Garry Wills

July 2026
1min read


Professor of history, Northwestern University

Most overrated:

Harry S. Truman. The dropper of the bombs, the founder of the CIA, the father of the Attorney General’s list: he deserves worse than he has gotten.

Most underrated:

James Wilson. A signer of the Declaration, the author of Pennsylvania’s improved constitution of 1790, a principal drafter of the federal Constitution, the principal ratifier of it, and the profoundest theorist of it, Wilson is the least known of the great founders.

Help us tell the story of America.

For over 75 years, American Heritage has chronicled our nation's history like no other publication. Please support our trusted, non-partisan historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it by donating today. We rely on contributions from readers like you to survive.
Donate

About American Heritage

For 75 years, American Heritage has been the leading magazine of U.S. history, politics, and culture. Read more about the magazine >>

The magazine was forced to suspend print publication in 2013, but a group of volunteers saved the archives and relaunched the magazine in digital form in 2017. Free subscription >>  

American Heritage is published by the National Historical Society,  a non-partisan 501(c)3 membership society. Please consider a donation to help us keep this American treasure alive. Support with a donation >>

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

© Copyright 1949-2025 American Heritage Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. To license content, please contact licenses [at] americanheritage.com.

AMERICAN HERITAGE
Trusted Writing on History, Travel, and American Culture Since 1949
 
X