Sitting in an airport. A very quick word on Irving Kristol. When someone like that — not that there are many like that — passes on, you may be likely to think of yourself, horrible as that seems. Yet it is not so horrible, some of the time.

He meant a lot to me. When I was coming of age, figuring things out, I thought, “What a cool, brainy guy. No one can mess with him. And he thinks like I am starting to think, or am inclined to think!” Moreover, he furthered that thinking along. What a guy to have in your corner, when the world around you might have been saying that your political inclinations — rightward — were absurd, stupid, and impermissible.

What a glorious life, Irving Kristol’s. Very grateful for him. For the entire family, come to that!