Around 9:30 one night last week, an old gentleman in evening clothes opened the door of a Manhattan hotel ballroom and started to make his way inside. At once, the 1,500 banqueters rose from their tables, and the room rocked with applause. Educator-Philosopher John Dewey nodded his white head, smiled behind his scraggly mustache as scholars and eminent professors clapped until their hands ached. Then everyone joined in a chorus of "Happy birthday to you . . ."
The ballroom guests were not alone in celebrating John Dewey's 90th birthday. Messages had poured in from all over the world—from President Harry Truman...