Ayn Rand Interview with Tom Snyder (1979)
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Published 2021-05-29
The Russia born writer-philosopher Ayn Rand is guest on 'The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder' during this July 3, 1979 interview, newly uploaded for 2021. Rand discusses her overview of objectivism; how objectivism differs from religious dogma; the importance of man's reason as his basic means of survival; the immorality of acting upon whims/emotions; the virtue of rationality; Rand's childhood recollections and being unchallenged by her school's curriculum; writing screenplays and novels during class as a child; her claim that she has been an objectivist since the age of two years old and that she has not changed her convictions since; religion as philosophy; her lack of fear of death; her feeling that America is being destroyed by universities preaching collectivism, mysticism, and altruism rather than American ideals of individualism and capitalism; her criticism of President Jimmy Carter; German philosopher Immanuel Kant as the ruling philosopher and principal villain of our time, resulting in a current youth population that does drugs and lacks goals, values, and selfishness; her belief that selfishness is a virtue; one's responsibility to oneself and one's own happiness; the current time as an 'envious' in which people attack others for their success; her response to those who denounce her; her belief that the USA will not be saved by the intellectuals, but by average citizens who realize the country must turn to the right; her claim that she is not a conservative; and her true love of the United States of America.
#tomsnyderinterviews #aynrandtomsnyder #tomsnyderaynrand
"I may not literally mean a God, but I like what that expression means: thank god, or god bless you. It means the highest possible to me, and I will certainly thank god for this country." -Ayn Rand
AYN RAND (1905 - 1982) was a Russian-American writer and philosopher. She is known for her two best-selling novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, and for developing a philosophical system she named Objectivism. Born and educated in Russia, she moved to the United States in 1926. (wikipedia) #tomsnyderinterview
To create her unusual stories and characters, Rand had to define the new ideas and principles that guide her heroes. She had to create a new philosophy. "I am interested in philosophical principles," she wrote, "only as they affect the actual existence of men; and in men, only as they reflect philosophical principles." For Rand, philosophy is not an esoteric subject but a daily force shaping individual lives and human history. You must have some view of the kind of world you live in, of how best to understand and deal with it, and of what to aim at in life. Your only choice is whether your philosophical premises are acquired by your own independent thinking or absorbed unquestioningly from those around you. Formally, Rand called her philosophy "Objectivism," but informally she called it "a philosophy for living on earth." (aynrand.org)
The Ayn Rand Institute: The Center for the Advancement of Objectivism, commonly known as the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI), is a 501(c) nonprofit think tank in Irvine, California, that promotes Objectivism, the philosophy developed by Ayn Rand. Its stated goal is to "spearhead a cultural renaissance that will reverse the anti-reason, anti-individualism, anti-freedom, anti-capitalist trends in today's culture". The organization was established in 1985, three years after Rand's death, by Ed Snider and Leonard Peikoff, Rand's legal heir .ARI has several educational and outreach programs, which include providing intellectuals for public appearances, supporting Objectivist campus clubs, supplying Rand's writings to schools and professors, assisting overseas Objectivist institutions, organizing annual conferences and running the Objectivist Academic Center. ARI promotes Objectivism, the philosophy developed by Ayn Rand. (youtube.com/user/AynRandInstitute)
TOM SNYDER (1936 - 2007) was an American pioneering television personality and figure in broadcast journalism who brought a no non-sense attitude to broadcast television news. He was best known for his late nigh talk shows Tomorrow (NBC) and The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder (CBS). His engaging style combined with his irascible attitude, made him one of the best known journalists of his time, back when having a nationally televised and thought provoking late night talk show actually meant something. It was a totally different time in television, as the news was delivered as information with no spin or opinion of the newsman. He marked the end of an era.
TOM SNYDER INTERVIEWS: • Tom Snyder Interviews: Late Late Show...
MORE AYN RAND: • Ayn Rand Talks with Tom Snyder 'On De...
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All Comments (21)
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Tom…”I’ve never been to Harvard.” Ayn….”That’s to your advantage.”
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Tom truly was a conduit for information. That opening blurb accurately describes why I think Tom Snyder was quite unique and a treasure the likes of which one rarely sees in a generation. Perhaps more of a depleted resource today than ever in modern history. The idea of discussing for the sake of thinking without any pretense of it being answered conclusively and feeling ok that there are questions that may be timeless and better us as a species solely by engaging in free, accessible, unhindered correspondence without fear of reprisal no matter how revolutionary or controversial (and thought-provoking) it may be.
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All these years we have seen such emnity towards Rand and yet she is amazingly precient in this interview.
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She did this interview the year I was born. I studied philosophy formally 20 years ago at the U of Oregon and we certainly studied Kant. It’s just this year (2023) that I read Ayn Rand and it has been life altering.
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Ah... finally, at 68, I have found a label that largely encompasses my own philosophy. Better late than never, I suppose. I found myself repeatedly uttering Yes, and of course, and brilliant, and perhaps I wasn't daft... Tom, always enjoyed your interviews, how fortunate you were one of the mediums she chose.
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This was really good. Ayn Rand was a prophetess ... or I suppose she would say that through reason, she correctly predicted what would happen to the United States and the world if it continued on its course.
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This is a fantastic interview, given that it was filmed also in 1979. Thanks a lot for sharing
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He interrupted her at 15:30 when she said "however, the basic premise of". I would have loved to have heard what she was going to say. These people like Donahue, Mike Wallace, and so on, kept interrupting her thoughts. Tom did a good job.
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"They are terribly unselfish because they haven't a single idea of their own." This interview is so relevant today.
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Tom Snyder truly was one of a kind. What a treasure
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she almost cried at the end. you know that even if in those times she had a significant reputation thanks to her books, she was not appreciated in a personal level cotidianetly and because of that being praised moved her in that moment.
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She’s right all we have to do is listen to this and remember our history since this interview to now.
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"The highest tribute to Ayn Rand is that her critics must distort everything she stood for in order to attack her. She advocated reason, not force; the individuals rights to freedom of action, speech,& association; self responsibility, NOT self-indulgence; & a live-and-let-live society in which each individual is treated as an END, not the MEANS of others' ends. How many critics would dare honestly state these ideas & say. "...and that's what I reject"? ---Barbara Branden, author of The Passion of Ayn Rand.
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GODDDD. he was a great interviewer
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I am so happy to find Ayn Rand material. I have felt like a lone ranger in NZ since the '60's and '70's, trying to keep her work out there and appreciated. Under lockdown her wonderful book 'Anthem' kept me sane. 'The Virtue of Selfishness' gave a whole new take on life. What a different world it would be, a Renaissance of Reason.
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Please listen and be objective. She’s a great philosopher way ahead of her time offering the understanding of what can make our species less vulnerable and strong with an understanding heart and virtue that comes from reason. Please open your mind to her logical pursuit of well-being and community strength capable of better results compared to our present….crap!
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I use to think she was evil. Now I see she was a very intelligent and charming woman.
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Wow, she really understood the dangers being brought forth from the universities, way back then.
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Wow. Not only was she smart she was a bloody psychic
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Tom Snyder, was one of the best interviewer... Ayn Rand was an interesting person. I totaly agree with her. Objectivity is it !!!!
