Ben Franklin: Chess Can Make You A Better Person?

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ben Franklin has the distinction of many "firsts":  He invented the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, bifocals, the catheter, swim fins and the odometer. He started the first public library, the first volunteer fire company,  the first American fire insurance company, the first hospital and was the first postmaster general. Chess.com also reminds us that Franklin was also the first known chess player as well as the first chess author in America. Here again to tell us the story is the Jack Miller Center's Editorial Officer and historian, Elliott Drago.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Lee Habib and this is our American Stories,
the show where America is the star and the American people.
Our next story is about one remarkable American born the
son of a Boston candlemaker, Benjamin Franklin, grew into the
symbolic role of the archetypal American. He was, indeed a

(00:31):
blend of poor Richard Leonardo da Vinci. Franklin has the
distinction of many firsts. He invented the lightning rod, the
Franklin stove, bifocals, the catheter. Chess dot Com also reminds
us that Franklin was also the first known chess player,
as well as the first chess author in America. Here

(00:51):
again to tell us the story is the Jack Miller
Centers editorial officer and historian Eliot Trego. Let's take a.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Listen, entrepreneur, philosopher, scientist, inventor, and writer. We ought to
add Chess Master to the list of Benjamin Franklin's accomplishments.
His essay Morals of Chess combines his timeless wit, inherent competitiveness,
and shrewd strategy that also speaks to the fragile yet

(01:20):
boundless potential of America's founding principles, originally written and presented
to Franklin's small cadre of fellow intellectuals in the seventeen thirties.
Morals of Chess would not be released for public consumption
until seventeen eighty six. Much had occurred over the course
of that half century. In seventeen thirty two, Franklin released

(01:42):
the first Poor Richard's Almanac, an immensely successful guide full
of practical advice and witticisms for American colonists. In seventeen
fifty one, he helped found the educational institution that became
the University of Pennsylvania, and throughout the seventeen fifties and
seventeen sixties he served as the postmaster Jedi role for
the Crown and eventually an agent for the Colonies, representing

(02:03):
American interests in Great Britain, and of course, by seventeen
seventy six, Franklin and his fellow colonists began and would
eventually win, a war of liberation from Great Britain. As
the colony's most recognizable figure, Franklin's influence became essential to
the American cause, especially when he was sent to France

(02:24):
as America's first ambassador in seventeen seventy six. Franklin's convivial nature,
combined with his diplomatic acumen, made him the toast of
Paris as he regaled salons with tales, practical wisdom, and americanisms.
And while battlefield realities back in America certainly compelled France

(02:44):
to support the American cause, Franklin's soft diplomacy and charismatic
force of personality helped cement the Franco American alliance. Besides
power politics and being playful with his French admirers, Franklin
spent much of his five years in France chess. While
reviewing his personal papers for potential publication in seventeen seventy nine,

(03:06):
Franklin came across Morals of Chess, which at this point
was now over forty years old. Scholars believe that, aside
from retrieving the material for publication, Franklin was motivated to
find this essay due to his indulgence, possibly over indulgence,
in playing chess with the parisional Eak. These games became
epic battles that lasted four hours or more, limited solely

(03:30):
by the number of candles available to the combatants. Franklin's
monomoniacal focus made him oblivious to anything outside the checkered board.
Franklin established edifying purposes of the essay, and one could
argue the game itself by writing in the first sentence,
the game of chess is not merely an idle amusement.

(03:52):
To Franklin, chess instructed individual conduct, and, if played in
the proper manner, would teach players four key virtues foresight, circumspection, caution,
and quote. The habit of not being discouraged by present
bad appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit
of hoping for a favorable change, and that of persevering

(04:15):
in the search of resources. Calling chess a beneficial amusement,
he outlined eight tips so players could pass the time agreeably,
including observing the rules of the game with fidelity, remaining
patient while your opponents plot their next move, and for spectators,
observing the most perfect silence to allow for concentration. However,

(04:38):
Franklin's four key lessons foresight, circumspection, caution, and perseverance speak
as much to the game of chess as to the
political and moral responsibilities of the players on and off
the chessboard. In a larger sense, Franklin's lessons speak to
Americans across time and space. Living in what America cans

(05:00):
then end now described as a revolutionary era required foresight.
The Republican spirit and experiment can only be sustained by
those who consider the consequences that may attend an action.
Circumspection necessitated a keen observance of the scene of action,
those relations between chess pieces akin to the various social
factions of the American body politic. Yet, Americans must move

(05:23):
with caution, for if you touch a piece, you must
move it somewhere. If you set it down, you must
let it stand. In other words, Americans must avoid haste
to prevent mistakes and steal their resolve once they have
made a fateful decision. Finally, Franklin reminds players that supposed

(05:45):
insurmountable difficulties ought not exhaust the player, nor precipitate in
attention or despare. This powerful idea of a perseverance seated
with hope reflects striving to form a more perfect union.
Urges us to remember that momentary setbacks are precisely that momentary,
and therefore liable to change. If Americans are empowered to

(06:08):
cherish those founding principles that inspired the creation of the republic.
On the last day of the Constitutional Convention in seventeen
eighty nine, American socialite and political commentator Elizabeth Willing Powell
approached Franklin as he left the hall. She asked him,
what have we got? A republic or a monarchy? As always,

(06:30):
Franklin gave her a memorable reply, A republic if you
can keep it. Through their foresight, circumspection, caution, and perseverance,
Americans attuned to their nation's civic needs perpetuated this republic,
the United States of America by emulating the virtues of
Franklin's morals of chess.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
And a terrific job on the production, editing and storytelling
by our own Greg Hengler, and a terrific job on
the storytelling by Elietrego. And he is the editorial officer
at the Jack Miller Center. And they're a nationwide network
of scholars and teachers dedicated to educating the next generation
about America's founding principles and history, something we care about

(07:16):
on this show a lot. To learn more, visit Jackmillercenter
dot org. The story of Benfranklin's Marvels of Chess. Here
on Our American Stories. Liehbib here the host of Our
American Stories. Every day on this show, we're bringing inspiring

(07:37):
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