation."<<

[havocmom]

17. this one's a dupe too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2750565

[AngryOldDem]

18. Kennedy insider Schlesinger dies at 89

This thread has been combined with another thread.

Click here to read this message in its new location.

[David Zephyr]

19. I learned a lot from reading Schlesinger's books over many years.

I owe him a lot and am grateful for his work.