Ark of the Liberties: Why American Freedom Matters to the World

by Ted Widmer

In a sweeping history of centuries, Ted Widmer's Ark of the Liberties recounts America's ambition to be the world's guarantor of liberty. The United States stands at a historic crossroads; essential to the world yet unappreciated. America's decline in popularity over the decades has been nothing short of astonishing. With wit, brilliance, and deep affection, Ted Widmer, a scholar and a former presidential speechwriter, reminds everyone why this great nation had so far to fall. It is a success story that America, and the world, forgets at its peril. From the Declaration of Independence to the Gettysburg Address to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United States, for all its shortfalls, has been by far the world's greatest advocate for freedom. Generations of founders imbued America with a surprisingly global ambition that a series of remarkable presidents, often Democratic, advanced through the confident wielding of military and economic power.

Ark of the Liberties brims with new America's centuries-long favorable relationship with the Middle East; why Wilson's presidency deserves reappraisal; Bill Clinton's underappreciated achievements; how America's long history of foreign policy immediately touches on the choices we face. Fully addressing America's disastrous occupation of Iraq, Ark of the Liberties colorfully narrates America's long and laudatory history of expanding world liberty.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Audiobook, American History

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2008

About the author

Edward (Ted) Ladd Widmer (born 1963) is a historian, writer, and librarian, who served as a speechwriter in the later days of the Clinton White House.

His parents were Eric G. Widmer and Ellen B. Widmer. As of 1992, his father was working as Dean of Admissions and financial aid at Brown University, and his mother was an Associate Professor of Asian Languages and Literatures at Wesleyan University. Ted Widmer obtained an A.B. in the history and literature of France and the United States, an A.M. in history, and a Ph.D. in the history of American civilization from Harvard University.

Widmer was appointed lecturer on history and literature at Harvard University from 1993 until 1997. He then spent a few years working with Bill Clinton, both during and after Clinton's presidency. He was the special assistant to the president for national security affairs, writing foreign policy speeches, and subsequently was the senior advisor to the president for special projects, advising on history and scholarship related issues. He conducted interviews with Clinton while Clinton was writing his autobiography.

He was the first director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and an associate professor of history at Washington College from 2001. On July 1, 2006 he was appointed director and librarian of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University.

Reviews

[Wes F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this book up on a whim from a friend's place--and I'm glad I did. Widmer is a well-rounded, smart, well-spoken (& written) historian gentleman. This book focuses on the role & influence America as a nation has played in the world. The image of the "ark of the liberties" comes from a novel by Herman Melville and is an apt one for the US ship of state. Of course, it's not been all smooth sailing, and sometimes what gets defined as "liberty" in the American perspective is not seen as the same thing by others. And, sometimes, we've had a twisted sense of what it means for a people/nation to be free; i.e. when we're intentionally subverted and/or overthrown a country's rightful/elected leader(ship). Some very good historical insights across multiple US governments & presidencies; a thoughtful analysis by a sharp thinker who knows his history.

[JRB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many authors have looked at America, liberty and her relationship with the world, but Widmer does it with a unique intensity and wealth of knowledge and references. Not to mention that it is beautifully written. Even if you are steeped in American history, there is something to be learned on every page.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was going to be better. I remembered it being good when I read excerpts in college but it was very left slanted. Let me summarize the book: Democrats good, pro-liberty; Republicans and Christians bad, against liberty. Now you don't need to read this book. It gets two stars because the author wrote the book well.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a narrative history of US Foreign Policy and views on the world. It would have been better if the author had provided cites to certain passages. Much is common knowledge but there are some unusual, rarely heard 'facts'.

[Len Pollard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A genealogy of liberty in the U.S.