Peikoff: The Great Pretender

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

An historic point: Rand called NB her "intellectual heir" in the "About the Author" at the end of Atlas Shrugged, which was published in 1957.

I am unaware of this.

Rand dedicated Atlas Shrugged to Nathaniel and Frank and later removed Nathaniel's name. I have not read any blurb on Atlas claiming Nathaniel to be her "intellectual heir." I may be wrong, but I have never heard of it.

The only place I know of Rand saying it openly is at the end of her interview with Mike Wallace.

Michael

[9thdoctor]

An historic point: Rand called NB her "intellectual heir" in the "About the Author" at the end of Atlas Shrugged, which was published in 1957.

I am unaware of this.

You haven't been keeping up with all the threads on your own site! Tut-tut!!

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8802&view=findpost&p=100913

[Reidy]

Seconding Ellen: I have a pre-kiboshing printing of Atlas Shrugged, and Rand indeed says this. One precedent, according to Heller, is that Rand herself had used the same term for Albert Mannheimer a few years earlier. Heller recounts that Rand auditioned a number of young men for the role that eventually went to Branden.

[Jerry Biggers]

But before Rand designated Branden as such (and later revoked it), was there any precedent for the use of this title? Did Marx appoint Engels? Did they, or any other figure in the history of philosphy, use that term?

Here's a more recent case:

The crossing out was done by the author. His most recent book has this blurb on the back crossed out in the same manner.

I bet if anyone had a signed copy of Atlas Shrugged with the original dedication crossed out by hand it would be worth a lot of money.

I don't know what book of Hitchens that that back cover belongs to, but I do remember Hitchens mentioning that comment by Gore Vidal in one of his essays. I think he added that Vidal withdrew that recommendation after Hitchens broke with him and The Nation magazine over 9/11 and the subsequent war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, I think Vidal made the original comment in a whimsical, playful sense. Whereas, Rand meant the "intellectual heir" comment to be taken quite seriously. A somewhat similar parallel was Henri de Saint-Simon designating Auguste Comte as his successor. I don't think he used the term, "intellectual heir," but like Rand a century later, he later regretted that act and disavowed Comte. Interestingly, the followers of each rival school in Paris, often attended lectures given by both sides (despite the mutual disavowals of each other).

Other than the Saint-Simon/Comte relationship, I can't think of any other author designating publicly an intellectual heir. One might find similar relationships in the leaders of various Christian cults, sects or churches. In fact in that arena, the annointing of a successor to the current leader followed by disavowal and excommunication is quite common.

[9thdoctor]

I don't know what book of Hitchens that that back cover belongs to,

Unacknowledged Legislation, published in 2000.

However, I think Vidal made the original comment in a whimsical, playful sense. Whereas, Rand meant the "intellectual heir" comment to be taken quite seriously.

Gore Vidal’s phrasing sounds incredibly pretentious, but he seems to have been at least somewhat serious.

[Ellen Stuttle]

In post #27, ND links to a quote of the paragraph in which AR called NB her "intellectual heir" - here.

The complete text of the "About the Author" from the original edition of Atlas can be found here.

Ellen

[Jerry Biggers]

Seconding Ellen: I have a pre-kiboshing printing of Atlas Shrugged, and Rand indeed says this. One precedent, according to Heller, is that Rand herself had used the same term for Albert Mannheimer a few years earlier. Heller recounts that Rand auditioned a number of young men for the role that eventually went to Branden.

Really? I thought that I read Heller's book carefully, but I may have missed these. The book's index may not be comprehensive and the method of notation that she used is cumbersome. Anyway, I cannot recall a reference to Rand using the term "intellectual heir" about Albert Mannheimer, nor the claim that "Rand auditioned a number of men for the role that eventually went to Branden." Heller does imply that Rand may have had a relationship that may have been intimate with Mannheimer, although she cites only speculations and no one actually willing to state that it was a fact.

There are also references (actually, just speculations) to possible past affairs, but it seems mostly gossip. However, I totally missed where Heller mentions other "candidates" that Rand was considering for her intellectual heir, other than Branden.

If these claims are from Heller's book, could you give a page reference? Or were they comments that Heller may have made in interviews since her book was published?

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Yeah, now I remember it.

Thanks for the correction and posting the text (although I remember this text from elsewhere).

Senior moment...

Michael

[Ellen Stuttle]

[....] One precedent [for the "intellectual heir" designation], according to Heller, is that Rand herself had used the same term for Albert Mannheimer a few years earlier. Heller recounts that Rand auditioned a number of young men for the role that eventually went to Branden.

Really? I thought that I read Heller's book carefully, but I may have missed these. [....]

Best I recall, there's only one place where Heller speaks of the term being used for someone prior to Nathaniel. Here's the quote:

Heller, pp. 176-77

During the summer of 1947, and on weekends aferward, [June] Kurisu typed the author's handwirtten manuscript pages and her personal letters and sometimes typed for Mannheimer at Rand's request. [....]

Rand referred to Mannheimer as her "intellectual heir," the typist recalled. Another frequent guest, Hal Wallace's personal assistant Jack Burgess, similarily remembered, "She was terribly terribly fond of him. They were very close fiends. I thought he was going to be her heir then." But "intellectual heir," that odd honorific, which Rand seems to have made up, would not belong to Mannheimer for long.

If AR really did refer to Mannheimer as her "intellectual heir," this would provide an alternate explanation which I'd find plausible besides a mangled sentence for her calling NB her "best intellectual heir" on the Mike Wallace show. Maybe she meant "best" of the candidates???

Ellen

[Reidy]

There was also Thaddeus Ashby and a fan club (apparently all male) that used to visit from Cal State Northridge, which was walking distance from her house. I don't believe she ever applied the phrase "intellectual heir" to anybody but Mannheimer and Branden.

[Jerry Biggers]

Thanks, everyone, for the references!

Gore Vidal would probably easily qualify as an Ellsworth Toohey or Balph Eubank. Actually, I think he is "over-qualified" for those roles. Somewhat like certain intellectuals to his right (and practically everybody is to Vidal's right!), he was/is prone to hyperbole to make his points. Parenthetically, as an example of his loathing for America and everything it stands for, about ten years ago he did a documentary (more accurately described as a mockumentery) on the history of American Presidents from Washington through Clinton. Using his drool sarcasm, he described America as hoplessly corrupted since its inception by greed, powerlust, racism, imperialism, etc. This included all Presidents (as I recall, although he may have had a few nice words for Roosevelts and other "Progressives"). It was shown on the History Channel once, and then it was pulled-off, apparently due to protests about his extreme anti-Americanism. Vidal, unapologetic, later wrote a short piece for The Nation decrying this mis-treatment of his program. It is the perfect tool for a radical Al Qaida-type Muslim to use in a recruitment program for potential recruits for the jihad against America.

Intellectual Heirs: Back to this issue of Rand having earlier candidates for her "intellectual heir:" the references in Heller to Mannheimer were from 1947, way before Rand had crystallized Objectivism. If the one reference (only her typist actually said that term, the other person mentioned, Jack Bungay, is quoted in a manner which implies that Heller may have prompted him with that term) is accurate, and Rand actually used that term in describing Mannheimer, it is doubtful that she meant it as anything similar to the role that she later chose for Nathaniel Branden, ten years later, after the publication of Atlas Shrugged, as the heir to her philosophical movement. Did Mannheimer know of this title bestowed upon him? Did he accept it? Did he write anything (he was a playwright), make any public pronouncements, that could be described as a product of the "intellectual heir" to Ayn Rand?

The same can be said about her relationship to Thaddeus Ashby, whom Heller describes as closer to a possible romantic relationship. Whatever intellectual kinships she may have had with Mannheimer or Ashby in their "late-night discussions," she never publicly (in print or other media) described them as intellectual heirs, and they apparently never did, either.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

This stuff does indicate that Rand was in Pygmalion mode.

I keep having a hunch that I cannot get rid of: that Rand tried to make her perfect lover, with NB as the subject she finally settled on. And she had this intent from the outset of her meeting with NB, or very near to it.

This is only speculation, but it won't go away in my mind. Especially when I see a legacy of some (but not all) "sausage-maker" Objectivist gurus going around trying to make good sausage-Objectivists...

Michael

[9thdoctor]

Gore Vidal would probably easily qualify as an Ellsworth Toohey or Balph Eubank.

Indeed, and I particularly like the following quote from 1961:

Ayn Rand’s “philosophy” is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society.

This is only speculation, but it won't go away in my mind. Especially when I see a legacy of some (but not all) "sausage-maker" Objectivist gurus going around trying to make good sausage-Objectivists...

Sausage? I think you mean cookie-cutter, or some other metaphor. A "good sausage-Objectivist" would presumably be one who is well endowed, and can deliver the goods in the bedroom. Or not, go ahead, call me nuts. http://roissy.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/sausage-fest/

Edited June 29, 2010 by Ninth Doctor

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Sausage is a Brazilian way of saying cookie-cutter. Actually they say hotdog, but that's an old expression of something good here in the USA, so I used my poetic license.

As to sausages, don't they all look alike, aren't they all leftovers with a lot of fat all chopped up with some righteous spice mixed in, and aren't they usually wrapped by the same kind of intestine?

I'll let the metaphors fall where they may...

Michael

[9thdoctor]

As to sausages, don't they all look alike, aren't they all leftovers with a lot of fat all chopped up with some righteous spice mixed in, and aren't they usually wrapped by the same kind of intestine?

If you use natural casings they most certainly don’t all look alike. Some will bend to the left, others to the right, others come out relatively straight. Jesus, the double entendres abound! Some will even plump when you cook ‘em!!

[Brant Gaede]

As to sausages, don't they all look alike, aren't they all leftovers with a lot of fat all chopped up with some righteous spice mixed in, and aren't they usually wrapped by the same kind of intestine?

If you use natural casings they most certainly don't all look alike. Some will bend to the left, others to the right, others come out relatively straight. Jesus, the double entendres abound! Some will even plump when you cook 'em!!

My fav is Nathaniel Branden explaining that men had similar penis size. That was his biggest hoot of all time! I have no idea where he got that idea.

--Brant

[Dennis Hardin]

My fav is Nathaniel Branden explaining that men had similar penis size. That was his biggest hoot of all time! I have no idea where he got that idea.

--Brant

When did he ever say that? I recall him saying something about penis size being unimportant, not that all men were similar. I believe he said that, because women are designed for childbirth, and no man was likely to rival the size of a baby, people make too big a deal of the issue.

Of course, that was back before the flourishing porn industry put an end to the idea, once and for all, that all men are created equal.

[9thdoctor]

I used my poetic license.

...

I'll let the metaphors fall where they may...

My fav is Nathaniel Branden explaining that men had similar penis size. That was his biggest hoot of all time! I have no idea where he got that idea.

Of course, that was back before the flourishing porn industry put an end to the idea, once and for all, that all men are created equal.

Well MSK, here's what happens when you commit metaphor malpractice, if it weren't that it occurred on this site your poetic license would probably get revoked.

[Brant Gaede]

My fav is Nathaniel Branden explaining that men had similar penis size. That was his biggest hoot of all time! I have no idea where he got that idea.

--Brant

When did he ever say that? I recall him saying something about penis size being unimportant, not that all men were similar. I believe he said that, because women are designed for childbirth, and no man was likely to rival the size of a baby, people make too big a deal of the issue.

Of course, that was back before the flourishing porn industry put an end to the idea, once and for all, that all men are created equal.

It was probably some Q&A on one of his many tapes likely in the 1980s. I could have also read it.

--Brant

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Looks like it was my poeterotic license...

Michael

[George H. Smith]

My fav is Nathaniel Branden explaining that men had similar penis size. That was his biggest hoot of all time! I have no idea where he got that idea.

--Brant

When did he ever say that? I recall him saying something about penis size being unimportant, not that all men were similar. I believe he said that, because women are designed for childbirth, and no man was likely to rival the size of a baby, people make too big a deal of the issue.

Of course, that was back before the flourishing porn industry put an end to the idea, once and for all, that all men are created equal.

It was probably some Q&A on one of his many tapes likely in the 1980s. I could have also read it.

--Brant

The remark appears on one of the Academic Associates "Seminar" records that was devoted to sex, c. 1970. NB cited Human Sexual Inadequacy, by Masters and Johnson.

I remember this because I played that record for a UA Students of Objectivism meeting that was attended by over 60 people. When the penis size comment was made, a number of women -- including my future wife -- laughed uproariously, while the men looked around sheepishly for reassurance.

Ghs

[Brant Gaede]

My fav is Nathaniel Branden explaining that men had similar penis size. That was his biggest hoot of all time! I have no idea where he got that idea.

--Brant

When did he ever say that? I recall him saying something about penis size being unimportant, not that all men were similar. I believe he said that, because women are designed for childbirth, and no man was likely to rival the size of a baby, people make too big a deal of the issue.

Of course, that was back before the flourishing porn industry put an end to the idea, once and for all, that all men are created equal.

It was probably some Q&A on one of his many tapes likely in the 1980s. I could have also read it.

--Brant

The remark appears on one of the Academic Associates "Seminar" records that was devoted to sex, c. 1970. NB cited Human Sexual Inadequacy, by Masters and Johnson.

I remember this because I played that record for a UA Students of Objectivism meeting that was attended by over 60 people. When the penis size comment was made, a number of women -- including my future wife -- laughed uproariously, while the men looked around sheepishly for reassurance.

Ghs

I sent Nathaniel my complete set of Seminar records (48) two years ago because he had given all his away. He and Leigh had a pro record them onto modern media. Leigh sent me a DVD with all of them on it plus some other 1960 NBI records I had included in the shipment. When I get to LA I'll get my records back. I have them now on the very computer I am now using. I'll take a look-see.

--Brant

edit: it's too much work as I don't have a table of context or index--it was interesting to hear an early version of NB's "marathon session" for couples and compare it to the simplified more powerful version he suggested some years later

Edited July 1, 2010 by Brant Gaede

[George H. Smith]

The remark appears on one of the Academic Associates "Seminar" records that was devoted to sex, c. 1970. NB cited Human Sexual Inadequacy, by Masters and Johnson.

I remember this because I played that record for a UA Students of Objectivism meeting that was attended by over 60 people. When the penis size comment was made, a number of women -- including my future wife -- laughed uproariously, while the men looked around sheepishly for reassurance.

Ghs

I sent Nathaniel my complete set of Seminar records (48) two years ago because he had given all his away. He and Leigh had a pro record them onto modern media. Leigh sent me a DVD with all of them on it plus some other 1960 NBI records I had included in the shipment. When I get to LA I'll get my records back. I have them now on the very computer I am now using. I'll take a look-see.

--Brant

I'm on a number of the Seminar records during 1972-73. There is a record (maybe it is a two-record set; I can't recall for sure) where NB answers questions about the NBI years. I suggested this project to Nathan and wrote all the questions on note cards, which were then distributed to the participants.

In fact, I wrote all the questions for a number of the Seminar recordings. I did this because I was familiar with the previous Seminar records and could avoid duplicate questions. That sped things along a bit.

Ghs

[Neil Parille]

A while ago Jim Valliant said something to the effect that even if Rand didn't say "Leonard is my intellectual heir" he is entitled to call himself that because she approved of his course on Objectivism, etc.

However, Peikoff says on the podcast that Rand designated him her "intellectual heir." I'm skeptical of this given Rand's split with Branden and Peikoff's history of playing fast and loose with the truth, but who knows. I haven't heard any dissent from Schwartz, Binswanger and others on this.

-Neil Parille

[9thdoctor]

I sent Nathaniel my complete set of Seminar records (48) two years ago because he had given all his away. He and Leigh had a pro record them onto modern media. Leigh sent me a DVD with all of them on it plus some other 1960 NBI records I had included in the shipment.

If they’re not going to release these, how about making a copy of this DVD for the Olers you really like?

The Doctor

--Brant's Chum