Richard A. Viguerie Biography 9/26/18
From the 1960s through most of the 1980s, the left had a monopoly on the TV, radio, newspapers and magazines in America. The conservative message was like the tree that fell in the forest. The mainstream media didn't tell Americans about conservative issues, causes, organizations and candidates.
However, Richard Viguerie transformed American politics in the 1960s and 70s by pioneering the use of direct mail fundraising in the political and ideological spheres, which allowed conservatives to go around the liberal media blockage right into people's homes. He used direct mail marketing/fundraising to help build the conservative movement, which then elected Ronald Reagan as the first conservative president of the modern era.
As the "Funding Father of the conservative movement," Viguerie motivated millions of Americans to participate in politics for the first time, greatly expanding the base of active citizenship. He is our era's equivalent of Tom Paine, using a direct mail letter rather than a pamphlet to deliver his call to arms. George magazine credited this as one of the defining political moments of the 20th century.
Viguerie is the chairman of American Target Advertising, Inc., a 75-person direct marketing agency located in Northern Virginia. His firm has mailed more than 4.3 billion letters and raised over $7.3 billion dollars over the past 53 years. They will mail 100 million letters in 2018 and expect to mail many more in 2019 and 2020, as the 2020 Presidential Election approaches. Viguerie is also Chairman of FedUp Pac, an independent expenditure political action committee, and publisher of a conservative website, ConservativeHQ.com
Viguerie's last two books are Takeover: The 100-Year War for the Soul of the GOP and How Conservatives Can Finally Win It (WND Books, 2014) and How Conservatives can Outlive Liberals: A Recipe for a Long, Healthy, Happy, and Meaningful Life.
At age 85 his role model is Moses, Deuteronomy 34:7, "Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished." Viguerie doesn't personally know anyone at any age that keeps up with him. His typical work day is 13-14 hours, 5 ½ days a week.
He also believes it's important to be actively involved in numerous "communities" – some of his include St. Peter Catholic Church, the Front Porch—a Sunday morning get together of locals on the front porch of a local restaurant, a weekly get together with residents at an assisted living facility, and 3-4 others.
Mr. Viguerie and his wife, Elaine, are natives of Houston, Texas, and have been married for 56 years. They have three children and six grandchildren and live in the Virginia countryside on 230 acres of conservative-friendly environment.
TESTIMONIALS …
As the "Funding Father of the conservative movement," Viguerie motivated millions of Americans to participate in politics for the first time, greatly expanding the base of active citizenship. He is our era's equivalent of Tom Paine, using a direct mail letter rather than a pamphlet to deliver his call to arms. George magazine credited this as one of the defining political moments of the 20th century.
Viguerie's advertising firm has mailed billions of letters spanning more than half a century. Ronald Reagan's 1968 campaign manager Cliff White and journalist William Gill wrote in their book Why Reagan Won: "In every election from 1966 onward, the Viguerie Company and its score of imitators…brought information to millions of Americans; information that quite often the people could not obtain from newspapers or television or mass-circulation magazines."
"Richard Viguerie, the direct mail impresario…may have understood the value of a name before anyone else in contemporary politics."
– The New York Times Magazine
"Richard A. Viguerie provided conservatives with an essential tool to communicate ideas and motivate people."
– Dr. Lee Edwards
The Washington Times
"Viguerie figured out some very complicated things and then applied them to a cause he believed in—a cause that I am proud to have worked with him on. He really invented the use of direct mail by Republicans and by conservatives."
–Newt Gingrich
Former House Speaker
"The truth is I couldn't have gotten my Institute off the ground without what I learned from him."
– Morton Blackwell
President, Leadership Institute
""Richard Viguerie is one of the most brilliant copywriters who ever lived, a truly iconic figure in the history direct marketing, and a living testament to the power of copywriting to make a difference in the world."
– Richard Armstrong
Author, The Next Hurrah: The Communications Revolution in American Politics
"I think Viguerie deserves a tribute. He has pioneered a political development in this country, and that is giving the little guy access to the political debate. He's a pioneer. He's brilliant, and I hope he will stop being brilliant."
– Roger Craver
Liberal campaign consultant