D: The Student Arthur A. Ekirch, Jr.

In the conclusion of his preface to the revised edition of his most important work, The Decline of American Liberalism, Arthur A. Ekirch penned these critical words: “I believe it is still true that for freedom to be meaningful it must reach down to protect the liberties of individual persons—howsoever powerful may be the forces or the prejudices that are arrayed against them.” These are meaningful words in light of the presence of an all-powerful government within our democratic society; they sum up best Professor Ekirch’s feelings regarding the true value of liberty. He is, in the truest sense of the term, a Jeffersonian liberal, aware of present-day developments, but intellectually sympathic to the values of an earlier age. Throughout all his works the dominant theme remains respect for the liberties of individual persons.