Is Richard Epstein the Smartest Man in America?

Steven Hayward thinks so:

Actually, at the risk of offending a lot of brilliant friends, can I just declare Epstein to be the smartest man in American and just get it over with?

This kind of endorsement makes me feel a little less crazy for thinking Epstein is a cut above the rest. Of course, I'd like to know just who Steven thinks is smarter outside of America.