Walter Berns facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Walter Berns
Walter Berns (center) received a 2005 National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.
Born	May 3, 1919 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	January 10, 2015 Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Education	Reed College University of Chicago
Occupation	Political philosopher
Spouse(s)	Irene Lyons

Walter Berns (May 3, 1919 – January 10, 2015) was an American professor. He taught about constitutional law and political philosophy. He was a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a professor at Georgetown University.

Early Life and Education

Walter Berns grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He was born there in 1919. He went to Reed College and later studied at the University of Iowa.

During World War II, Walter Berns served in the US Navy. He was in the Navy from 1941 to 1945. After the war, he decided to continue his education. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. There, he studied with a famous teacher named Leo Strauss.

Berns began his teaching career at several universities. He taught political philosophy at Louisiana State University and Yale University. In 1959, he joined the government department at Cornell University.

Time at Cornell University

Walter Berns taught at Cornell from 1959 to 1969. He was even the head of the Government Department for a few years. Students really liked his classes. They would often clap for him after his lectures. This was unusual and showed how much they enjoyed his teaching.

During his time at Cornell, there were many debates and student protests. Berns believed strongly in "academic freedom". This means professors should be free to teach and discuss ideas without pressure. He also thought it was important to keep a strong "core curriculum" for all students. This is a set of basic courses that everyone takes.

Berns disagreed with some of the changes happening at the university. He felt that some new ideas were making it harder for professors to share different viewpoints. Because of his strong opinions, some protesters targeted him. He even received threats. So, in 1969, Walter Berns left Cornell University. He then took a job at the University of Toronto.

Work in Washington D.C.

Walter Berns taught in Toronto until 1979. After that, he moved to Washington D.C. He started teaching at Georgetown University. He also began doing research at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

At AEI, Berns studied many important topics. He focused on the US Constitution. He also researched patriotism, which is love for one's country. Other topics included freedom of speech, the death penalty, and the electoral college. He also studied the ideas of Abraham Lincoln.

Berns was involved in several important groups. He served on the National Council on the Humanities. He also helped with a project to celebrate the 200th birthday of the U.S. Constitution.

Later Years and Legacy

Walter Berns married Irene Lyons Berns in 1951. They lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In 2005, he received a special award. President George W. Bush gave him the National Humanities Medal. This award honors people who have made great contributions to the humanities.

Walter Berns passed away on January 10, 2015. He was 95 years old. He died in Bethesda, Maryland.