Croly, Herbert (1868–1930)

HERBERT CROLY WAS a journalist and writer best known for his work The Promise of American Life, which was widely influential in political and intellectual circles in the early 20th century. Theodore Roosevelt borrowed the phrase “the new nationalism” from Croly's book and made it his political campaign slogan in 1912. Croly was also one of the founders and editors of the New Republic, an American left-of-center, liberal magazine still a powerful voice almost a century later. Croly was an active supporter of Roosevelt's Progressive Party, and as editor of the New Republic, supported Woodrow Wilson's policies during World War I.

Croly was born the son of two prominent journalists. His father was David Croly, for years the editor of the New York World and influenced by the French philosopher Auguste Comte, who called for the melding of religion and science. Many scholars believe that Croly's son, Herbert, was likewise influenced by Comte. Croly's mother, Jane Cunningham Croly, was a life-long journalist who wrote for the New York Times as well as the New York World on a variety of political and economic issues.

Croly attended classes at the City College of New York, then left to attend Harvard University where he came under the influence of philosophers such as William James and Josiah Royce. Croly left Harvard in 1888 due to his father's deteriorating health and helped with his father's publications. Upon his father's death in 1889, Croly inherited his father's journal, the Real Estate Record and Builder's Guide. For two years, he served as editor, using the journal to write about social and economic issues. Croly returned to Harvard in the 1890s, only to drop out after a nervous breakdown.

From 1905 to 1909, Croly wrote The Promise of American Life, published to wide acclaim. Influential figures from Roosevelt to Judge Learned Hand to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge praised the book. Croly explored the idea of nationalism, tracing the concept back to the Founding Fathers period. Croly praised the nationalist policies of Alexander Hamilton while disparaging the states’ rights and laissez-faire policies of Thomas Jefferson. Croly advocated combining the nationalist ideas of Hamilton with the democratic sentiment of Jefferson.

In surveying American history from 1787 through the early 20th century, Croly found most political figures to be wanting with the exception of Abraham Lincoln and Roosevelt. To Croly, Lincoln and Roosevelt were the ideal politicians because they were ardent nationalists [Page 115]who were able to appeal to the people. In the period from 1910 to 1912, Croly became more active in American politics, ardently supporting Roosevelt when he ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination against President William Howard Taft, as well as Roosevelt's third party campaign as the Progressive Party's candidate. Croly helped shape Roosevelt's policies for regulating corporate trusts in the 1912 campaign.

In 1913, Croly wrote Progressive Democracy, which built on the ideas expounded in Promise of American Life, continuing to advocate nationalism while also supporting a strong executive. The work was highly critical of Wilson, Roosevelt's primary political opponent. In 1914, in the pages of the New Republic, Croly, along with Walter Lippmann were initially supportive of Roosevelt, but gradually became more sympathetic to Wilson as a result of the reforms such as the Clayton Antitrust Act enacted by his administration.

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