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WHO IS JOHN GALT? 1957–1968
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conversation and counseling, so painful and taxing to Rand, had been
a pretense and a ruse to distract her from his deceptions. In the meantime,
NBI had grown from a small lecture series to a national institution.
Nathan had become famous and wealthy speaking in Rand’s name. He
had a book contract with her publisher and a therapy practice fi lled with
followers of her philosophy. As Rand saw it, he passed himself off as John
Galt or Howard Roark—but was worse than any villain she could have
conjured. The public face of Objectivism and the one who would carry
her legacy forward was nothing more than a contemptible second-hander,
unable to practice the principles he preached. He had struck deeply at
Rand’s heart and her philosophy, and made a mockery of both.
In the days after Nathan’s confession, Rand moved swiftly to dismantle
his businesses and strip him of all association with her and
Objectivism. She sent her lawyer to demand that he sign over control of
The Objectivist to her and deed NBI to Barbara. By week’s end she was no
longer speaking to Barbara either because she had attempted to defend
Nathan against Rand’s onslaught. Now Rand insisted that NBI be dismantled
altogether. Word of the crisis spread rapidly through Objectivist
circles. Nathan appeared, ashen-faced, before his staff and announced
his resignation, explaining that he had committed grave moral wrongs
and Rand had justifi ably severed their relationship. Rumors fl ew wildly.
New Yorkers willing to hear the gossip quickly divined the full story of
Nathan and Rand’s affair and its aftermath. 64
In the NBI offi ces factions quickly emerged. Some Objectivists found
the situation absurd and refused to repudiate Nathan without more
information about his transgressions. Others were willing to take Rand
at her word. Leonard Peikoff emerged as Rand’s staunchest defender,
asking rhetorically if anyone “could possibly believe that the author
of Atlas Shrugged had done anything fundamentally wrong.” Nathan
quickly found himself isolated and alone, with Barbara his only prominent
supporter. Over the years his arrogant reign over NBI and his aura
of superiority had created a deep reservoir of resentment. Now he was
shunned by some of his closest friends and relatives. 65 He and Barbara
began the dreary work of liquidating NBI, splitting the leftover money
between them.
The coup de grâce came in the next issue of The Objectivist, published
in October but datelined May. In a letter addressed “To Whom It May
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