Series II: Navasky and The Nation, 1902-2015, inclusive

This subseries is arranged with other Nation materials as it provides a look at the magazine's early (pre-Navasky) years. It is likely, however, that its content was gathered as research for Navasky's book, A Matter of Opinion, which devotes much attention to the history of The Nation.

Highlights of this material include correspondence (mostly photocopies) associated with previous Nation editors and publishers and involving such notables as Clarence Darrow, Albert Einstein, Fiorello LaGuardia, John Maynard Keynes, Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, Stephen Spender, Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, and Adolf Hitler. There are also editorial memos; the unfinished draft of a book being written by Freda Kirchway, "The Nation – 1918 to 1958, Outline of a Book"; a variety of articles and speeches; the transcript of an oral history by Carey McWilliams; and a 1939 survey of The Nation subscribers conducted by Elmo Roper. Materials concerning The Nation's financial history are also of interest.

This subseries focuses on the period of Navasky's editorship of The Nation under publishers Hamilton Fish and Arthur Carter. As with the initial Nation subseries, much of its content may have been collected for A Matter of Opinion. There are agreements and contracts, as well as correspondence; material concerning the magazine's operation, including personnel issues; and a selection of press clippings during that period (1978-1995).

This subseries has as its focus Navasky's purchase of The Nation and his preparation for taking over as publisher. There are memoranda, financial statements, and documents related to the actual purchase; however, the bulk of the material consists of Navasky's "New Nation" file, much of which is centered on potential investors and ideas for a relaunched Nation.

Materials in this subseries reference several court cases that involved The Nation. The most extensively represented case is Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., et al. v. Nation, et al.. The case stemmed from the appearance of a verbatim excerpt from a leaked copy of Gerald Ford's unpublished memoir, A Time to Heal, in the April 7, 1979, issue of The Nation. The excerpt dealt with Ford's unprecedented pardon of ex-president Nixon. While The Nation felt that this was "fair use", Harper & Row saw it as copyright infringement. The District Court ruling for Harper & Row resulted in a financial settlement. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, however, reversed that decision. The case was finally settled by the US Supreme Court in Harper & Row's favor. The collection contains documents from all three courts along with other materials related to the case.

This subseries consists of Nation content. There are full issues; collected articles by specific authors (e.g., Alexander Cockburn, Richard Falk, Marc Cooper); materials for a commemorative anthology prepared in 1990 to celebrate the magazine's 125th anniversary; selected editorials; various articles and article excerpts; a content index (1978-1987); and two folders of Nation "Firsts".

A variety of materials associated with operation of The Nation are contained within this subseries. A number of folders relate to its advertising policies and specific controversies that arose from them. There is also correspondence, dated 1976-2011. Types of letters include compliments and complaints (some writers cancelling their subscriptions); internal Nation correspondence; and letters that share articles or lists of information. One letter, for example, describes the use of The Nation in school classrooms. Also included are fundraising materials (some concerning The Nation cruise); student papers about The Nation; articles that mention The Nation; and other items associated with the magazine.