ABSTRACT
Max Lerner was attracted to Thomas Jefferson as to no other American president. He saw in Jefferson reflections of what he himself most rootedly believed. For Jefferson, above all, was a figure of the Enlightenment, with its dedication to rationalism, liberalism, and humanitarianism. Jefferson's efforts to combine political philosophy with the practice of politics attracted Lerner, who helped write the statement articulating the Four Freedoms for Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, and later even toyed with the possibility of running for the United States Senate from New York during the 1960s. In considering Jefferson, Lerner combines biographical information, historical background, and analytical commentary. The result is a primer about Jefferson that not only describes his accomplishments, but discusses his problems and failures. Respectful admiration, even a certain affinity for his subject, did not sway Lerner from providing a balanced, at times robustly critical assessment.
