About the Institute

Articles By Walter Isaacson

  • The Genius of Jobs, Walter Isaacson, New York Times
  • American Icon, by Walter Isaacson, Time, October 17, 2011
  • The Hemlock Cup is reviewed by Walter Isaacson: Wise Guy, New York Times, February 18, 2011
  • Walter Isaacson describes how the free flow of accurate information empowers citizens in From Samizdat to Twitter, Foreign Policy, February 8, 2011
  • Who Declares War? by Walter Isaacson, New York Times, January 21, 2010
  • Walter Isaacson discussed his book "American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers and Heroes of a Hurricane" on C-SPAN's Book TV in December 2009.
  • Glimmers in the Holy Land: Resetting U.S. Mideast Policy by Walter Isaacson, Time Magazine, December 10, 2009
  • How Einstein Divided America's Jews by Walter Isaacson in the December 2009 issue of The Atlantic
  • More Credit Deserved writes Walter Isaacson about President Obama's efforts to save the country's financial system, The Daily Beast, November 3, 2009 
  • Making a Case for Engagement by Walter Isaacson in the New York Times blog "What Does a Nobel Do for U.S. Leaders?" October 9, 2009
  • Walter Isaacson highlights Albert Einstein's tenacity, or grit, as one of the characteristic features behind his genius in Einstein's Final Quest, In Character, Spring 2009
  • Former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: Why the Court Needs More Women in A Justice Reflects, by Walter Isaacson, The Daily Beast, June 29, 2009
  • Walter Isaacson on Albert Einstein in America, 1921, Princeton University Press blog, June 24, 2009
  • How to Raise the Standard in America's Schools, by Walter Isaacson, Time Magazine, April 15, 2009
  • A Delicate Balance, by Walter Isaacson, New York Times Sunday Book Review of "Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution" by Richard Beeman
  • Walter Isaacson featured in Washington Post Business Editor Steve Pearlstein's video blog "On Leadership." April, 2009
  • Time MagazineA Bold, Old Idea for Saving Journalism: In a Time Magazine cover story hitting newsstands today, Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson argues that a new model of micropayments from readers for quality journalism could save the industry. In How to Save Your Newspaper, Isaacson says that "...to be valued by readers ... will allow the media once again to set their compass true to what journalism should always be about." The story is an adaptation of Isaacson's Hays Press-Enterprise lecture. Watch Isaacson on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
  • Walter Isaacson writes in the Washington Post, "Let's Help the Good Guys in the West Bank" (March 5, 2008); this article is also available at maximsnews.com
  • Walter Isaacson blogs for the Huffington Post on Benazir Bhutto's new book, Reconciliation (The Huffington Post, February 12, 2008).
  • Colin Powell reflects on the Iraq war, affirmative action, and his plans for the future in an interview with Walter Isaacson, GQ Icon: Colin Powell.
  • Walter Isaacson remembers Benazir Bhutto (Bhutto's Warm Smile, Time, December 27, 2007)
  • Walter Isaacson writes in Time Magazine that the education reform movement in New Orleans has the potential "to transform urban education nationwide." (The Greatest Education Lab, Time Magazine, September 6, 2007)
  • Walter Isaacson urges the presidential candidates to provide visionary and imaginative ideas for a global response to the continuing threat of jihadist terrorism (A Vision to Match the Threat, The Washington Post, July 9, 2007)
  • Walter Isaacson discusses George Tenet's new book and the politics of defying authority. "Tenet's Instinct to Please," The Huffington Post, April 30, 2007.
  • Read Walter Isaacson's latest TIME magazine essay, A Way Out of Iran's Nuclear Impasse? (March 14, 2007)
  • Read Walter Isaacson's recent Time magazine essay reflecting on his February 2007 trip to Vietnam. (The Legacy of a Distant War, March 12, 2007)
  • Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson discusses journalism, Albert Einstein, post-Katrina reconstruction and more in an interview with Life After Life host John Palmer which aired on February 8th on Retirement Living TV (Quicktime, Windows Media Player).
  • Read Walter Isaacson's recent TIME Magazine essay suggesting the creation of a NATO-like alliance between the West and its moderate allies in the Arab World. (A NATO for the Middle East, TIME, Feb 5, 2007).
  • Walter Isaacson writes in Time Magazine on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's efforts at seeking a Palestinian-Israeli peace accord (The Women's Channel, Time Magazine, January 22, 2007)
  • Walter Isaacson compares James A. Baker III "to previous statesmen who shed partisanship to chart pragmatic courses during crises." (Is Baker a 'Wise Man' or a Wannabe?, Los Angeles Times, December 3, 2006)
  • Walter Isaacson reviews 'State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration,' by James Risen. (Spies and Spymasters, New York Times, February 5, 2006)
  • Read Walter Isaacson’s recent Time magazine essay on why the US should engage in constructive diplomatic dialogue with Iran. (Why We Need to Talk to Iran, November 26, 2006)
  • Walter Isaacson writes in Time Magazine about the dilemma in today's US foreign policy (The Return of the Realists, Time Magazine, November 20, 2006)
  • Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, and vice chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, discusses revitalization in New Orleans since hurricane Katrina (5 Questions for Walter Isaacson, USA Today, August 6, 2006)
  • Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute and vice chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, identifies six principles for rebuilding New Orleans while preserving its unique character in "Go Southeast, Young Man"; New York Times; June 8, 2006.
  • Walter Isaacson, New Orleans native and President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, hopes that the rich heritage of New Orleans will be remembered as the city is rebuilt in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Read "How to Bring the Magic Back" (Time, Sept. 12, 2005).
  • Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson assesses Colin Powell's tenure as Secretary of State in a Nov 16 2004 New York Times op-ed.
  • In "God of Our Fathers", Walter Isaacson explores the role of religion as the Founding Fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence and the First Amendment. (Time, July 5, 2004)
  • Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, writes "I'm Okay, You're Okay. Bill Clinton's Memoir Reflects the Tenor of His Times." (The Washington Post, June 28, 2004)
  • Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson's op-ed, A Declaration of Mutual Dependence, appeared in the July 4 2004 New York Times.
  • Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson delivered an address at Tufts University's commencement ceremony, sharing lessons from Benjamin Franklin, including the need for increased humility as America pursues its interests in the world. Read more in the May 24 2004 Boston Globe article: "Speaker at Tufts calls for humility in US diplomacy."
  • Walter Isaacson reflects upon The Writing Life in The Washington Post Book World (Nov 30, 2003). Also featured is the article, Walter Isaacson: World Enough and Time.
  • In a July 7 2003 cover story in Time Magazine, Walter Isaacson writes on Benjamin Franklin's impact on American values.)
  • Walter Isaacson shares some of Benjamin Franklin's guidelines for current US-French diplomacy in a July 14 2003 op-ed in the New York Times.
  • In a July 10 2003 conversation with Walter Isaacson, The Aspen Daily News explored Benjamin Franklin's values and how they relate to the work of the Institute: "Franklin's ideals alive for institute." (This site requires free registration.)
  • The Aspen Times reported on July 11 2003 that Walter Isaacson will give his first public lecture in Aspen as part of the 2003 Summer Speaker Series: "Isaacson to speak at Institute as part of Ben Franklin book tour."
  • Walter Isaacson's arrival at the Institute and the announcement of new trustees were the focus of an article in The Aspen Times on April 14 2003 ("Power Players Now Ensconced at Institute").