An Interview with Professor Donald Elder: Benjamin Franklin- His Lasting Contributions

Benjamin Franklin

7.26.10 - Michael F. Shaughnessy - Benjamin Franklin still speaks to the American experience 220 years after he passed away. He was a man who used his talents to better himself, but also better humanity. Americans have always valued both qualities

Michael F. Shaughnessy

Eastern New Mexico University

Portales, New Mexico

1) Professor Elder, I was doing some grocery shopping the other day and noticed a familiar face on the cover of Time Magazine- Benjamin Franklin.  Why do you think Time magazine has chosen Franklin for this honor?

Benjamin Franklin still speaks to the American experience 220 years after he passed away. He was a man who used his talents to better himself, but also better humanity. Americans have always valued both qualities.

2) Benjamin Franklin has never been President, but certainly has been very influential. Let's start at the beginning of the American Revolution- what were his main contributions?

He is a rarity in that he aided the new nation both at home and abroad. In 1776, he served on the 5-man committee that wrote the Declaration of Independence, and the next year he went to France to negotiate the alliance that proved crucial to our winning the Revolutionary War. He also helped negotiate the peace treaty that ended the war.

3) Now, during the actual American Revolution, what was Franklin doing behind the scenes if you will?

He was resolute in supporting the American cause. So committed was he that he broke off relations with his son, the governor of New Jersey, who stayed loyal to the Crown.

4) Following the establishment of our nation, what role did he play at that time?

He was chosen to represent Pennsylvania at the convention that produced the Constitution in the summer of 1787. He helped argue the case for a stronger central government.

5) As I recall, he was also ambassador to several nations- do you remember which nations, and why he was chosen?

He was chosen to represent us in France because by 1777 he was the most famous American, and quite possibly the most famous person in the world because of his inventions and writings.

6) Franklin was also somewhat of a literary genius- what were his main writings and are they still read today?

Today most people remember him for "Poor Richard's Almanac" and his autobiography. Both have held up well over the years.

7) Benjamin Franklin seemed to be wise and engaged in long range planning. In what regards was he most influential?

He was truly a genius. Whether you talk about libraries, post offices, or fire departments, he was ahead of the curve. He had also had suggested a centralized government in 1754 when he put forth his Albany Plan of Union, 30 years before the Constitution

8) What do you see as his main contributions- which are undoubtedly many?

I am hugely grateful to him for inventing bifocals!

9) Is there a book or set of reading that you would recommend of his or perhaps a book about him and his extraordinary life?

The two best books are "The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin" by Gordon Wood and "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" by Walter Isaacson.

10) What have I neglected to ask?

Franklin was not perfect in any sense of the word (his secretary during the negotiations to end the Revolution was a British spy, which Franklin should have been able to figure out), but he had the virtues that have sustained our nation all these years.