Irving Kristol ( January 22 , 1920 â `` September 18 , 2009 ) was an American columnist , journalist , and writer . He was called the `` godfather of neoconservatism . '' Irving Kristol ( January 22 , 1920 â `` September 18 , 2009 ) was an American columnist , journalist , and writer who was dubbed the `` godfather of neoconservatism '' .