Nick Gillespie
A sharp-witted libertarian writer who championed free minds and free markets, shaping the voice of modern American reason for decades.
Born 1963 (age 63)·American libertarian journalist·Birthday: August 7·Baby Boomers
Biography
Nick Gillespie, born in 1963, carved out a space as one of the most recognizable figures in libertarian journalism by blending intellectual rigor with a punk-rock sensibility. He joined Reason magazine in 1993, a publication then still solidifying its identity, and became its editor-in-chief in 2000. Under his guidance, Reason evolved from a niche policy journal into a dynamic multimedia operation, launching its popular website and video channel. Gillespie's editorial vision was marked by a deep skepticism of state power from both the left and right, and a genuine curiosity about cultural trends, from drug legalization to the future of work. His interviews, often conducted with a disarming casualness, drew out insights from thinkers and doers across the spectrum. Even after stepping back from day-to-day leadership, his columns and podcast appearances continue to advocate for individual liberty with a distinctive, irreverent wit.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Nick was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Nick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as editor-in-chief of Reason magazine from 2000 to 2008, significantly expanding its influence and readership.
- Pioneered Reason's digital expansion as editor-in-chief of Reason.com and Reason TV from 2008 to 2017.
- Co-authored the book 'The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong with America'.
- His long-form interviews have featured a wide array of guests from Noam Chomsky to Penn Jillette.
Did You Know?
He holds a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Before joining Reason, he was a college professor teaching literature and communication.
He is a frequent guest on television news panels, known for his distinctive bald head and goatee.
Gillespie is an avid fan of The Clash and often references punk rock in his writing.
“The future is going to be weirder and cooler and more interesting than any of us can possibly imagine.”
