Political Activist, Theorist. An attorney, syndicated columnist, and magazine publisher, he shall be remembered as the longtime conservative philosopher of the Republican Party. Raised in New York City from early childhood, Rusher graduated from Princeton University in 1943, served with the US Army Air Corps in India during World War II, then earned a degree from Harvard Law School in 1948. He was in a New York legal practice for several years before joining the staff of William F. Buckley's "National Review" in 1957; working as the periodical's publisher until 1988 he was associated with the Buckley-led Young Americans for Freedom while striving to gain the 1964 Republican nomination for Barry Goldwater. Continuing to support conservative candidates and causes, he opposed President Nixon in 1972 (due to Nixon's trip to Red China) and President Ford in 1976, even establishing an abortive third party during the latter campaign. Rusher's first book, "The Making of the New Majority" (1975) outlined the need for conservative Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to join forces under the Republican banner and helped pave the way for Ronald Reagan's 1980 victory. Rusher authored a nationally syndicated column, "The Conservative Advocate", between 1973 and 2009 and was a frequent speaker and debater. He joined the California-based Claremont Institute in 1989 and maintained his work schedule even after moving into a retirement home in 2004. He died following an extended illness. Following President Reagan's election in 1980, he said: "I really think this is the watershed moment. Conservatism is at the crossroads".
Political Activist, Theorist. An attorney, syndicated columnist, and magazine publisher, he shall be remembered as the longtime conservative philosopher of the Republican Party. Raised in New York City from early childhood, Rusher graduated from Princeton University in 1943, served with the US Army Air Corps in India during World War II, then earned a degree from Harvard Law School in 1948. He was in a New York legal practice for several years before joining the staff of William F. Buckley's "National Review" in 1957; working as the periodical's publisher until 1988 he was associated with the Buckley-led Young Americans for Freedom while striving to gain the 1964 Republican nomination for Barry Goldwater. Continuing to support conservative candidates and causes, he opposed President Nixon in 1972 (due to Nixon's trip to Red China) and President Ford in 1976, even establishing an abortive third party during the latter campaign. Rusher's first book, "The Making of the New Majority" (1975) outlined the need for conservative Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to join forces under the Republican banner and helped pave the way for Ronald Reagan's 1980 victory. Rusher authored a nationally syndicated column, "The Conservative Advocate", between 1973 and 2009 and was a frequent speaker and debater. He joined the California-based Claremont Institute in 1989 and maintained his work schedule even after moving into a retirement home in 2004. He died following an extended illness. Following President Reagan's election in 1980, he said: "I really think this is the watershed moment. Conservatism is at the crossroads".
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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