American dream question

Michael Martin, 73, retired University of Washington dental school faculty, wondered what the American dream meant as an 18-year-old in 1971.

1971 letter project

Martin wrote to 50 prominent figures asking what the 'Great American Dream' meant to them.

Early responses

Martin received letters from Joan Baez, Walter Cronkite, John Glenn, Isaac Asimov, Charles Schulz, Stokely Carmichael, J. Edgar Hoover, George McGovern.

Joan Baez response

Baez wrote: 'The 'Great American Dream' at this point in history is a nightmare'.

“The 'Great American Dream' at this point in history is a nightmare”

John Glenn perspective

Glenn described the American dream as ideals of freedom and equality but noted concerns about their realization.

Charles Schulz view

Schulz defined the American dream as 'the privilege to live where you please, have enough to eat, and to come and go across any boundaries'.

“I suppose the Great American Dream is simply the privilege to live where you please, have enough to eat, and to come and go across any boundaries”

Walter Cronkite insight

Cronkite wrote the American dream includes 'axioms' that have been the basis of art, literature, and citizens but also errors.

Stokely Carmichael response

Carmichael, living in Guinea after being hounded out of the U.S., wrote the American dream is 'very capitalistic and most racist'.

“It can be found in the value system of the American society. Very capitalistic and most racist, it incorporates all the evils that will be found in a such a system”

J. Edgar Hoover reply

Hoover described the American dream as a society with 'wholesome respect' for rights and property, but his actions contradicted this.

“To my mind, it encompasses a society in which … wholesome respect is shown by everyone for the rights, lives, and property of others”

Modern shift

Today the American dream focuses on wealth, with 80% of Americans under 30 saying the 'if you work hard, you'll get ahead' idea is false.

Trump connection

Martin linked Donald Trump to the shift, noting his appeal as a symbol of wealth but his negative impact on democracy.

Dream's essence

Martin concluded the American dream remains 'a dream', a pursuit that endures as long as people seek it.

“It remains 'a dream,'”