In a New York Times interview, Bruce Bliven described what he called the "essence of liberalism": "to have an open mind, a desire to have an open society, a desire to know the fundamental truth, a desire that as many people as possible should have a better life ... I don't know of any better ambition for society." Throughout his career as a journalist Bliven worked to achieve these social aims through statements of belief and ideals, both in print and from the speaker's podium, and through constant research and consistent intellectual striving to develop clear formulas for liberal political and economic agendas. Although his résumé is more extensive, Bliven is best known for his editorial capacities at the New Republic, a weekly periodical, and secondarily perhaps as New York correspondent for the Manchester Guardian. His activities both professional and personal extended far beyond this. In...