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Toward a More Perfect Union: Writings of Herbert J. Storing
This book contains major writings by five of America's most distinguished political scientists and political theorists.
479 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Herbert J. Storing
13 books2 followersHe served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1948, and received
his A.B. degree from Colgate University in 1950. He then attended the University of Chicago, earning his A.M. in 1951 and Ph.D. in 1956. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom from 1953 to 1955 and also received research grants from the Rockefeller, Ford, and Relm Foundations and from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Storing served as senior research assistant at the London School of Economics; as assistant, associate, and professor of political science
at the University of Chicago (1956–77); and
as director of the Telluride summer program at the Hampton Institute in 1967. He was Visiting Charles Evans Hughes Professor of
Jurisprudence at Colgate University from 1968 to 1969, and part-time professor of political science at Northern Illinois University from 1969 to 1975.
At the time of his death in September 1977, Storing was Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia, where he also served as director of the Study of the Presidency at the White Burkett Miller Center for Public Affairs. He was also a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows.
He is coauthor of The State and the Farmer; editor and contributor to Essays on the Scientific Study of Politics; editor of What Country Have I? Political Writings by Black Americans; editor of the seven-volume The Complete Anti-Federalist; author of What the Anti-Federalists Were For; and author of numerous essays on the American Founding, constitutional law, public administration, American political thought, and the American presidency.
his A.B. degree from Colgate University in 1950. He then attended the University of Chicago, earning his A.M. in 1951 and Ph.D. in 1956. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom from 1953 to 1955 and also received research grants from the Rockefeller, Ford, and Relm Foundations and from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Storing served as senior research assistant at the London School of Economics; as assistant, associate, and professor of political science
at the University of Chicago (1956–77); and
as director of the Telluride summer program at the Hampton Institute in 1967. He was Visiting Charles Evans Hughes Professor of
Jurisprudence at Colgate University from 1968 to 1969, and part-time professor of political science at Northern Illinois University from 1969 to 1975.
At the time of his death in September 1977, Storing was Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia, where he also served as director of the Study of the Presidency at the White Burkett Miller Center for Public Affairs. He was also a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows.
He is coauthor of The State and the Farmer; editor and contributor to Essays on the Scientific Study of Politics; editor of What Country Have I? Political Writings by Black Americans; editor of the seven-volume The Complete Anti-Federalist; author of What the Anti-Federalists Were For; and author of numerous essays on the American Founding, constitutional law, public administration, American political thought, and the American presidency.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 7, 2024
The American Enterprise Institute has produced a remarkable edition of 24 essays and speeches by Herbert J.Storing, “Toward a More Perfect Union.” Storing, an American political scientist, was known for his serious study of the American framers and founding. The constitutional theorist Walter Berns once described Storing as "the most profound man I have encountered in the field of American studies."
Storing, like his mentor Leo Strauss, understood that the study of politics could not proceed without reference to choices informed by values. Storing negated the tendency of contemporary social science, following Max Weber, to attempt to make a distinction between fact and value. The modern social scientist celebrates the former, and eschews the latter, unless of course the value in question is measurable. In contrast, Storing’s research is imbued with the belief that political decisions are informed by value driven choices; political actors seek to preserve what they believe to be good, and strive to attain what they think is the best.
This volume addresses Storing’s view of six distinct areas of scholarship: the American founding, race relations, the public interest, public administration, statesmanship, and education.
By far the most important section of this compilation is Storing’s work on the American founding. His work profoundly examines the Convention debates, and demonstrates the concerns of future Anti-Federalists Patrick Henry and Luther Martin, who felt it was in the public interest to question the prudence of the new constitutional order.
As Storing notes, this forced the Federalists to give a more nuanced defense of their ideas and brought them to the Great Compromise. The author relates how Benjamin Franklin, Enlightenment scientist, and the oldest Convention delegate, stepped forward to take responsibility for the whole, reminding delegates of the frailty of human reason, the danger of losing a sense of proportion, and the need for all delegates to elevate their thoughts.
For Storing, the issues raised in the ratification debates are of fundamental import. Many of them are still unresolved today. And, insofar as they pertain to the essence of the American regime, they cannot be ignored.
In sum, Storing’s work is edifying; and, most importantly, he demonstrates a genuine sense of concern and reverence for the American project. His writing is measured and his intent is to further understanding, not hector those with whom he may disagree.
Storing, like his mentor Leo Strauss, understood that the study of politics could not proceed without reference to choices informed by values. Storing negated the tendency of contemporary social science, following Max Weber, to attempt to make a distinction between fact and value. The modern social scientist celebrates the former, and eschews the latter, unless of course the value in question is measurable. In contrast, Storing’s research is imbued with the belief that political decisions are informed by value driven choices; political actors seek to preserve what they believe to be good, and strive to attain what they think is the best.
This volume addresses Storing’s view of six distinct areas of scholarship: the American founding, race relations, the public interest, public administration, statesmanship, and education.
By far the most important section of this compilation is Storing’s work on the American founding. His work profoundly examines the Convention debates, and demonstrates the concerns of future Anti-Federalists Patrick Henry and Luther Martin, who felt it was in the public interest to question the prudence of the new constitutional order.
As Storing notes, this forced the Federalists to give a more nuanced defense of their ideas and brought them to the Great Compromise. The author relates how Benjamin Franklin, Enlightenment scientist, and the oldest Convention delegate, stepped forward to take responsibility for the whole, reminding delegates of the frailty of human reason, the danger of losing a sense of proportion, and the need for all delegates to elevate their thoughts.
For Storing, the issues raised in the ratification debates are of fundamental import. Many of them are still unresolved today. And, insofar as they pertain to the essence of the American regime, they cannot be ignored.
In sum, Storing’s work is edifying; and, most importantly, he demonstrates a genuine sense of concern and reverence for the American project. His writing is measured and his intent is to further understanding, not hector those with whom he may disagree.
July 31, 2020
A great resource on the constitution, slavery, Douglass, and Washington. Storing studied under Strauss who clearly taught the importance of careful study. This collection of essays is a great resource.
Want to Read
July 25, 2011A nice collection of Professor Storing's work. The readings cover a wide range of topics, there is something in here for any student of history/political science.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews