"The political heart of [the magazine] is will left of center," says New Republic editor Hendrik Hertzberg '65. "But the weight is more on the right side of the spectrum."

"Some people feel the [The New Republic] has turned away from liberalism," says Peretz. "I think I do not think that the U.S. is responsible for all the wickedness of the world," he explains, adding, "There are some liberals and radicals who think that is the case."

For example Peretz says he thinks that American forest in Grenads were deployed "correctly and jointly." He adds that he fools the same about the labels U. S. action there "squeamish," because American troops have been unable to complete the "mission" he sees there. There have been, he says, "dishonest rhetorical demands from some people in Congress and the State Department."

Peretz describes his views on foreign policy as "old-fashioned liberal sentiment."

"The kind of society Reagan is building won't be able to support a strong foreign policy," he says. "I know what view of society animated Reagan. He says to a certain class of Americans, I am your President, enrich yourselves. It's a kind of conservatism without moral obligation, a rapacious self-enriching doctrine."

Peretz says his concern with foreign policy in the Middle East stems from the fact that he considers himself a Zionist.

"I became more deeply involved when I noticed that people I had been involved with in politics were without understanding of the particular political problems of Israel and the fragile status of Jews in the world. These people were anti-Israel and [in some cases] anti-Semitic."

Peretz's political views are part of his life-blood, says Walzer. "His commitment to left liberal politics and Zionist politics is not something separable from the person he is."

And Peretz's commitment to teaching is equally strong. The Talmud says that teachers become their students, says Peretz. "I see little bits of myself in my students and that's a very gratifying experience."

"I think a lot of faculty members deny themselves the real reward of the vocation by allowing the relationship to stop outside the classroom." Peretz continues, adding, "some of the most important friendships of my life have been students of mine at one time.