From: WP
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2016 1:55 PM
To: Walter Block
Subject: Re: Request for interview
Hi Dr. Block, My name is WP, I’m a journalism student. I’m writing an obituary on Murray Rothbard for an assignment, and I’m curious if you would grant me 15–20 minutes of your time for an interview. I have about 8 questions, mostly revolving around your acquaintance with Murray and his influence on your thinking. My goal is to capture his personality, charisma and dynamism. I believe you’re one of the best people to ask. If 15–20 minutes is too long, a shorter interview would be alright too. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Best, WP
Dear WP:
Let’s do this by e mail. Send me your questions.
From: WP
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 4:04 PM
To: Walter Block
Subject: Request for interview
Here are my questions. Thanks a lot for your time!
• When and how did you meet Murray?
In 2966 my classmate at Columbia, Larry Moss, and his then room-mate, Jerry Woloz, bullied me into meeting Murray. I was reluctant to do so, since they told me he was an anarchist; I was then in my Randroid phase, and anarchism was anathema.
• Did you spend much time with him? What was he like as a person?
Yes, quite a bit. I would get to his house at, oh, 9pm, and stay until 5am many nights. He was eloquent, knowledgeable, charismatic, funny.
• Could you share a particularly fun or noteworthy memory of Murray?
The big “problem” I had with Murray was stomach cramps. He was hilarious. He would keep his entire “living room” crowd in stiches for hours. Gossip, jokes, wry comments kept pouring out of him. This was interspersed with important discussions of philosophy, economics, law, environmentalism and gossip about politicians, economists, libertarians, etc. We would sometimes play the board game “Risk.” The goal of the game was to conquer the world. Murray used to say that only we libertarian anarchists could play this game whole-heartedly, since we, alone, really didn’t want to take over the world. Adherents of all other philosophies really did want to do that.
• What kind of influence has he had on your thinking (philosophically / politically), or even on your life more generally?
A very important and profound influence. Yes, on economics, politics, philosophy, law, and other substantive subjects. And, yes, also, on my life. I have modelled myself after him. He wrote a lot; so do I. He published a lot, so do I. He mentored young Austro libertarians; so do I. We both have phds in economics from Columbia. We are both staunch anarcho-capitalists.
This holds true even on a personal level. He told everyone to call him “Murray,” not Dr. Rothbard of Prof. Rothbard. However, I don’t follow him, exactly on this. I don’t tell everyone to call me “Murray.” Rather, “Walter.”
• In a less personal sense, tell me about his overall significance. In your opinion, what are his major accomplishments?
He made important, significant contributions to politics, philosophy, law, environmentalism; I regard him as the second (to Mises) most profound economist to have ever lived. He is rightly called “Mr. Libertarian” for his contributions to that calling.
• I’ve read that Murray was happiest while he ran the Libertarian Forum, where he had total freedom to write and publish whatever he wanted. Without being a mind-reader, do you think there’s truth to that?
No. Murray was ALWAYS happy. Even one of his bitterest critics, intellectual enemies, Bill Buckley, remarked on this characteristic of Murray’s. Yes, Murray was happy when he ran the Libertarian Forum. But he ALWAYS “had total freedom to write and publish whatever he wanted.” Certainly, one of the happiest years of his life were spent in tandem with Lew Rockwell, and their partnership in creating the Mises Institute.
• Would you say that Rothbard’s popularity is currently on the rise?
I don’t know about on the rise; I’m not sure. But he is very much alive in the minds of students of his like me (I was never his formal student; but he was my best teacher) and his other followers. Also, the Mises Institute has been magnificent in keeping his ideas alive; reprinting all of his works, etc.
• Is there anything else you would like to add?
I am honored to have spent time with Murray. The greatest compliment to me is to be mentioned in the same sentence as him. Thanks for this opportunity to talk about my friend Murray.
