Moderates

“David Brown seeks to correct conventional wisdom by arguing that, historically, ‘moderates’ played a more significant role in American politics than today’s pundits on the right and left suggest. Taking issue with ‘presentists’ who maintain that moderates have had little intellectual consistency or influence, Brown traces moderate thought and policy proposals back to the founding of the nation, maintaining that centrism has always had a common purpose.”—Thomas W. Devine, California State University, Northridge

“Significant, striking, and highly original, David Brown’s Moderates grapples with major facets of American political history in an unconventional way. Rather than decrying polarization or tearfully asking how we got this way, Brown examines the major figures of the past who eschewed partisanship, practiced moderation, and strove mightily to keep the polity together. Brown’s comprehensive and refreshing look at the history of the moderate tradition will no doubt inform our current discussions surrounding the American political system.”—John Milton Cooper Jr., University of Wisconsin-Madison

“It’s hard to imagine a better time for a few kind words on behalf of the moderate worldview—and we are fortunate to have them from [this] immoderately insightful new book”—Daniel Akst, Wall Street Journal

“Brown pulls together a strong base for America’s entire political history, from the nation’s founding fathers to modern politics.”—American Historical Review

“Moderates is refreshing in that it reminds us that the center is not simply home to opportunists without principles or careerists who blow in the direction of the wind.”—Journal of Southern History

“This provocative and obviously timely analysis is an important reminder of the role that reason and compromise have played in bridging the gap between political extremes.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Moderates has opened a promising line of inquiry . . . [with its] closely narrated case studies.”—Chronicle of Higher Education