Adam Smith Tie

Above, yours truly wearing his Adam Smith tie. Photo by Anastasia Lipovetskaya.

Back in the days of the Reagan Administration, the "in" necktie to wear at the White House was the Adam Smith tie.

According to a 1981 article in the New York Times:

If there were ever any doubt about the economic proclivities of the Reagan White House, one need only observe what its occupants wear around their necks: Neckties embroidered with profiles of Adam Smith, the 18th-century political economist. 

''They are all the rage in the White House and Friedman and Simon and all those guys have them,'' said Candy Chimples, secretary to Martin Anderson, domestic policy adviser to President Reagan. 

Mr. Anderson donned his a few weeks ago when he was photographed for a Fortune Magazine cover story, and he wore it when interviewed on the Today Show. Edwin Meese 3d, counselor to the President, owns one in burgundy and another in navy blue and wears them ''for all public photos,'' said an aide. ''In fact, I sometimes wonder if he has any other ties.''

Who was Adam Smith? According to Wikipedia:

 Adam Smith (16 June 1723 NS (5 June 1723 OS) – 17 July 1790) was a Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy, and a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. 

Smith is best known for two classic works: The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). The latter, usually abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations, is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics. 

Smith laid the foundations of classical free market economic theory. The Wealth of Nations was a precursor to the modern academic discipline of economics.

Most often, I wear my Adam Smith tie to political and other events. Most conservative friends also wear theirs. We bought them at the same time from the Decatur Shop back in the early 1980s.

I recently had a photo shoot done in preparation for an oil painting to be done. I wore my Adam Smith tie for that. Following the photo shoot, artist Anastasia Lipovetskaya and I enjoyed a sushi dinner. The photo above was taken during dinner.

People can still buy them. The Leadership Institute has them. Here's a link to their navy blue version.

Also, there's even an Adam Smith ties Facebook page.