About what goes into and comes out of those wonderful minds here at this table that I always so much hope will be opened rather than closed. Sometimes, of course, The Open Mind is about books. The vehicles that power these ideas. Are you putting us on? Which is just to unlock the mysteries of how power, money and fame and sex work. Sort of the things that I saw, you know, in my office, office politics. What I was reading in the newspapers and magazines.
And tried to figure out what are the principals that people are using? What really underlies power, money, fame and sex.
And I really felt like I was discovering natural law. I really, once I started figuring out the principles everything started to fall into line and I saw … very different people using the same methods, over and over again. So I really felt like I was discovering something that actually did exist. Or it all comes down to sex. And they think that all the other things are really related to that thing.
You think it really all comes down to power? Power, money, fame, sex. I agree. But I think that other people disagree. That other people would think well, you really only want power so that you can get money. People really do have different takes on what really is the fundamental motivator.
HEFFNER: Yes, but you make the point so clearly in your book that money, even when you build up a great deal and have money over several generations …. Fame as well. I mean look at the political dynasties that we have like the Bushes and the Gores. I think those families are very interested in perpetuating power within their families.
