Fore more urdu books visit www.4Urdu.com

More oxford books @ www.OxfordeBook.comFore more urdu books visit www.4Urdu.com58THE EDUCATION OF AYN RAND, 1905–1943idea that America should avoid entangling foreign alliances stretched allthe way back to George Washington’s farewell address in the early daysof the republic. It was given modern relevance by the outcry against warprofiteering following World War I. Now, watching another gatheringstorm in Europe, America First leaders and its 850,000 card-carryingmembers were convinced that the United States should stay out of thefray. 49 The organization lobbied vigorously against Roosevelt’s plans toaid Britain, arguing that the United States should concentrate on fortifyingits own defenses. Because it so staunchly opposed Roosevelt’sforeign policy initiatives, America First drew many of the president’smost 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 notattracted to America First. To her the European war was simply a localizedexpression of a deeper conflict that structured world history: theclash between Individualism and Collectivism. Her concern lay primarilywith American domestic politics, not with America’s role in theworld, and her loyalties remained with the Willkie Clubs, which she sawas a powerful grassroots network devoted to capitalism and individualism.But the Willkie Clubs had not long to live. Willkie had little desire toestablish himself as a permanent opposition leader, and shortly after theelection he gave his blessing to a decision by the Confederated WillkieClubs to dissolve. 50Rand was deeply disappointed by the disappearance of the WillkieClubs but intrigued by the idea of the Independent Clubs, a proposedsuccessor organization. These clubs would be nonpartisan local organizationsthat 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 wouldbecome a headquarters for anyone who wanted to continue fightingthe New Deal. Eventually the group would grow large enough to supporta national office and a periodical. This new organization wouldbuild on and preserve the spirit of the campaign, which, at least in NewYork, had drawn together a group of serious intellectuals committedto a meaningful defense of capitalism. It was the kind of communityRand had always hoped to find someday, and she was loath to let itdisappear.