Real Heroes Read online

  Praise for Real Heroes

  “If you love a good biography, you’ll love Larry Reed’s Real Heroes. Instead of a single biography, you get many great stories of liberty’s heroes, from Cato the Younger to Adam Smith to Ludwig Erhard. A great book from one of liberty’s own heroes.”

  —Senator Rand Paul

  “What a riveting and upbeat book! Real Heroes is hard to put down. I’m still taking notes on it to supplement my teaching.”

  —Burton W. Folsom Jr., professor of history, Hillsdale College

  “A free and flourishing society requires liberty, and liberty requires vigilance and courage. This book will empower the rising generation to stand up and fight for what is right by giving us examples of brave souls who have done so. It’s a treasure trove of heroic stories that encourage and inspire.”

  —Anne Rathbone Bradley, vice president of economic initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics

  “No matter their time or place, the men and women we meet in this book share a passion for liberty and justice. Reed presents a road map to strong character and a challenge to build a freer society.”

  —Jim DeMint, Heritage Foundation president and former U.S. senator

  “Reed demystifies the concept of what it means to be a hero and brings readers to the edge of their seats with uniquely compelling tales of triumph. This long-overdue book will change the way we see not only heroes but also ourselves.”

  —T. K. Coleman, education director for Praxis

  “Integrating the importance of human liberty with moral responsibility and personal character, Reed has penned a compelling outline of the case for freedom through the lens of forty diverse and intriguing portraits.”

  —Rev. Robert Sirico, president of the Acton Institute

  “Cheers to Larry Reed and ISI Books for this fun and fulfilling book of heroes to remember and rediscover.”

  —Paul Kengor, professor of political science at Grove City College

  “Rarely does a book come along at precisely the right time. In an age when the word hero is too often confused with celebrity, Reed gives us a much-needed corrective, told in a lively style so that the stories jump from the pages to inspire us.”

  —Roger Ream, president of the Fund for American Studies

  “In a world in which crassness and hedonism seem to be the norm, it is refreshing to read the tales of noble characters. This is an inspiring book for anyone who aspires to live a life of meaning and purpose. This book will encourage your inner hero to come forth and lead you to your proper role in the world.”

  —Magatte Wade, award-winning entrepreneur, founder of Tiossan

  “Real Heroes is a crucial reminder of the key values needed in greater supply if we’re to preserve the freedom and prosperity we’ve so fortunately been given.”

  —Peter Goettler, president of the Cato Institute

  “I love Larry’s emphasis on character. It’s the biggest issue of our time for all walks of life, from business to media to politics. Nobody explains its importance through historical examples better than he does.”

  —Donald G. Smith, investor

  “This book could not come at a better time. It is in the most trying of times that heroes can save us. They teach us about good and evil, give us hope, and inspire us to become our best selves. An enjoyable read, Real Heroes is packed with fascinating stories, inspirational quotes, and takeaway lessons.”

  —Romina Boccia, Heritage Foundation

  “Reed brings to life dozens of stories where high character animates courage and triumph. I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

  —Kent Lassman, president and CEO of the Competitive Enterprise Institute

  “Real Heroes is an exciting and inspiring study of people who dared to challenge the consensus of their time and put their necks on the line for what they believed in. A timely and important book, especially for young people.”

  —Nathan Bond, cofounder and CEO of Rifle Paper Co.

  “Reed’s powerful book motivates the reader to go out into the world and stand strong for the ideas of liberty. The stories here are highly educational, fun to read, and inspiring.”

  —Wolf von Laer, CEO of Students for Liberty

  “Real Heroes illustrates the true peacemakers of the world. Reed tells the stories of individuals who dedicated their lives to the fight for liberty and prosperity. You’ll be motivated with every turn of the page.”

  —Cliff Maloney Jr., executive director of Young Americans for Liberty

  Real Heroes

  Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character, and Conviction

  Lawrence W. Reed

  To

  Ron and Jenny Manners of Perth, Australia

  and

  Ned and Elfie Gallun of Mayville, Wisconsin

  Two very special couples—heroes of impeccable character who work tirelessly to advance all the right causes, especially liberty and entrepreneurship

  Contents

  Foreword by Christopher Long

  Introduction

  1 Cicero: Enemy of the State, Friend of Liberty

  2 Cato the Younger: Ambition in the Service of Principle

  3 Augustine: Searching for Truth and Wisdom

  4 Anne Hutchinson: The Spirit of Religious Liberty

  5 Adam Smith: Ideas Change the World

  6 Mercy Otis Warren: Conscience of Great Causes

  7 Edmund Burke: Eloquence and Conviction

  8 Thomas Clarkson: A Moral Steam Engine That Never Quit

  9 Frédéric Bastiat: Liberty’s Masterful Storyteller

  10 Prudence Crandall: In Defiance of Racism

  11 Harriet Tubman: She Never Lost a Passenger

  12 Black Entrepreneurs: Models Too Often Forgotten

  13 Martha Coston, Hetty Green, and Madam C. J. Walker: Female Pioneers in American Business

  14 William Ewart Gladstone: A Decades-Long Defense of Liberty

  15 George Eastman: Genius of Invention and Enterprise

  16 Fanny Crosby: Blind but Not Disabled

  17 Siegfried Sassoon: Conscience on and off the Battlefield

  18 Andrew Mellon: Unleashing Wealth Creators

  19 J. Gresham Machen: God’s Forgotten Libertarian

  20 Marie Curie: Trailblazing Scientist

  21 Prohibition’s Foes: Still Teaching Lessons Today

  22 Four Justices: Liberty’s Saving Hands

  23 Katharine Atholl: A Modern-Day Cassandra

  24 Jesse Owens: “Character Makes the Difference When It’s Close”

  25 Nicholas Winton: The Humblest Hero

  26 Witold Pilecki: Bravery Beyond Measure

  27 Anne Frank: Gratitude in Adversity

  28 Althea Gibson: A Winning Attitude

  29 Ludwig Erhard: Architect of a Miracle

  30 Gail Halvorsen: The Candy Bomber

  31 Joe Louis: Fighter on Many Fronts

  32 Peter Fechter: Death at the Wall

  33 Norval Morey: Wealth Creation Through Entrepreneurship

  34 Jerzy Popiełuszko: Witness to Truth and Freedom

  35 Roberto Clemente: “I Learned the Right Way to Live”

  36 John Patric: Hobo, Screwball, and Hero

  37 Haing S. Ngor: “To Give of Your Soul”

  38 Vivien Kellems: “Please Indict Me!”

  39 Homeschoolers: It’s for the Children!

  40 Larry Cooper: Never Too Late for Character

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Foreword

  by Christopher Long

  President, Intercollegiate Studies Institute

  When Larry Reed came to me with the idea of publishing Real Heroes, it took my colleagues and me about five minutes to decid
e that we wanted to be part of this exciting project.

  The Intercollegiate Studies Institute and the Foundation for Economic Education, the organization Larry has headed since 2008, have closely aligned missions: we both focus on teaching young people the principles of a free society. This is no accident. ISI’s founder, Frank Chodorov, and its first president, William F. Buckley Jr., were good friends with FEE founder Leonard Read. In the early 1950s Read and other FEE officers helped launch ISI.

  ISI and FEE are committed to the principles that sustain a free, prosperous, and virtuous society in which individuals can pursue their dreams and aspirations. We know that it’s one thing to be inspired by ideas but quite another to put them into action.

  In an 1891 address to the Yale Philosophical Club, William James said that “the higher fidelities, like justice, truth, or freedom,” are what motivate people. But he stressed that “the deepest difference … in the moral life of man is the difference between the easy-going and the strenuous mood.” He added, “The strenuous type of character will on the battle-field of human history always outwear the easy-going type.”

  So ideas are crucial, but they aren’t enough. To make a positive impact on the world, you also need the courage of your convictions—the courage and integrity to advance your core principles, to persevere even when it’s not easy or comfortable to do so.

  That’s the beauty of Real Heroes. In this book Larry Reed takes the essential ideas that ISI and FEE have been teaching for decades—fundamental concepts like liberty, personal responsibility, entrepreneurship, integrity, and virtue—and brings them to life. This book is not an abstract reflection on principles; here you’ll meet real, flesh-and-blood people who have spoken truth to power and put their principles into practice.

  Lovers of liberty need a book like Real Heroes. We know that our side has the winning ideas. But sometimes we are ineffective at communicating them. Too often we forget that the way you inspire and motivate people is through stories and relatable examples.

  Larry Reed doesn’t make that mistake. Instead he follows the example of his predecessor Leonard Read, whose short, easy-to-understand essay “I, Pencil” has opened the minds of millions of people to the power of free markets and the folly of central planning.

  Larry has also learned from one of the heroes in this book, Frédéric Bastiat, whom he calls “liberty’s masterful storyteller.” It is exciting to know that Real Heroes will introduce a new generation to Bastiat’s genius, and to the stories of dozens of other men and women who have led lives of courage and purpose.

  Our world desperately needs more heroes—more models of character, courage, and conviction whom we can admire and emulate.

  Such models are exactly what Larry Reed offers in Real Heroes. I have been inspired by the exceptional men and women Larry profiles, and I am sure you will be too.

  ISI is excited to publish this book. I encourage you not only to read these remarkable stories but also to share Real Heroes far and wide—whether it’s with your classmates, your students, your children or grandchildren, your church group, or your book club. In so doing, you will inspire a new generation of heroes for liberty.

  Christopher Long is president of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and publisher of ISI Books.

  Introduction

  Just for a moment, imagine a world without heroes.

  Such a world could still have lots of good and decent people. Mixed in with the bad and the rotten, however, they would not stand out. And in the absence of anyone who would speak truth to power no matter the consequences, the antiheroes just might take charge, making life almost unlivable for the rest of us.

  I’m reminded of the animated 1998 DreamWorks film Antz. The setting is an ant colony in which all ants are expected to behave as an obedient blob. No heroes to challenge conventional wisdom. No exceptional ants that might inspire vision or change in the others. In the short run this is very convenient for the tyrant ants, but their selfish misrule leaves the entire society vulnerable to attack. The debilitating collectivist mind-set is shaken by a single ant, who ultimately saves the colony through his individual initiative. In risking everything to assert his values and uniqueness, he transcends the blob and becomes a hero.

  Far more than ants, humans need heroes. It’s not enough, though, to need them. We must value them. And we can’t just say we value them. We must recognize them and impart to others the lessons that their heroic deeds teach.

  Relating stories of heroic people, I hope and believe, can encourage the proliferation of the traits we admire in heroes. I would like nothing better than for heroism to become so common as to be the norm, not the exception.

  The Character of Heroes

  What makes someone a hero?

  Is it fame, power, money, creative talent, athletic ability, good looks? Despite what our culture typically celebrates, it’s none of those things. Yes, some heroes are famous, or powerful, or wealthy, or artistic, or athletic, or good-looking. But that’s not why they are heroes.

  If I had to pick one term above all others as essential to heroism, it would be this: character.

  A person’s character is nothing more than the sum of his or her choices. Fortunately, character is something every one of us has control over. Yet most of us cut corners all the time, sacrificing character for money, attention, power, or other ephemeral gratifications.

  Heroes don’t squander their character that way. As someone once said, they don’t “borrow from integrity to pay expediency.” What unites heroes across time periods and cultures is that they exemplify character through their words and actions. They embody traits like honesty, gratitude, intellectual humility, personal responsibility, self-discipline, inventiveness, entrepreneurship, vision, compassion, and optimism. And they display these traits continually. The heroism of the people I profile arises not from a single, momentary act but rather from a lifetime of choices.

  Why care about character? Here’s one good reason: it is indispensable to a successful career and a happy life. Sure, we all can think of unethical people who have made a lot of money or gotten ahead in their chosen field. But usually it’s just a matter of time before their poor choices catch up with them. As Shakespeare reminds us, “At length truth will out.”

  Here’s another reason: character is essential to liberty.

  It’s easy to take our freedoms for granted. But the kind of free society we enjoy is hardly the norm in human history, which is marked (and marred) by tyranny, slavery, genocide, and religious persecution.

  Often the “road to serfdom,” in the famous phrase of Nobel Prize winner F. A. Hayek, begins with small incursions on liberty. But just as you can’t borrow from integrity to pay expediency, you can’t sacrifice liberty for short-term convenience. Perhaps the most important lesson from the past five thousand years of history is this: no people who lost their character kept their liberties.

  That’s why so many of the heroes profiled in this book have risked their lives to defend liberty and resist oppression, from Cicero in ancient Rome, to Anne Hutchinson in seventeenth-century America, to Witold Pilecki in Nazi-occupied Poland, to Haing Ngor in Pol Pot’s Cambodia.

  Courage and Conviction

  As those examples suggest, courage is another common thread among heroes.

  Heroes are rarely, if ever, timid and retiring. If a hero has to stick her neck out to get a job done, she does it. The hero ventures forth in directions the less brave won’t dare. In so doing, she provides an inspiring example. “Courage is contagious,” evangelist Billy Graham said. “When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”

  I’ve heard it said that there are only three kinds of people in the world: a very small minority that makes things happen, a somewhat larger minority that watches things happen, and the vast majority of people who never know what happened. Heroes are surely of the first group. As I researched and wrote this book, the courage of these remarkable people awed me again and again.
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br />   When I say courage, I don’t refer simply to physical courage (though that is something many heroes display). I mean moral courage as well.

  To have moral courage means to do the right thing no matter the risks to yourself. How do you know the right thing to do? You have to have conviction as well. Almost all heroes are men or women who stand not for what they think others will fall for but for principles they value because those principles are sound and right.

  Many of the people you will read about in this book stood for principles that were unpopular or that put them at odds with the ruling class. Cato the Younger fiercely defended Rome’s republican values against Julius Caesar’s power grabs; the abolitionist Thomas Clarkson campaigned against slavery even though the institution was widely accepted and a source of wealth for many powerful people; the British politician Katharine Atholl denounced Nazi Germany and Soviet communism even when she incurred the wrath of the prime minister.

  Character, courage, and conviction: these heroic traits are inextricably linked. A person of conviction has a guiding set of principles; a person of character stands by those principles even in difficult times; and a person of courage understands that it is not enough to stick to your principles quietly—sometimes you must take action to defend and advance them.

  Flesh-and-Blood Heroes

  Great movements, countries, moments, and achievements are marked by heroic individuals. We all can name the really famous ones. For the most part, those are not the people you’ll encounter in this book. Instead I chose people most readers will know little if anything about. I did so for several reasons.

  First, these “real heroes” deserve to be known, and their stories should inspire us all.

  Second, heroism comes in many forms; it is not unique to a certain sex, race, or country. Here you will meet many different kinds of heroes. Some lived in the distant past; some live and work among us today. Some come from the United States; others come from the opposite side of the globe. Some are statesmen, others scientists; some are athletes, others inventors; some are entrepreneurs, others theologians; some are writers, others teachers.