The world has lost a towering intellect, a fearless thinker, and a deeply principled man. Michael Ledeen’s passing on May 18 marks the end of an era in which ideas were not just debated but lived, tested, and acted upon.
The list of problems Michael solved over his 83 years was impressive, but it pales in comparison to the list he could have tackled had he been granted more time. International, domestic, personal—Michael engaged with the world on every level, and he left it better than he found it.
I first met Michael, Freedom Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, in 1993, shortly after I joined AEI. From the beginning, he stood out, not just for his brilliance, but for his generosity. He was a mentor to young scholars, a sounding board for seasoned experts, and a constant source of insight and encouragement. “Just because it’s in the newspaper…
