Remembering Irving Howe

I had been looking forward to hearing Irving Howe’s speech all week. At last April’s Socialist Scholar’s Conference he was part of a closing panel; I knew his address would be short and probably without notes—but the chance to hear him speak was a small treasure.

He walked in looking very pale and, as it always seemed, dressed too warmly for such a sunny spring day. I knew that, like me, others present were wondering whether to say hello. There were times when appro...