# Seattle man's American dream archive

> 73-year-old Seattle man's letter archive reveals American dream's shifting meaning.
- Title: Seattle man's American dream archive · Seattletimes | Shortify
- Summary: 73-year-old Seattle man's letter archive reveals American dream's shifting meaning. Michael Martin's 1971 letter project with 50 prominent figures shows the…
- Keywords: michael martin, seattle, university of washington, american dream, j. edgar hoover, walters cronkite, john glenn, charles schulz, stokely carmichael, seattle times, news, local
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/seattle-news/this-seattle-man-has-an-archive-of-the-american-dream
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: michael martin, seattle, university of washington, american dream, j. edgar hoover, walters cronkite, john glenn, charles schulz, stokely carmichael, seattle times, news, local
## 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,'
## Key takeaway

Michael Martin's 1971 letter project with 50 prominent figures shows the American dream evolved from ideals to wealth focus.