Richard Weaver’s book “Ideas Have Consequences” was widely read in the early days of the Foundation for Economic Education and especially by subscribers to the Freeman where Leonard Read gave it a strong endorsement.  I think many of us readers of the Freeman can remember when something we said to a left-leaning friend or associate about liberty or free markets seemed to begin to change their thinking.  These experiences are very satisfying but let me tell you about a major consequence of ideas skillfully explained by Leonard Read.

 

It was in 1975 that Reason magazine arranged an interview with Ronald Reagan.  Near the end of the interview Reason’s editor Manuel Klausner asked, “Are there any particular books, authors, or economists that have influenced your intellectual development?”  Regan answered, “I’m an inveterate reader – Bastiat, vonMises, Hayek and Hazlitt, I’m one for the classical economists.”  Now stop and think about this.  How was it possible that this former radio sports announcer, actor, union president and politician ever came to know about these great scholars?

 

It is quite a story that begins in the 1950s.  On one of my early visits to FEE, Leonard told me about his interesting and recent experience.  He had been invited to Los Angeles to speak to some business and community leaders.  This would be an opportunity to expose this group to FEE’s purpose and the philosophy of freedom so he was glad to accept.  In Los Angeles a good crowd gathered for this luncheon meeting.  As Leonard was being introduced, a man came in a back door and sat down quietly.  As he got into the substance of his speech he noticed that this man was listening very intently.  When he finished several of the audience came to the podium to greet him and then the man came forward to talk to him.  He asked several very thoughtful and penetrating questions about the freedom philosophy.  By this time Leonard knew that his interest was sincere.  He also was sure that the man was Ronald Reagan.  Their conversation continued and Leonard answered more questions about limited government, the rule of law, etc.  Reagan subscribed to the Freeman for many years as he continued his reading and interest in the philosophy of freedom.  At the foundation’s home in Irvington-0n-Hudson, hanging on a wall, is a photograph of the Reagans riding on a plane or train, Ronald is reading a Freeman and Nancy is sleeping with her head on his shoulder.

 

There is another link between Ronald Reagan’s growing interest in the philosophy of freedom and FEE.  Soon after Reagan became known as an inspirational speaker, the General Electric Corporation hired him to give a number of speeches around the country.  A Vice President of the company, Lemuel Boulware, was put in charge.  Coincidently, he was a friend of Leonard and FEE.  Bouleware wanted to be sure that Reagan’s speeches were consistent with the freedom philosophy so he asked Leonard to check advance copies of these speeches and send his thoughts to Reagan. 

 

So, ideas do have consequences.  Leonard Read, by first answering Reagan’s questions in a well reasoned, logical way, triggered Reagan to pursue these ideas.  This led to his series of talks for General electric where he exposed thousands of people to this philosophy.  And, lastly, led to his Presidency where his inspirational speeches on America being like “a shining city on the hill” gave the people a new feeling of pride and patriotism.  His reading built his confidence in the idea that individual liberty and free markets are morally right and communism is morally wrong, and evil.  He had the courage and conviction to reject the advice of those around him and tell Gorbachev to “Tear Down That Wall” which, at the very least, hastened the crumbling of the Soviet Empire.

 

Ideas do have consequences!

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(Ernest Hancock, Publisher FreedomsPhoenix - As much as Chet witnessed in his life and observed the abandonment of the US Constitution by American government at all levels, Chet was still very encouraged by individual people and was always looking for the positive signs of change. Chet was very encouraged by the Ron Paul Revolution. I am very glad that he was able to witness how all of his decades of hard work had helped lay the foundation for the revolution that finally manifested itself in the minds of the young.)

 

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(Letter to Chet's Children)