Thursday, December 04, 2003
(11:45 AM) | Adam Kotsko:
The Bourbonnais Review of Book Reviews
The New York Review of Books contains a review of a new book by Gore Vidal on the founding fathers. Although I've only experienced Vidal through Internet snippets, he seems to have some good things to say. He quotes a speech from Benjamin Franklin in his book, which was delivered at the Constitutional Convention:
I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such: because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a blessing to the People if well-administered; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a Course of Years and can only end in Despotism as other forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.
Vidal also calls Lincoln "the first of the modern tyrants." Overall, this review makes for good reading, and it makes me want to read more of Gore Vidal. But don't take my word for it!
