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190 WHO IS JOHN GALT? 1957–1968
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At fi rst look Objectivism may appear a freakish outgrowth of the
turbulent 1960s, but it had signifi cant parallels in American history.
Nearly a century before, similar reading clubs and political activism
had sprung up around Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward, a book
uncannily similar to Atlas Shrugged, if diametrically opposite politically.
Bellamy’s futuristic book, written in 1887 but set in 2000, imagined a
bemused time traveler awakening in a socialist utopia and marveling at
the rampant selfi shness and greed that had characterized his own time.
In Bellamy’s most famous metaphor, a character describes late Victorian
society as a carriage pulled by toiling masses, on top of which decadent
capitalists live a life of luxury and ease. Inspired by Bellamy’s vision of a
planned, egalitarian society, organizations sprang up across the country
to advocate for his plans. 3 Now, similarly enraptured by Rand’s utopia,
came forth a new cohort of well-educated, affl uent reformers, this time
eager to defend the carriage-pulling capitalists against the mob who
rode atop their effort.
Rand made her network television debut in 1960, appearing on Mike
Wallace’s celebrated interview show. Her dark eyes fl ashing, she refused
to be intimidated by the liberal Wallace and expertly parried his every
question and critique. Her performance caught the eye of Senator Barry
Goldwater, who wrote Rand a letter thanking her for defending his “conservative
position.” Rand had not mentioned the senator by name, but
he immediately recognized the similarity between their views. Goldwater
told Rand, “I have enjoyed very few books in my life as much as I have
yours, Atlas Shrugged.” He enclosed an autographed copy of his new
book, the best-selling Conscience of a Conservative. Shortly thereafter
the two met briefl y in New York. Rand followed up this encounter with
a lengthy letter urging Goldwater to support capitalism through reason
alone. 4 Although she considered him the most promising politician in
the country, Rand was distressed by Goldwater’s frequent allusions to
religion. The Conscience of a Conservative had been written primarily
by L. Brent Bozell, William F. Buckley’s brother-in-law, and accordingly
refl ected the fusionist consensus of National Review.
In her letter to Goldwater Rand hammered on the need to separate
religion and politics, a theme that would animate her for decades. She
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