Walter Lippmann – 1889-1974

Through a career spanning 60 eventful years, Lippmann earned a reputation as America’s most respected political columnist and opinion maker. In 1914, he was a founder of The New Republic and a key advisor to President Woodrow Wilson. A true political philosopher, he speculated in his most provocative book, Public Opinion (1922), that democracy suffered in an era of mass communication, in which citizens were given slogans rather than genuine ideas. Despite his ongoing doubts about democratic government, he never abandoned the ideal of government by the people and remained a spokesman for the liberal point of view.