Whittaker Chambers Versus Ayn Rand

Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Whittaker Chambers and Ayn Rand aretwo of the most important American conservative icons. Bothabhorred collectivism and spoke on behalf of individual freedom.Chambers’ autobiography, “Witness,” is one of the definingconservative documents of the 20th century. Rand’s mostinfluential novel, “Atlas Shrugged,” continues to inspire andorient conservative and libertarian thought.

Here’s what history has largely forgotten: Chambers utterlydespised Rand’s novel. Their differences were fundamental, andthey involved both substance and sensibility. Those differenceshave continuing importance, because they tell us a great dealabout divisions within contemporary conservatism. (Yes, thereare analogous divisions on the liberal side, but that’s a talefor another day.)