Among the books I donated two years ago to the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama was my copy of Egalitarianism as a Revolt against Nature (Libertarian Review Press, 1974) the one that its author, Murray Rothbard, had given to me almost thirty years ago when we went out for dinner at Argo Coffee Shop, located at 90th Street and Broadway, Manhattan, just two blocks from his apartment building.[1] While elaborating on the intricate “latticework” (his metaphor) of a market economy’s production structure, he grabbed a napkin and diagrammed his insight on both sides of it.
Normally, a restaurant napkin wouldn’t last long, but this one had a different destiny. I tucked it inside my library’s newest acquisition, where it remained safe for 28 years until I sent it to Auburn.
Yesterday the Institute’s archivist made my day by sending me a photo of the napkin on display in a plexiglass case, noting that it’s “really enjoyed by our students and visitors.”) The exhibit label reads: “The Annotated Napkin, July 1, 1986, Murray N. Rothbard, Gift of Mr. Anthony Flood.”
I later recorded my thoughts:
I’ll never forget the three hours (6:45-9:30) I spent with Murray Rothbard over his apartment and at a coffee shop nearby. His living room window is framed by the arch over the entrance to the building, 215 W. 88th [Street, now the Merrion Condominium]. . . . He and Joey [wife JoAnn] have lived there since they’ve been married (at least 30 years ag0).[2] I gave him my complete bibliography for [his] The Ethics of Liberty [3] and The Voluntaryist issue with my review of [Robert James] Bidinotto.[4] While we talked, he read my review, chuckling and commenting along the way. We discussed the [Libertarian] party issue, [O]bjectivism, natural rights, George Smith’s and Wendy McElroy’s disappearing act, music, architecture and, of course, economic theory. I’m excited and delight to hear that he would be interested in seeing my paper on his theory of rights and praxeology for possible publication in the Journal of Libertarian Studies! (He doesn’t remember the 3 papers I sent him 2 years ago. I really had a ball tonight. . . . I’ll get that paper to him before he leaves for Las Vegas. The extra special treat was his giving me one of his copies of his Egalitarianism . . . . This is truly a great book.
He turned 60 on March 2nd that year and was soon to leave Brooklyn Polytech for an endowed chair as the S.J. Hall Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Lee Business School, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I would have several more get-togethers with him in New York over the next nine years. I’ll post more vignettes as time permits.
Notes
[1] The link is to a 1992 LA Times article on the restaurant. According to a New York Times article, it probably wasn’t the healthiest place to chow down.
[2]May 16, 1953: the day Pierce Brosnan was born and Django Reinhardt died; the fetus that I once was remained immersed in amniotic fluid for another 104 days.
[3] Murray N. Rothbard, The Ethics of Liberty, Second Edition, New York University Press, 1998. I compiled the bibliography from the first edition’s reference notes.
[4] Tony Flood, “Is Libertarian-Objectivist Collaboration Impossible?,” a review of Robert James Bidinotto, Libertarianism: Fallacies and Follies in The Voluntaryist, No. 20, July 1986, 5-7. The slightly modified text of the review resides on my old site.