What would civil libertarians, or those finding it politically expedient to don the civil libertarian mantle, have done if Orwell had never written 1984?

They might have had to actually think of a reasoned argument when the question of civil liberties was raised rather than just reflexively running through the town square screaming "BIG BROTHER, BIG BROTHER, BIG BROTHER!!!!!!!!!"

A similar post could be written about the Ben Franklin "those who would give up freedom for security deserve neither" quote.