After a successful Washington, DC, career doing government contract and appropriations litigation, Alan Saltman found inspiration to embark on a new chapter as an author. With his second book out this spring, he reflects on how his BC Law education shaped his perspective and motivated him to establish a bequest.
What inspired you to write your first book, No Peace with Hitler (2022)? Several years ago, I saw the movie Darkest Hour, a film set in 1940 when Winston Churchill was at a crossroads: Would he negotiate a peace treaty with Hitler to stop him from taking over Western Europe—or not? It’s an excellent movie, but from it, I couldn’t understand why Churchill refused to seek peace terms from Hitler. Curious, I felt compelled to investigate. Three years and 700 pages later, I came up with an answer.
Tell us about this second book coming out in March 2025. The second one, Chamberlain and Churchill: The Antagonists Who Saved Democracy, is a companion and a supplement to my first book. Among other things, it explores why British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain favored appeasement and made concessions to Nazi Germany in an effort to avoid war, but ultimately stood with Churchill against peace negotiations.
Why did you choose to study at BC Law? When I was applying to law schools, I saw right away that there was a certain humanistic quality about BC. To me, the other schools felt like factories and were incredibly bureaucratic.
Is there a professor who made a significant impact on you? Professor Sanford Katz and I stayed in touch for fifty years until he died. He was such a source of support while I was working on my first book, always coming up with ideas and ways for me to promote it. Whenever I visited Boston, we would have lunch and talk about the Law School, cases, and the book. He would also tell wonderful stories about his life and career.
How have you stayed involved with BC Law over the years? About a decade ago, I was an adjunct professor at the Law School for a few years. I have since served as a judge in the Grimes Moot Court Competition and visit campus to talk to students about my career.
What inspired you to make a bequest? Financially, a bequest works for me and my wife. Our family’s needs will be taken care of through trusts and our wills, and this bequest comes from the residue of our estates. Dean Lienau and I have been communicating on some exciting developments, and I can see the Law School continuing to rise over the next five years as a top choice for those who want to get a legal education in an intellectually stimulating, friendly, and nurturing environment..
Alan Saltman’s decision to make a planned gift to BC Law allows us to celebrate his generosity during his lifetime through membership in the Shaw Society. To learn more, please visit bc.edu/shaw or contact the Office of Gift Planning at 877-304-SHAW or giftplanning@bc.edu.