In a fan letter, James Hunt invited AR to Ft. Lauderdale for a personal meeting at his expense, after reading a reprint of the “Money Speech” from Atlas Shrugged. Hunt wrote: “Inasmuch as I do not read (I can, however) I am not familiar with your name.”
January 26, 1962
Mr. James S. Hunt
Coral Ridge Properties
716 North Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Dear Mr. Hunt:
Your letter of January 9 just crossed my desk. Inasmuch as I do not patronize resort hotels (I can, however), I am unable to accept your gracious invitation.
I would travel farther than Florida to meet someone who really wanted to meet my mind. But my mind is available on any drugstore or news-stand counter, at prices ranging from 50¢ to 95¢. The 95¢ economy size is the best buy. It took me thirteen years to write it, so I could not possibly give you its equivalent in a week or two. Considering what that week or two would cost you, I—as an admirer of Free Enterprise and of businessmen—would not want to cause you to make such a poor investment.
Cordially,
Ayn Rand
AR:dk
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