Irving Kristol
Explore the life of Irving Kristol (January 22, 1920 – September 18, 2009), “godfather of neoconservatism,” his role as editor, essayist, and public intellectual; examine his ideas, famous quotes, and the legacy he left in political thought.
Introduction
Irving William Kristol was an American journalist, essayist, editor, and thinker, widely considered one of the formative figures of the modern neoconservative movement. Over a long life spanning most of the 20th century and into the 21st, Kristol shaped debates on liberalism, conservatism, public policy, culture, and foreign affairs. His influence extended through his editorships, essays, and institutional roles.
Early Life and Background
Kristol was born on January 22, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, to Eastern European Jewish immigrants, Joseph and Bessie Kristol. His family was non-observant in religious practice, though he later engaged seriously with issues of religion, culture, and Jewish identity.
He attended Boys High School in Brooklyn, graduating in 1936, then continued his higher education at City College of New York (CCNY), obtaining a B.A. in history in 1940. During his college years, Kristol was active in leftist politics, particularly in the Young People’s Socialist League and among the anti-Stalinist circles of what came to be called the New York Intellectuals.
During World War II, he served in Europe with the 12th Armored Division, entering combat service in the U.S. Army. After the war, he married Gertrude Himmelfarb, a historian, in 1942.
Career & Contributions
Kristol’s influence derived as much from his editorial and institutional work as from his writings.
Early Postwar Intellectual Work
After WWII, Kristol became active in the intellectual and journalistic circles of the American left and center. He wrote under the editorship of Commentary magazine between 1947 and 1952. He later helped co-found Encounter, a UK-based cultural and political magazine (mid-1950s), and served as editor of its political articles.
He also briefly edited The Reporter (1959–1960).
The Public Interest & Institutional Leadership
In 1965, Kristol, together with Daniel Bell, founded The Public Interest, a quarterly journal focused on public policy, culture, and intellectual discussion. Over time, Kristol became its dominant voice and guiding editor, shaping it into a central organ of neoconservative thought.
He also founded The National Interest in 1985.
Additionally, Kristol held roles such as executive vice-president of Basic Books (1961–1969) and the Henry Luce Professor of Urban Values at New York University (1969–1987). He was a longtime senior fellow with the American Enterprise Institute and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
He wrote for The Wall Street Journal as a monthly columnist from 1972 to 1997 and served on councils such as the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Intellectual Themes & Philosophy
Kristol’s ideas blend conservatism, liberalism, skepticism of ideological extremes, and realism about human nature and institutions. Below are some of his major intellectual contributions:
Neoconservatism & Political Realism
Kristol is often called the “godfather of neoconservatism.” He argued that traditional liberalism had erred by overemphasizing utopian ideals and underestimating moral, cultural, and institutional constraints.
He held that a mature conservatism should accept the necessity of limited government, recognize the role of public policy in sustaining moral order, and respond to real-world challenges rather than idealistic blueprints.
Capitalism, Welfare, and Social Limits
Kristol’s book Two Cheers for Capitalism (1978) reflects his stance: he recognized the dynamism and prosperity made possible by markets but warned about capitalism’s failures to satisfy deeper human, cultural, and moral needs.
He was skeptical of naive expansions of the welfare state, warning about unintended consequences and moral hazard.
Culture, Religion, and Ideas
Kristol believed that ideas, culture, and moral norms matter deeply for politics. He often emphasized the role of religion, moral tradition, and education in sustaining a free society.
He saw skepticism, irony, and realism as necessary correctives to ideological zealotry.
He also criticized what he saw as a decline of moral seriousness in modern liberal culture and the erosion of public virtue.
Foreign Policy & Strength
On foreign policy, Kristol argued for a robust American role in the world, grounded not in imperial hubris but in moral and strategic imperatives. He believed that power comes with responsibility.
Famous Quotes
Here are several memorable quotations attributed to Irving Kristol:
“An intellectual may be defined as a man who speaks with general authority about a subject on which he has no particular competence.”
“The major political event of the twentieth century is the death of socialism.”
“Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions — it only guarantees equality of opportunity.”
“If you care for the quality of life in our American democracy, then you have to be for censorship.”
“The trouble with traditional American conservatism is that it lacks a naturally cheerful, optimistic disposition.”
“What rules the world is idea, because ideas define the way reality is perceived.”
These reflect Kristol’s skeptical, ironic, and idea-driven mind.
Legacy & Influence
-
Through The Public Interest, Kristol trained and influenced many intellectuals, journalists, and policymakers, serving as a hub of conservative public policy debate.
-
His thought helped shift several liberal intellectuals to more conservative or realist positions in the late 20th century.
-
His influence continues in neoconservative and conservative policy circles, especially around foreign policy, questions of culture, and intellectual orientation.
-
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.
-
Even after his death on September 18, 2009 (in Arlington, Virginia) , his writings and ideas remain cited and debated in both academic and political discourse.
Lessons from Irving Kristol
-
Ideas shape politics
-
He reminded us that deeper values and ideas—about human nature, culture, and morality—anchor political movements, not just power or policy.
-
-
Balance idealism and realism
-
Kristol urged respecting ideals, but not ignoring constraints, unintended consequences, and human complexity.
-
-
Institutional scaffolding matters
-
Through journals, think tanks, and mentorship, he showed how intellectual communities can extend influence for decades.
-
-
Cultivate intellectual autonomy
-
His cynicism toward dogma and zeal, combined with his independent perspectives, is instructive for those in polarized times.
-
-
Legacy can be argued forward
-
Finally, Kristol’s life demonstrates that one’s ideas don’t simply survive passively—but get contested, refined, and renewed across generations.
-