Friedman was eager to emphasize that he shared many goals with his colleagues on the left. "I believe it essential to make it clear wherein we are criticizing means and wherein ends," he wired to Leonard Read, adding that the failure "of liberals to emphasize their objectives seems to me one of [the] reasons they are so often labelled reactionaries." Whereas many of the foundations and polemicists on the right devoted their propaganda to the converted, Friedman strenuously sought to engage those with whom he disagreed. He adopted a tone of reasonable moderation while forwarding policies that would otherwise have appeared uncompromising and extremist. The young Friedman, however, was willing to make more substantial concessions to progressives than would subsequently be the case. The implication that in e qual ity was "bad," and that mea sures should be taken to reduce it, would fall away from Friedman's pop u lar writings later in his career.

Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, loc. 427