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THE EDUCATION OF AYN RAND, 1905–1943
idea that America should avoid entangling foreign alliances stretched all
the way back to George Washington’s farewell address in the early days
of the republic. It was given modern relevance by the outcry against war
profi teering following World War I. Now, watching another gathering
storm in Europe, America First leaders and its 850,000 card-carrying
members were convinced that the United States should stay out of the
fray. 49 The organization lobbied vigorously against Roosevelt’s plans to
aid Britain, arguing that the United States should concentrate on fortifying
its own defenses. Because it so staunchly opposed Roosevelt’s
foreign policy initiatives, America First drew many of the president’s
most bitter critics into its fold. It also attracted a sizable number of anti-
Semites to its banner.
Although she shared its basic isolationist sentiments, Rand was not
attracted to America First. To her the European war was simply a localized
expression of a deeper confl ict that structured world history: the
clash between Individualism and Collectivism. Her concern lay primarily
with American domestic politics, not with America’s role in the
world, and her loyalties remained with the Willkie Clubs, which she saw
as a powerful grassroots network devoted to capitalism and individualism.
But the Willkie Clubs had not long to live. Willkie had little desire to
establish himself as a permanent opposition leader, and shortly after the
election he gave his blessing to a decision by the Confederated Willkie
Clubs to dissolve. 50
Rand was deeply disappointed by the disappearance of the Willkie
Clubs but intrigued by the idea of the Independent Clubs, a proposed
successor organization. These clubs would be nonpartisan local organizations
that would encourage “good citizenship” and political participation.
Rand began to imagine a new organization along these lines,
but national in scope and primarily educational in nature. It would
become a headquarters for anyone who wanted to continue fi ghting
the New Deal. Eventually the group would grow large enough to support
a national offi ce and a periodical. This new organization would
build on and preserve the spirit of the campaign, which, at least in New
York, had drawn together a group of serious intellectuals committed
to a meaningful defense of capitalism. It was the kind of community
Rand had always hoped to fi nd someday, and she was loath to let it
disappear.
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