An overview is provided of the educational philosophies of Allan Bloom, Lynne V. Cheney, William Bennett, and Ernest Boyer, with special focus on their political underpinnings. The essay begins with an examination of the issues discussed in "The Closing of the American Mind," by Allan Bloom. Concern and disagreement is expressed about: (1) Bloom's rejection of an "education of openness,""liberalness," and academic concern with racism, sexism, and elitism; (2) the use of the charge of "nihilism" beyond the boundaries of its genuine applicability; and (3) his attitude toward the superiority of this country and its history which resists self-criticism and approaches an ethnocentric adoration of the American way of life. Concluding comments in this section assert that Bloom is actually calling for the closing of the American mind around what he believes is the only real common good--liberal learning in the classic sense that has traditionally excluded all but the "talented tenth" from full educational opportunity. The next sections find echoes of Bloom's positions in the writings of Lynne V. Cheney, Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and William Bennett, former Secretary of Education. Finally, the paper considers the very different assessment and suggestions made by Ernest L. Boyer and the Commission on the Future of the Community College. Emphasis is placed on the Commission's commitment to "building communities," its positive view of the historical forces shaping community college education, and its support for a multi-cultural and world-historical perspective on social reality through the comparative study of social, natural, intellectual, and art history. (AJL)