Mark Skousen on Benjamin Franklin: The Greatest American?

Benjamin Franklin: A Versatile Genius

• 💡 Mark Skousen, a direct descendant of Benjamin Franklin, discusses his new book, "The Greatest American: Benjamin Franklin, America's Most Versatile Genius."
• 🎯 The book explores 80 chapters applying Franklin's views on various aspects of life, presenting him as the most modern of the Founding Fathers.
• 🔑 Franklin's autobiography is highlighted as a rags-to-riches story, emphasizing his pursuit of virtues like thrift, prudence, and humility, though he admitted struggling with pride.

Diplomacy and Dealing with Critics

• 🤝 Franklin's diplomatic skills are illustrated by his tactic of borrowing a book from a political opponent, which turned them into friends.
• ⚠️ He believed that having enemies indicated one was actively engaged and doing important work, a perspective he applied to his own life and critics.
• 🚫 Franklin would often draft critical letters but choose not to send them, demonstrating a diplomatic approach to conflict.

Franklin's Views on Economy and Finance

• 💰 Franklin was a proponent of the laissez-faire model and advocated for free trade, famously stating, "No nation was ever ruined by trade."
• 📈 He was an advocate for paper money, particularly during colonial times when specie was scarce, and even became the printer for Pennsylvania's paper currency.
• ⚠️ While he supported limited paper money issuance, he also witnessed its abuse during the American Revolution with the Continental currency, leading to a more cautious approach.
• 📊 He is also noted for his views on compound interest, investing in real estate, and getting out of debt.

Franklin's Personal Life and Philosophy

• 💔 Franklin had one illegitimate child and, though married, faced criticism for perceived abandonment of his wife, Deborah, while abroad.
• ✈️ He was an international man, preferring life abroad and learning multiple languages, contrasting with more agrarian-minded founders like Jefferson.
• 🧠 Franklin's religious views evolved from deism to active theism, particularly influenced by the American Revolution, and he emphasized usefulness and charitable works.
• 🌟 He lived the "American Dream," embodying curiosity, a love for learning, and a strong belief in limited government and liberal immigration.

The Completed Autobiography

• 📖 Skousen and his wife completed Franklin's autobiography, adding volumes covering the period from 1757 to 1790, including his famous roles in the Declaration of Independence, the Revolution, and the Constitutional Convention.
• 📜 This expanded work fills the gaps left by Franklin's original autobiography, which ended in 1757.
• 💡 The completed work includes insights into Franklin's views on 1776, derived from a conversation with Arthur Lee, providing a more comprehensive picture of his life and thoughts.