Editing Ayn Rand (section)

=== ''The Fountainhead'' and political activism ===
{{see also|The Fountainhead|The Fountainhead (film)}}
In the 1940s, Rand became politically active. She and her husband were full-time volunteers for Republican [[Wendell Willkie]]'s 1940 presidential campaign.{{sfn|Britting|2004|p=57}} This work put her in contact with other intellectuals sympathetic to free-market capitalism. She became friends with journalist [[Henry Hazlitt]], who introduced her to the [[Austrian School]] economist [[Ludwig von Mises]]. Despite philosophical differences with them, Rand strongly endorsed the writings of both men, and they expressed admiration for her. Mises once called her "the most courageous man in America", a compliment that particularly pleased her because he said "man" instead of "woman".{{sfn|Burns|2009|p=114}}{{sfn|Heller|2009|p=249}} Rand became friends with libertarian writer [[Isabel Paterson]]. Rand questioned her about American history and politics during their many meetings, and gave Paterson ideas for her only non-fiction book, ''[[The God of the Machine]]''.{{sfn|Burns|2009|pp=75–78}}{{efn|Their friendship ended in 1948 after Paterson made what Rand considered rude comments to valued political allies.{{sfn|Burns|2009|pp=130–131}}{{sfn|Heller|2009|pp=214–215}}}}

[[File:The Fountain Head (1943 1st ed) - Ayn Rand.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Front cover of The Fountainhead|''[[The Fountainhead]]'' was Rand's first bestseller.]]
In 1943, Rand's first major success as a writer came with ''The Fountainhead'',{{sfn|Britting|2004|pp=61–78}} a novel about an uncompromising architect named Howard Roark and his struggle against what Rand described as "second-handers" who attempt to live through others, placing others above themselves. Twelve publishers rejected it before [[Bobbs-Merrill Company]] accepted it at the insistence of editor Archibald Ogden, who threatened to quit if his employer did not publish it.{{sfn|Britting|2004|pp=58–61}} 

While completing the novel, Rand was prescribed [[Benzedrine]], an [[amphetamine]], to fight fatigue.{{sfn|Burns|2009|p=85}} The drug helped her to work long hours to meet her deadline for delivering the novel, but afterwards she was so exhausted that her doctor ordered two weeks' rest.{{sfn|Burns|2009|p=89}} Her use of the drug for approximately three decades may have contributed to mood swings and outbursts described by some of her later associates.{{sfn|Burns|2009|p=178}}{{sfn|Heller|2009|pp=304–305}}

The success of ''The Fountainhead'' brought Rand fame and financial security.{{sfn|Doherty|2007|p=149}} In 1943, she sold the film rights to [[Warner Bros.]] and returned to Hollywood to write the screenplay. Producer [[Hal B. Wallis]] then hired her as a screenwriter and script-doctor for screenplays including ''[[Love Letters (1945 film)|Love Letters]]'' and ''[[You Came Along]]''.{{sfn|Britting|2004|pp=68–71}} Rand became involved with the [[anti-Communist]] [[Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals]] and [[American Writers Association]].{{sfn|Burns|2009|pp=100–101, 123}} 

In 1947, during the [[Second Red Scare]], she testified as a "friendly witness" before the United States [[House Un-American Activities Committee]] that the 1944 film ''[[Song of Russia]]'' grossly misrepresented conditions in the [[Soviet Union]], portraying life there as much better and happier than it was.{{sfn|Mayhew|2005b|pp=91–93, 188–189}} She also wanted to criticize the lauded 1946 film ''[[The Best Years of Our Lives]]'' for what she interpreted as its negative presentation of the business world but was not allowed to do so.{{sfn|Burns|2009|p=125}} When asked after the hearings about her feelings on the investigations' effectiveness, Rand described the process as "futile".{{sfn|Mayhew|2005b|p=83}}

In 1949, after several delays, the [[The Fountainhead (film)|film version]] of ''The Fountainhead'' was released. Although it used Rand's screenplay with minimal alterations, she "disliked the movie from beginning to end" and complained about its editing, the acting and other elements.{{sfn|Britting|2004|p=71}}