Tar Heel P rofile
By A I Stewart
A ‘Link’ To The Past
Among other things. Tar I lecl historian Dr. Arthur Link has
distinguished himself as the world’s foremost authority on the
presidency of Woodrow Wilson.
For three decades lie worked 10 to
12 hours a day six days a week and
sometimes on Sunday afternoon.
An associate described him as “the living
embodiment of the Protestant work
ethic."
The individual so described is Dr.
Arthur S. link, a retired history professor
and editor who recently moved to Bermu¬
da Village, a retirement community in
Davie County. Holder of three degrees
from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, the amiable scholar feels a
strong attachment to the Tar Heel State
and is delighted that he can spend his
golden years here.
Born August 8. 1920. in New Market.
Virginia, link was the son of a Lutheran
clergyman who served churches in Vir¬
ginia and North Carolina. Link grew up
in the Cabarrus County town of Mount
Pleasant, graduated from high school
there and enrolled at UNC. As an under¬
graduate. he was a member of the debate
team, reporter for the student newspaper
and sang baritone in the men's glee club.
Working several part-time jobs, including
that of soda jerk in the Lenoir Hall snack
shop at UNC. he largely financed his high¬
er education.
The young scholar received his bache¬
lor's degree in 1941. his master's the fol¬
lowing year and a Ph D. in 1945. all from
UNC. During his graduate school years.
Link's professors remembered him lor
“his incredible drive and prodigious mem¬
ory." Except for a nine-year teaching stint
at Northwestern University, he spent his
entire academic career at Princeton Uni¬
versity, retiring in 1991.
Because of his professional stature. I .ink
had offers from several prestigious uni¬
versities, including two from his alma
mater and one from Columbia Universi¬
ty. However, his love for Princeton, an
Link poses with his Wilson memorabilia.
affection which was mutual, kept him
there.
The project that occupied much of bis
scholarly career was editing the Collected
Papers Of Woodrow Wilson, a 69-volume
work in 89.000 pages published by the
Princeton University Press. Organization
for the project began in 1959. and Vol¬
ume One appeared seven years later. An
average of two volumes per year have
been issued, including the final volume,
an index, released last year. Link chose
every document in the Papers, wrote most
of the longer footnotes and saw each vol¬
ume through to press. In addition to Wil¬
son’s own speeches. Link used executive
orders, memos and letters, reports and
other documents that helped shape the
policies of Wilson’s administration in the
Papers. In locating documents needed for
the mammoth enterprise. Link traveled
to Tokyo. Paris. la>ndon and other world
capitals. Remarkably, all editing was done
without the aid of a computer. Although
he recognizes the value of computers in
modern society, the illustrious historian
also realizes their limitations.
"Using computers to edit the Papers
could probably have taken twice its long
as it did with index cards and type- writers.1 *
link says now. From its inception, tlie pro¬
ject was adequately staffed and financed,
with virtually all funds supplied by the
Woodrow Wilson Foundation.
A devout Christian. Link is certain that
God called him to edit the Wilson papers.
“Not many people in this day and age
would think there was such a thing as a
divine call." he says, "but I do. and I hail it."
Given Link's admiration for Wilson, it
is not surprising that he ranks the World
War I chief executive as the greatest pres¬
ident in the 20th century, with one quali¬
fication. "1 do not count Wilson’s perfor¬
mance in office following his disabling
stroke in September 1919." Link says.
Taking all 42 presidents into account,
he ranks Wilson, along with George Wash¬
ington. Thomas Jefferson. Abraham Lin¬
coln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in
the top five. In link’s view, Wilson's at¬
tributes were “his integrity, intelligence,
vision and moral fiber."
At least three ol Link’s former students
are well-known political figures. Former
United States Senator and 1972 Demo¬
cratic presidential nominee George
McGovern of South Dakota listened to
I ink’s class lectures at Northwestern. New
Jersey's current United States Senator. Bill
Bradley, and former Newjersey Governor
Brendon Bvme were both students of his
at Princeton.
The selfdcscribcd "hard-shell Calvinist"
firmly believes that history teaches moral
values. "History clearly teaches that indi¬
viduals and nations which violate moral
principles of honor, integrity and respect
for others will suffer the consequences of
their actions," he says.
In American history. Link says, "the
Civil War was the inevitable outcome of
our nation's condoning slavery, an
immoral practice." In this century, "the
evil political systems nurtured by both
I filler and Stalin carried the seeds of their
own destruction." he adds.
The white-haired, 74-year-old his¬
torian’s honors arc legion. Recipient of
two Bancroft Pr izes for best biography,
link was elected president of the Ameri¬
can 1 listorical Association in 1984 and of
the Organization of American Historians
the next year. I le holds nine honorary
degrees and a citation from the L'niversi-
P»«ol* AISHI«1
The Statr/Jaiuary 1995
14
