#103 / A Thank You To Otis Pease

Otis Pease was teaching American History at Stanford University during the years I was there as an undergraduate. I think I took every history course he taught. He was also one of the faculty who helped lead the incredibly powerful Honors Program in Social Thought and Institutions. Professor Charles Drekmeier gets lead credit, but Professor Pease was an inspiring presence in that seminar, as well as in his own classes.

Otis Pease died last year. It was he who told me that the majesty of our American democracy demanded a "tough-minded" approach to politics. And that being "tough-minded" didn't mean being "hard-hearted."

Thank you, Dr. Pease.