Sun City resident shares her grandfather’s winning 1948 essay: “How to Make Democracy Live”

Sebastian Lee
·1 min read

In 1948 radio host Drew Pearson held an essay-writing contest with a $5,000 prize. The winner was a now Sun City resident’s grandfather and she says that 75 years later, its something the country needs to hear again.

Anne Meara’s grandfather, Russell Mitcheltree, was born in 1887. An only child, he was 14 when his mother passed away followed by his father at 18.

After graduating from Yale University in 1911 he worked in advertising and then real estate, but was a lifetime writer Meara said.

Living through two world wars and the great depression, the Yale grad answered the call and submitted his essay on, “How to Make Democracy Live.” Mitcheltree’s one-page effort won from a pool of 140,000 submissions. The $5,000 he won would be worth more than $63,000 in today’s dollars.

The essays were judged by James F. Byrnes, then former associate justice of the United States Supreme Court and future governor of South Carolina, Thomas Clark then Attorney General of the United States and Clare Boothe Luce, a former Representative of Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives.

A small passport sized photo of Russell Mitcheltree attached with his signature to a letter that he wrote to his late wife in 1956 is the only photo that Anne Meara retains of her grandfather photographed on Friday, June 30, 2023 at her Sun City Hilton Head home. Mitcheltree entered a 1948 Drew Pearson Radio Contest challenge on democracy and won first place.

HOW TO MAKE DEMOCRACY LIVE

By Russell Mitcheltree

(circa 1948)

We, the people, can make democracy live, by living for democracy. First, let me — this man, this woman — cherish human freedom. Then let me, by word and example, inspire others to follow democratic ways.

As a citizen of my community, let me respect individual worth regardless of race, creed, color, position. Let me grant each person all his rights---religious, political, social, economic. Let me protect these rights — if need be, with my blood. Working for others, let me work well. Employing others, let me pay well. Applying good will at democracy’s roots, I shell nourish life, liberty, happiness.

As a citizen of my country, let me faithfully practice my citizenship, not lose democracy by default. Let me advance these principles of welfare: that government is not a master, but an ever-progressing ally of man in his quest of food, health, home, education, security. That good public servants should be supported and unfit be replaced. That minorities must be heeded, lest unchecked power turn tyrant. That I am personally responsible for making democracy succeed, on election day and every day.

As a citizen of the world, let me help my country to help mankind. Untainted by selfish interest, let us aid any nation threatened or exploited. Being rich in God’s plenty, let us feed the hungry. Being strong, let us lead earth’s peoples to prosperity and peace.

Thus doing our duty at home and abroad, with justice, wisdom, courage, kindness, we shall win men’s hearts and make democracy live.