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Archibald MacLeish
1892-1982 |
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Lawyer, New Dealer, Professor, Poet.
Three-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner
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He was a man for all seasons, a poet,
playwright, essayist, government official,
professor, lawyer, U.S. librarian, soldier, New
Dealer, scholar, and three-time winner of the
Pulitzer Prize. ■
Archibald MacLeish was born May 7, 1892 in
Glencoe, Illinois, and attended Harvard where he
was graduated in law at the top of his class. He
is regarded as one of the most respected poets
of the 20th century and was a member of Phi Beta
Kappa. ■ In
World War I he rose from private to captain and
served as Assistant Secretary of State during
World War II. He was a professor of English at
Harvard and served as Librarian of Congress. He
also founded the United Nations' UNESCO.
■ Three
months before his death we questioned him about
amnesty. His answer: "My father Andrew MacLeish
was born in 1839 in Glasgow. He came to the U.S.
in 1856, helped to found the Chicago department
store of Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company, and
served as vice president of the Chicago Board of
Trade. He was also one of the founders of the
second University of Chicago."
■ Archibald
MacLeish was prominent in political circles
during the administration of Franklin D.
Roosevelt. He was never one to shrink from any
public controversy and he alienated many of his
conservative friends by defending the New Deal
policies of President Franklin Roosevelt
■ But
MacLeish scolded those too timid to engage in
public controversy.
■ He died in Boston on April 20, 1982.
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Wayne Rethford, President Emeritus
Illinois Saint Andrew Society
Scottish-American History Club
2800 Des Plaines Avenue
North Riverside, IL 60546
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