This course is about Thomas Paine. Paine was absolutely one of the essential contributors to the success of the American Revolution and arguably the savior of the American Revolution. How important was Paine? John Adams said: “Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.” And yet, of all the major founders, Paine is without question the least known, the least understood, and the least appreciated.

To the extent that Americans know Thomas Paine at all, it is from his involvement in the American Revolution. But when the American Revolution was successfully concluded, he went to France and was an active participant in the French Revolution, sitting as a voting member of the French Convention. At the same time, he tried, in vain, to export the American Revolution to England. He knew almost every significant player in the American founding. Yet, when he died, not a single one of them came to his funeral.

Douglas A. Cooper graduated from Hamilton College, Fordham Law School and NYU Law School with an LLM in Corporate Law. He practiced law as a commercial litigator. Cooper served as President of the Thomas Paine National Historical Society, and created the Thomas Paine Award given annually to a journalist whose life and work reflect Paine's ideals. Recipients included, among others, Tom Wicker, Anthony Lewis, Fred Friendly. In July 1989, Mr. Cooper was invited to Paris as the American representative to deliver a speech in French on the occasion of the French Bicentennial and the rededication of a statue of Thomas Paine.

Previous | Next