Debating the American Conservative Movement 1945 to the Present

by Critchlow, Donald T.; MacLean, Nancy

• ISBN13: 9780742548244
• ISBN10: 0742548244
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-03-16
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Debating the American Conservative Movement chronicles one of the most dramatic stories of modern American political history. The authors describe how a small band of conservatives in the immediate aftermath of World War II launched a revolution that shifted American politics to the right, challenged the New Deal order, transformed the Republican Party into a voice of conservatism, and set the terms of debate in American politics as the country entered the new millennium. Historians Donald T. Critchlow and Nancy MacLean frame two opposing perspectives of how the history of conservatism in modern America can be understood, but readers are encouraged to reach their own conclusions through reading engaging primary documents. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Donald T. Critchlow is professor of history at St. Louis University and the author of numerous scholarly articles and books, including. The Conservative Ascendancy: How the GOP Right Made Political History and Phyllis Schlafly and Grassroots Conservatism. Nancy MacLean is professor of history and African American Studies at North-western University, and the author of Behind the Mask of Chivalry: The Making of the Second Ku Klux Klan, Freedom is Not Enough: The Opening of the American Workplace, and The American Women's Movement: A Brief History with Documents.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
The Conservative Ascendancy	p. 1
Documents
Conservatives Debate the Cold War: Excerpt from Ronald Hamowy and William F. Buckley Jr., "Conservatism and the National Review: Criticism and Reply" (November 1961)	p. 61
Young Conservatives Organize: The Sharon Statement (September 11, 1960)	p. 75
A Conservative Speaks in Favor of Civil Rights: Senator Everett Dirksen, Congressional Record (June 1964)	p. 77
A Conservative Opposes the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Senator Barry Goldwater, Congressional Record (June 1964)	p. 83
The Cold War and the Arms Race: Excerpt from Memorandum to Donald Rumsfeld from Paul H. Nitze (December 19, 1974)	p. 87
Conservative Values: Ronald Reagan, "Remarks at the Annual Convention of the National Association of the Evangelicals" (March 8, 1983)	p. 99
Ronald Reagan, "Creators of the Future" (March 1, 1985)	p. 109
Conservatives on Religious Freedom: Mitt Romney, "Religious Liberty" (2008)	p. 117
Guardians of Privilege	p. 123
Documents
Frank Meyer, "What Is Conservatism?" (1966)	p. 177
Barry Goldwater, "I Sense Here a Realignment of Southern Conservative Democrats" (1953)	p. 181
Richard M. Weaver, "Integration Is Communization" (1957)	p. 183
"Our Position on States" Rights Is the Same as Your Own": Letter from William F. Buckley Jr. to W. J. Simmons (September 10, 1958); Letter from W.J. Simmons to J. P. McFadden (September 5, 1958)	p. 187
Young Americans for Freedom, "King Was a Collectivist" (1968)	p. 189
William F. Buckley Jr., "Linda's Crusade" (May 21, 1968)	p. 193
Phyllis Schlafly, "What's Wrong with 'Equal Rights' for Women?" (February 1972)	p. 197
"Jefferson Davis's Descendents...Are Becoming Involved with the Republican Party": Southern Partisan Interview with Trent Lott (1984)	p. 201
Elizabeth Birch, "An Open Letter to the Christian Coalition" (1995)	p. 205
Selected Readings	p. 211
Index	p. 221
About the Authors	p. 235
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