Manuel Klausner, Joyous Libertarian – Econlib

If you seek his monument, just take a look around.

It was with a heavy heart that I learned of the recent passing of Manny Klausner at the age of 85.

Photo credit: Reason magazine.

Manny Klausner embodied the spirit of what Murray Rothbard once dubbed the “joyous libertarian,” a title I would argue suits him even better than Mencken.

In September 1972, my late friend Harry Watson and I traveled down from Canada to embark on our Ph.D. journey in economics at UCLA. Our introduction to the libertarian movement had been shaped by our avid consumption of Reason magazine and other publications, which painted a vibrant picture of the American libertarian scene. Los Angeles, as we soon learned, was a veritable hotbed of libertarian thought.

Eager to dive into this world, we sought out libertarian gatherings, leading us to the Libertarian Supper Club. Meeting at the Eaters’ Digest—a restaurant with a menu as eclectic as its patrons—the club buzzed with energy. Attendees would share snippets from mainstream media that ranged from vaguely libertarian to outright libertarian. It was here that I first crossed paths with Manny.

I vividly recall him distributing a pamphlet detailing his campaign as a write-in candidate for Congress in the 1972 elections. This encounter marked my introduction to a political candidate, and while the details of his platform have faded over time, I remember his approach was refreshingly pragmatic, focusing on policies that nudged us toward greater freedom.

One of his proposals particularly amused me: he suggested dismantling the federal civil service system in favor of a 19th-century spoils system. The rationale? It would be more cost-effective; politicians could simply replace existing employees with their supporters instead of funding new programs to appease the electorate. While I’m not sure I’d endorse this idea today, it certainly sparked intrigue.

This morning, I chatted with my friend Eric Garris, who had his own experiences with Manny while working at the Reason office in the mid-1970s. Manny was part of the pioneering group that acquired Reason from its founder, Lanny Friedlander, in 1970. Eric highlighted Manny’s significant contributions to the magazine’s growth during its formative years.

To echo the sentiments of British architect Sir Christopher Wren, whose epitaph reads, “Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice” (Reader, if you seek his monument, look around), we can draw a parallel to Manny’s legacy. His influence is palpable in the pages of Reason and within the broader framework of the Reason Foundation.

Note: For more reflections on Manny, both Brian Doherty and Bob Poole have penned thoughtful tributes.

P.S. Later today, I will share a more personal tribute to Manny on my Substack. I will update this post once it is published.

Here’s the link to my personal appreciation of Manny.