THE HONORABLE HALF-DOZEN 1

A number of years ago I compiled, to quote Shakespeare, “in my mind’s eye” a list of the half dozen, living, public figure, Americans, I most admired and respected. That original list, in alphabetical order, was:

William Bennett
William F. Buckley
Milton Friedman
Ronald Reagan
Thomas Sowell
Walter Williams

Because these are venerable people with reasonably long records of achievement, accompanied with good character, they are necessarily not young. So in the course of time, as would be expected, replacements would have to be made to maintain the numbers. The first to go was Ronald Reagan. His replacement on my list was Jeane Kirkpatrick.

Now within a couple of weeks two more needed replacement (life seems so unfair that I should have to come up with two more names practically simultaneously).

Replacing Milton Friedman and Jeane Kirkpatrick are Condoleezza Rice and Antonin Scalia. Secretary of State Rice is a bit young for my list, but for all that is highly intelligent, is already accomplished, and seemingly of high moral character. Justice Scalia has a long record of stellar service on the U.S. Supreme Court with no moral blemishes.

It is an interesting exercise to construct such a short list so I would recommend others to do the same. Nobody’s list would likely contain all the same names, but there might be some commonality.