Origins & Early Life

Arthur Meier Schlesinger Jr. ( SHLESS-in-jər; born Arthur Bancroft Schlesinger; October 15, 1917 – February 28, 2007) was an American historian, social critic, and public intellectual. The son of the influential historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

and a specialist in American history, much of Schlesinger's work explored the history of 20th-century American liberalism. In particular, his work focused on leaders such as Harry S. Truman, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Kennedy. In the 1952 and 1956 presidential campaigns, he was a primary speechwriter and adviser to the Democratic presidential nominee, Adlai Stevenson II. Schlesinger served as special assistant and "court historian" to President Kennedy from 1961 to 1963. He wrote a detailed account of the Kennedy administration, from the 1960 presidential campaign to the president's state funeral, titled A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House, which won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. In 1968, Schlesinger actively supported the presidential campaign of Senator Robert F.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Andrew Wyeth — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Master American Realist Painter known for regional scenes of Pennsylvania and Maine.
• Arthur C. Clarke — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Pioneering science fiction writer, futurist, and popularizer of space travel.
• Auguste Rodin — Contemporary (Died in 1917) (1917): Founder of modern sculpture, celebrated for naturalism and emotional depth.
• Albert Ellis — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Pioneering figure in psychotherapy, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• Alfred Peet — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Dutch-American founder credited with starting the US specialty coffee revolution.
• André Gorz — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Austrian-French philosopher known for critiques of work and political ecology.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Shared historical date (10-15 · Born) (1931): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Abd al-Rahman III — Shared historical date (10-15 · Died) (961): Founder of the Caliphate of Córdoba, a period of immense Islamic cultural zenith.
• 3rd Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (02-28 · Born) (1543): Founding figure of the Dalai Lama lineage, pivotal to Gelug school's rise in Tibet.
• Alfonso XIII — Shared historical date (02-28 · Died) (1941): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• 1917 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1917
• October 15 (10-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 15
• 2007 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2007
• February 28 (02-28) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 28